Page:Amazing Stories Volume 17 Number 06.djvu/25

Rh one way out. I got to find Prince Grumbold and his Professor and make them tell me the secret."

"I reckon," said Wimp firmly, to Vans and me, "we better get cracking."

"We?"

"Yes, we."

"But what can we do?"

"Let us send for Bruny," said Vans. "Hear what he says."

So we sent for Hudells.

ANS HOLORS is a big man. Big enough to get by in most places, anyway. He weighs more than a ton. But the synthetic giant Hudells made him look like a very little shrimp.

Hudells came in and started the ceremonial salute to Princess Wimpolo as the Martian laws lay it down.

"Keep that stuff for when the public are about," says Wimp. "We're in conference now. Sit down."

Hudells sat down, looking dazed. The Martian Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses he knew had never been like that. Long ago, when Prince Grumbold's father had been ruler of Ossalandok, Grumbold had made a rule that all courtiers coming into his presence must bow nineteen times. One miscounted and bowed one short, and had his nose cut off. Another had his ears cut off for bowing one too many. And really it was the Prince who miscounted, not the courtiers.

And here, in the highest court of Mars, nobody troubled about ceremony. It was enough to drive a simple wrestler daft.

"About this powder of yours," says Wimp.

"Eh, have you got it?" exclaims Hudells, waking up, all eager.

"Well, no. Not yet," says Wimp.

"Oh!"

It was quite sad to see the giant sink back onto the seat again like a toy balloon that somebody has stuck a pin in.

"Something has got to be done about it," says Wimp, looking very determined.

"Yes! Yes! What are you going to do, Princess?"

Hudells could hardly wait to hear her plan.

"Well, er, I thought you could tell us what we could do," says Wimp, looking uncomfortable.

The rubbery face of Hudells became a mile long again.

"Me? No, not me," he said, looking blank. When Hudells was in any difficulty he just hurled his three tons of weight at it. If that did not solve the problem then all he could do was to send for somebody with nimbler body and quicker wits than he had.

And the problem that was worrying us now was no slouch of a problem. We wanted the formula for a certain powder. Only one man, so far as we knew, knew the formula. And he was hiding. Might be anywhere in Mars. Emperor Usulor had already got his police looking for him, but—

"I wonder what the Chief of Police has found out," said Wimp suddenly, beginning to fiddle with the teleview.

"The latest report," I said

"Keep it." Wimp believed in the personal touch.

In the teleview screen the Chief looked up and saw us.

"What progress?" Wimp asked at once.

"In what matter, Your Highness?"

"Prince Grumbold."

HE Chief tapped his forehead and tried to put on a "Spider-in-his-web" look, like a man who is watching