Part 6 (1/2)
The brain could feel pain indeed. It crouched with stiffened arms and legs. The membrane of its great head seemed to bulge with greater distension; the knotted blood-vessels were gorged with purple blood.
The eyes rolled. Then it closed its mouth. Its gaze steadied upon Brayley's face, so baleful a gaze that as I could see the reflection of its luminous purple glow a shudder of fear and revulsion swept me.
”So you did not like that?” Brayley steadied his voice. ”If you don't want more, you had better speak. How did you get here on Earth? What are you trying to do here?”
There seemed an interminable silence; then Nippor took a menacing step forward. ”Speak! We will force it from you!”
And then it spoke. ”Do--not--touch--me--again.”
Indescribable voice! Human, animal or monster no one could say. But the words were clear, precise; and for all their terror, they seemed to hold an infinite command.
A wave of excitement swept the hall, but Brayley's gesture silenced it. He leaped forward and bent low over the palpitating brain.
”So you can talk. You came as an enemy. We have given you every chance today for friends.h.i.+p, and you have refused. What are you trying to do to us?”
It only glared.
”Speak!”
”I will not tell you anything.”
”Oh, yes, you will.”
”No!”
All the men on the platform were crowding close to it now.
”Speak!” ordered Brayley again. ”Here in Greater New York is a hiding place. Where is it?”
No answer.
”Where is it? You are perhaps a leader of your world. I lead ours, and I'm going to master you now. Where is this hiding place?”
The thing suddenly laughed, a gruesome, eerie cackle. ”You will know when it is too late. I think it is too late already.”
”Too late for what?”
”To save your world. Doomed, your three worlds! Don't touch--me!”
It ended with a scream of apprehension as Nippor grasped the crooked little arm. ”Tell us!”
”No!” It screamed again. ”Let--me--go!”
”Tell us!” Nippor strengthened his squeezing grip. The thing was writhing, the thin ball of membrane palpitating, heaving. And suddenly it burst. Over all its purpled surface, blood came with a gush.
Nippor and Brayley staggered backward. The scream of the brain ended in a choking gurgle. The little legs and tiny body wilted under it; the round ball of membrane sank to the table. It rolled sidewise upon one arm and ear, and in a moment its palpitation ceased. A purple-red ma.s.s of blood, it lay deflated and flabby.
It was dead.