STANDING before the big radiovisiphone of the President of the United States, in Washington, Roger Sanders waited impatiently for the silencing of all terrestrial stations that he might be tuned in with Ted Dustin’s powerful superstation which was to relay a message from the moon.
Presently the signal: “All clear,” came through, and Roger, looking into the disc of the President’s instrument, saw, as if reflected in a mirror, the huge disc of Ted’s radiovisiphone with the operator seated before it manipulating the dials.
Indistinct figures appeared a number of times in the pellucid depths of the great disc, and there were a few unintelligible sounds. Then it suddenly cleared, and Roger and President Whitmore were dazzled, as before, by the appearance of the beautiful Maza with two armored guards and the aged scientist, Vanible Khan.
To the surprise of both, Vanible Khan addressed them in English.
“Despite the powerful interference waves broadcasted by P’an-ku, we have at last succeeded in breaking through,” he said. “Do I address friends of Ted Dustin?”
“You are speaking to his superior, President Whitmore of the United States of America, and also to his assistant, Roger Sanders,” replied Roger.
“That is indeed fortunate,” said the old scientist, smiling. “I am Vanible Khan, chief scientist of Ma Gong, and speak for Her Imperial Majesty, Maza an Ma Gong. She bids me inform you that Ted Dustin left Ultu, her capital, which is situated beneath the crater which you on Du Gong call ‘Tycho,’ two revolutions off your planet ago. He went with the avowed intention of destroying the projector of the great green ray which was turned on your world. It appears that he has succeeded in destroying the ray, but as he has not returned we assume that he has either been killed or captured.
“The ray, as you are no doubt aware, was projected from a central peak of the ring mountain which you call Copernicus. Beneath this mountain is the capital city of P’an-ku, which is called Peilong.
“Since the departure of Ted Dustin, Her Majesty has declared war on P’an ku. Tonight she will personally conduct a mighty army which will march on Peilong through the subterranean forests. She has not thought it wise to use her nak-kars—the flying beasts which can live for nine of your days without air—because of their slowness and inefficiency compared to P’an-ku’s flying globes.
“She intends to attack Peilong in five of your days. If you, the friends of Ted Dustin, have a way to simultaneously strike from above, it is possible that we may save him or avenge his death, and subdue P’an-ku, thus bringing about peace between the peoples of Du Gong and the yellow race of Ma Gong.
“Her Majesty awaits your answer.”
“I have a way,” replied Roger, half turning toward the President as he spoke. “The powerful interplanetary battleship we are building will be ready in four days. With your permission I will then leave for the moon, and will attack Peilong in conjunction with the army of Her Majesty.”
“But what of the flying globes of P’an-ku?” asked the President. “He may have hundreds of them, in which case your task will be hopeless, and we’ll have nobody left to run the Dustin factory.”
“The factory can run under the directions of our superintendents whether Ted and I are present or not,” replied Roger, “and there will be no let-down in production if we never return, as long as money and materials are supplied. As for flying globes, if P’an-ku has thousands of them, I will still be glad to go, counting it a small sacrifice to risk my life in this mighty battleship when Ted has braved the same dangers in his tiny, one-man flier.”
“Go then, with my best wishes for a glorious victory and a safe return,” replied the President. “If it were not for the demands of the nation which especially require my presence in this crisis, I should like to go with you.”
“You may tell Her Majesty,” said Roger, addressing Vanible Khan, “that I will attack P’an-ku from above in five days.”
Maza evidently understood his reply, for she smiled and spoke for the first time during the interview.
“In five days, then, Roger Sanders, I will meet you in the imperial palace at Peilong, and may we be in time to save Ted Dustin.”
The disc suddenly became blank, and Roger, after bidding farewell to President Whitmore, hurried away to his electroplane, which Bevans had ready for the trip to Chicago.