2 - Blades of Mars by Edward P. Bradbury Page A

still rising
far too rapidly and would soon escape the slightly thinner Martian atmosphere -
it must be remembered that the atmosphere of that age was much thicker than it
is now.
                   I rose shakily and went to the controls. They
were simple, makeshift controls and would have been tested before we took the
air if we had had the chance. Now we would have to see if they worked. If they
did not, we were done for.
                   I pulled a lever which controlled the valve of
the gas-bag. I had to let gas out and hope that it would be just enough and not
so much that would send us plummeting earthwards!
                   Slowly our altitude levelled out and I knew
the control was working.
                   But we were still drifting at random on the
air-currents. We would have to land and fix the driving bands to the engine.
Under power we should be able to return to Mendishar in less than a day.
                   I was rather annoyed at this waste of our
valuable helium, but there was nothing else for it. Very slowly, I began to
take the ship down.
                   We were still some two thousand feet up when
it seemed the balloon was suddenly kicked by an enormous foot and buffeted
about, sending us all flying. I could not keep my footing and was hurled away
from the control panel.
                   I believe I lost consciousness for some time.
                   When I came to my senses it was almost dark.
There was now no longer the sensation of being the ball in some ^me played by
giants far more huge than my blue companions, but a sense, instead, of speeding
along at tremendous velocity.
                   I rose unsteadily and went to a port-hole,
sliding back a shutter.
                   I looked down and at first could not believe
what I saw.
                   We were heading over the sea - a rough,
storm-tossed sea. We were travelling at a good hundred miles an hour - probably
more.
                   But what was propelling us?
                   It was a natural force of some kind. It seemed
to be a wind by the moaning and howling sound that reached my ears.
                   But what kind of wind could have struck so
rapidly without warning?
                   I turned back to find Hool Haji was beginning
to stir. He, too, had been knocked out.
                   I helped him up and together we revived our
companions.
                   'What is it, Hool Haji? Do you know?' I asked.
                   He rubbed his face with his big hand. 'I
should have watched the calendar more carefully,' he said.
                   ‘Why?'
                   ‘I did not mention this because I felt that we
should either be out of the desert or dead - that was before we found the tower
and the underground city, I did not mention it while we were underground
because I knew we should be safe, there being no sign of damage to the city.'
                   'What didn't you mention? What?'
                   'I am sorry - it is my fault. Probably the
reason why the city of the Yaksha has not been reported is because of the
Roaring Death.'
                   'What is the Roaring Death?'
                   'A great wind that periodically crosses the
desert. Some think that it was originally the cause of the desert, that before
the Roaring Death came the desert existed as a fertile place. Perhaps the city
of the Yaksha was built before the coming of the Roaring Death. I do not know -
but the Roaring Death has crossed the desert for centuries, producing mighty
sandstorms, levelling everything.'
                   'And where does the wind go?' I asked. 'For we
might as well know since we're being borne along by it.'
                   ‘Westwards,’ said Hool Haji.