THE WEAPON FROM ETERNITY By Dwight V. Swain Legends spoke of a weapon too dreadful to use hidden somewhere among the stars--a weapon that was its own master--choosing its victims! [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy September 1952 Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] CHAPTER I Jarl Corvett selected the group--himself, Ungo, and five crewmen. They left their great ship on the far side of Vesta; came down with the night in a fast raider carrier. A hollow offered shelter. Like dust settling, they landed. Abandoning the craft, they pressed on towards their target. The hills fell behind. The final cordon was bypassed. Then, at last, bleakly, they stared down at the sprawling building that had been Wassreck's workshop. But lights beat on the white walls. Guards paced the parapets. The commissioner's own carrier thrust up in the courtyard. Frowning, Jarl Corvett crouched deep in the shadows. Tension crawled his spine like a leather-footed _palau_. His own black thoughts pressed relentlessly in upon him: _Is this where it ends, warrior? Is this the place, here under the Federation's dazzling Forspark lights on a tiny astroidal speck that men call Vesta?_ Beside him, the darkness rustled. Scales brushed his arm. One-armed Jovian Ungo's hoarse whisper echoed over-loud in his ear: "Give it up, Jarl! Wassreck's gone, and they're ready. It's hopeless!" "It was hopeless before," Jarl Corvett said tightly. "It was hopeless at Horla. But Wassreck came for me." The Jovian's scaly hand gripped his shoulder in the darkness. "I know, Jarl. You're loyal. But this time--" "Could you face Sais without trying? Could you tell her you'd left him?" Ungo grunted, half-sullen. "Will it help if you're killed, too? Will it make her feel better?" He cursed in his own tongue. "Me, I still like living. I'm not ready to die yet." Jarl threw off the Jovian's arm. His words slashed, raw and savage, in spite of his efforts: "You can leave if you want to! I ask no man to risk his neck against his will!" Dimly, against the sky, he could see Ungo's head sink down between the great, horny shoulders. "Don't gall me, you _chitza_! I go where you go! I always will!" Jarl clenched his fists. He thought: _Yes, Ungo will always go where you go, Jarl Corvett. He proved that when he left one arm on Pluto for you. That's what's wrong with loyalty. It traps you, tears you two ways. Because whichever road you take, good men, good friends, must die._ And Sais would be waiting.... * * * * * He cursed aloud and crawled forward, away from big Ungo, digging in knees and elbows with savage force, taking out his fury on the rocky ground.