Flash Gordon 4 - The Time Trap of Ming XIII (21 page)

“Come on, Dale,” Flash said. “We’ve got to get these two back to the dome.”

Dale nodded. “Are they unconscious?”

“No. Only frozen. That means they’re able to move, but not able to talk, think, or act on their own. It’s the first and lightest phase of blaster intensity.”

Dale took Brod by the arm as Flash guided Slan along past the ray gun. The blue men neither said anything nor protested in the slightest. Their yellow eyes focussed blankly in front of them.

Flash led Slan into the dome and Dale brought Brod with her.

“Hold it, everybody” Flash yelled.

Instantly the dome was silent.

“Who’s that?” Prince Barin asked.

“The blue men,” Flash said.

“That’s Slan,” Zarkov snapped.

“And Brod,” Sari said.

Flash nodded. He led Slan over to the astro-seat.

“What are you going to do to them?”

“Send them ahead in time,” Flash smiled in satisfaction. “Then we won’t be bothered with them any more.”

Flash strapped in Slan, and Dale pulled the leather tight on Brod.

“Captain Slan,” Flash said, “there was something about a third time probe. It was sent down to investigate your operation in Cerulea. Do you know anything about that?”

Slan said nothing. He did not look at Flash.

Zarkov pushed forward, booming out, “You’ve got him on freeze, Flash. Bring him out of it, or he won’t say a word.”

Flash nodded, stepped forward, and slapped Slan lightly on the face.

“Captain Slan!” he cried.

Slan’s eyes flickered. He stared about him is consternation. Then his eyes moved to the ceiling of the dome.

“We destroyed the dome! How—?”

“Not quite yet,” Flash said with a faint smile.

“I don’t get it,” Brod growled.

“What happened to the two men who came in from Ming XIII to Cerulea?”

Slan laughed. “Those nuts? They claimed they were from three hundred years in the future.”

“Then you did find them?”

“They found us.” Slan laughed unpleasantly. “They were harmless nuts. We hooked them up to the computers.”

Flash glanced at Zarkov. He smiled at Slan. “It might interest you to know that they weren’t crazy at all.”

“No?” Slan frowned. “I don’t believe it.”

“Well, we’ll prove it to you. Would you like that?” Flash asked softly.

Slan glanced at Brod and then back at Flash. He blustered. “Well, sure, if that’s the way you want it, then prove it.”

Flash waved to Zarkov. “Over on the switch, Doc. All right, Slan, in less than thirty seconds, you’ll have a chance to explain to Ming XIII why you debrained his top probe team and hooked them up to the computers.”

“Ming XIII?” Slan exclaimed, his face covered with perspiration. “What are you raving about?”

“Doc!”

The switch moved quickly.

A trembling filled the air inside the dome, the pendulum, trembled, and the opaque black globe sizzled.

Violet haze enveloped the two blue men.

“Hey, what is this?” Slan cried out. “What are you doing?”

And then they were gone.

“All right,” Flash cried. “Everybody out of this place. We’re going to blow it off the face of the planet. We don’t want any more minions of Ming XIII visiting us.”

They ran out through the port and Flash walked to the laser rod antimatter gun.

Hours later, Prince Barin and Flash and Zarkov were in consultation in the palace.

“I don’t really know what to do with Cerulea and those blue men,” Prince Barin said sadly.

“I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about, Prince Barin,” said Zarkov. “They’re simply one-generation men, not selectively bred to produce offspring, but simply bred to fight. If there’s no one to lead them, and if they die out, simply exile them to the Boiling Desert, or the Ultimate Icepack, send them in food, and let them live out their days.”

Prince Barin sighed. “Even clowns like them should have more to live for than that.”

“Well,” Zarkov said sympathetically, “we know where Cerulea is. We can get them out of there and simply fill in the pit. Then we can test one or two of the blue men out, keeping the rest under surveillance, and see if we can turn them into useful citizens of the forest kingdom.”

Prince Barin nodded. “I like the sound of that much better, Zarkov.”

Flash spoke up. “Why don’t you put them to work for Zarkov in the lab? They’re well versed in computer techniques.”

“Very good.” Prince Barin smiled.

Flash turned to Dale, who had been engaged in small talk with Sari.

“I’m hungry, Dale. How about you and Sari?”

“Right. It’s been a long day.”

“Let’s go have dinner and see the latest holograph at the Capital Theater.”

“Okay,” Dale said happily. “You coming, Doc?”

Zarkov nodded. “Yeah. Sari? Be my guest.” He paused as they started out through the door. “Hey, what’s playing, anyway?”

Prince Barin had followed them to the door and now smiled. “It’s an old H.G. Wells historical. Called
The Time Machine
.”

Zarkov groaned. “Oh, no! Not science fiction!”

“Oh, yes,” replied Prince Barin, laughing. “Good viewing!”