A Han Air Raid

There was a girl in Wilma's camp named Gerdi Mann, with whom Bill Hearn was desperately in love, and the four of us used to go around a lot together. Gerdi was a distinct type. Whereas Wilma had the usual dark brown hair and hazel eyes that marked nearly every member of the community, Gerdi had red hair, blue eyes and very fair skin. She has been dead many years now, but I remember her vividly because she was a throwback in physical appearance to a certain 20th Century type which I have found very rare among modern Americans; also because the four of us were engaged one day in a discussion of this very point, when I obtained my first experience of a Han air raid.

There was a girl in Wilma's camp named Gerdi Mann. Bill Hearn was desperately in love with her, and the four of us often spent time together. Gerdi had a distinctive appearance. Wilma had the dark brown hair and hazel eyes common to nearly everyone in the community. Gerdi, on the other hand, had red hair, blue eyes, and very fair skin. She has been dead for many years now, but I remember her vividly. Her appearance was a throwback to a certain 20th Century type that I have found very rare among modern Americans. I also remember her because the four of us were discussing this very point one day when I first experienced a Han air raid.

We were sitting high on the side of a hill overlooking the valley that teemed with human activity, invisible beneath its blanket of foliage.

We were sitting high on a hillside overlooking the valley. It was full of human activity, hidden beneath the leaves.

The other three, who knew of the Irish but vaguely and indefinitely, as a race on the other side of the globe, which, like ourselves, had succeeded in maintaining a precarious and fugitive existence in rebellion against the Mongolian domination of the earth, were listening with interest to my theory that Gerdi's ancestors of several hundred years ago must have been Irish. I explained that Gerdi was an Irish type, evidently a throwback, and that her surname might well have been McMann, or McMahan, and still more anciently "mac Mathghamhain." They were interested too in my surmise that "Gerdi" was the same name as that which had been "Gerty" or "Gertrude" in the 20th Century.

The other three knew little about the Irish. They knew them vaguely as a race on the other side of the globe. Like us, the Irish had managed to survive, precariously and on the run, in rebellion against Mongolian domination of the earth. The three listened with interest to my theory that Gerdi's ancestors from several hundred years ago must have been Irish. I explained that Gerdi looked Irish and was evidently a throwback to her ancestors. Her surname might well have been McMann or McMahan, and, longer ago, "mac Mathghamhain." They were also interested in my guess that "Gerdi" was the same name as "Gerty" or "Gertrude" in the 20th Century.

In the middle of our discussion, we were startled by an alarm rocket that burst high in the air, far to the north, spreading a pall of red smoke that drifted like a cloud. It was followed by others at scattered points in the northern sky.

In the middle of our discussion, an alarm rocket startled us. It burst high in the air, far to the north, spreading red smoke that drifted like a cloud. More rockets followed at scattered points in the northern sky.

"A Han raid!" Bill exclaimed in amazement. "The first in seven years!"

"A Han raid!" Bill exclaimed in surprise. "The first in seven years!"

"Maybe it's just one of their ships off its course," I ventured.

"Maybe it's just one of their ships that's gone off course," I suggested.

"No," said Wilma in some agitation. "That would be green rockets. Red means only one thing, Tony. They're sweeping the countryside with their dis beams. Can you see anything, Bill?"

"No," said Wilma, sounding anxious. "Those would be green rockets. Red means only one thing, Tony. They're sweeping the countryside with their dis beams. Can you see anything, Bill?"

"We had better get under cover," Gerdi said nervously. "The four of us are bunched here in the open. For all we know they may be twelve miles up, out of sight, yet looking at us with a projecto'."

"We'd better get under cover," Gerdi said nervously. "The four of us are bunched together out in the open. For all we know, they may be twelve miles up, out of sight, but watching us with a projecto'."

Bill had been sweeping the horizon hastily with his glass, but apparently saw nothing.

Bill had been quickly scanning the horizon through his glass, but apparently saw nothing.

"We had better scatter, at that," he said finally. "It's orders, you know. See!" He pointed to the valley.

"We'd better scatter after all," he said finally. "Those are our orders, you know. Look!" He pointed to the valley.

Here and there a tiny human figure shot for a moment above the foliage of the treetops.

Here and there, a tiny human figure shot briefly above the treetops.

"That's bad," Wilma commented, as she counted the jumpers. "No less than fifteen people visible, and all clearly radiating from a central point. Do they want to give away our location?"

"That's bad," Wilma said as she counted the jumpers. "At least fifteen people are visible, and they're all clearly spreading out from one central point. Do they want to give away our location?"

The standard orders covering air raids were that the population was to scatter individually. There should be no grouping, or even pairing, in view of the destructiveness of the disintegrator rays. Experience of generations had proved that if this were done, and everybody remained hidden beneath the tree screens, the Hans would have to sweep mile after mile of territory, foot by foot, to catch more than a small percentage of the community.

The standard orders for air raids told everyone to scatter individually. No one was to gather in groups or even pairs, because disintegrator rays were so destructive. Generations of experience had shown that scattering and staying hidden beneath the tree screens worked. If everyone did this, the Hans would have to search miles of territory, foot by foot, to catch more than a small percentage of the community.

Gerdi, however, refused to leave Bill, and Wilma developed an equal obstinacy against quitting my side. I was inexperienced at this sort of thing, she explained, quite ignoring the fact that she was too; she was only thirteen or fourteen years old at the time of the last air raid.

Gerdi, however, refused to leave Bill, and Wilma was just as stubborn about staying by my side. She explained that I had no experience with this sort of thing. She ignored the fact that she had none either. She was only thirteen or fourteen during the last air raid.

However, since I could not argue her out of it, we leaped together about a quarter of a mile to the right, while Bill and Gerdi disappeared down the hillside among the trees.

But I couldn’t talk her out of it, so we leaped together about a quarter mile to the right. Meanwhile, Bill and Gerdi disappeared among the trees down the hillside.

Wilma and I both wanted a point of vantage from which we might overlook the valley and the sky to the north, and we found it near the top of the ridge, where, protected from visibility by thick branches, we could look out between the tree trunks, and get a good view of the valley.

Wilma and I both wanted a lookout where we could see the valley and the sky to the north. We found one near the top of the ridge. Thick branches hid us from view, and we could see the valley clearly between the tree trunks.

No more rockets went up. Except for a few of those warning red clouds, drifting lazily in a blue sky, there was no visible indication of man's past or present existence anywhere in the sky or on the ground.

No more rockets rose into the sky. A few red warning clouds drifted lazily across the blue sky. Otherwise, there was no visible sign of human life, past or present, anywhere in the sky or on the ground.

Then Wilma gripped my arm and pointed. I saw it; away off in the distance; looking like a phantom dirigible airship, in its coat of low-visibility paint, a bare spectre.

Then Wilma gripped my arm and pointed. I saw it far off in the distance. Its low-visibility paint made it look like a ghostly airship, a faint specter.

"Seven thousand feet up," Wilma whispered, crouching close to me. "Watch."

"Seven thousand feet up," Wilma whispered, crouching close to me. "Watch."

The ship was about the same shape as the great dirigibles of the 20th Century that I had seen, but without the suspended control car, engines, propellors, rudders or elevating planes. As it loomed rapidly nearer, I saw that it was wider and somewhat flatter than I had supposed.

The ship was shaped much like the great 20th-century airships I had seen. But it had no suspended control car, engines, propellers, rudders, or elevators. As it rapidly drew closer, I saw that it was wider and somewhat flatter than I had thought.

Now I could see the repellor rays that held the ship aloft, like searchlight beams faintly visible in the bright daylight (and still faintly visible to the human eye at night). Actually, I had been informed by my instructors, there were two rays; the visible one generated by the ship's apparatus, and directed toward the ground as a beam of "carrier" impulses; and the true repellor ray, the complement of the other in one sense, induced by the action of the "carrier" and reacting in a concentrating upward direction from the mass of the earth, becoming successively electronic, atomic and finally molecular, in its nature, according to various ratios of distance between earth mass and "carrier" source, until, in the last analysis, the ship itself actually is supported on an upward rushing column of air, much like a ball continuously supported on a fountain jet.

Now I could see the repellor rays that held the ship aloft. They were like searchlight beams, faintly visible in bright daylight (and still faintly visible to the human eye at night). My instructors had told me there were actually two rays. The visible one was generated by the ship's apparatus and aimed at the ground as a beam of "carrier" impulses. The true repellor ray was, in one sense, the complement of the other ray. It was induced by the action of the "carrier" and rose in a concentrating beam from the mass of the earth. Its nature changed from electronic to atomic and finally to molecular, depending on the ratio of distance between the earth's mass and the "carrier" source. Ultimately, the ship itself was supported on an upward rushing column of air, much like a ball held continuously aloft by a fountain jet.

The raider neared with incredible speed. Its rays were both slanted astern at a sharp angle, so that it slid forward with tremendous momentum.

The raider approached at incredible speed. Both its rays angled sharply backward, so it slid forward with tremendous momentum.

The ship was operating two disintegrator rays, though only in a casual, intermittent fashion. But whenever they flashed downward with blinding brilliancy, forest, rocks and ground melted instantaneously into nothing, where they played upon them.

The ship fired two disintegrator rays, though only casually and now and then. But whenever the rays flashed downward with blinding brilliance, the forest, rocks, and ground vanished instantly wherever they struck.

When later I inspected the scars left by these rays I found them some five feet deep and thirty feet wide, the exposed surfaces being lava-like in texture, but of a pale, iridescent, greenish hue.

Later, I examined the scars left by these rays. They were about five feet deep and thirty feet wide. The exposed surfaces had a lava-like texture but were pale, iridescent green.

No systematic use of the rays was made by the ship, however, until it reached a point over the center of the valley—the center of the community's activities. There it came to a sudden stop by shooting its repellor beams sharply forward and easing them back gradually to the vertical, holding the ship floating and motionless. Then the work of destruction began systematically.

The ship did not use its rays systematically until it reached the center of the valley, where the community’s activities were centered. There, it stopped suddenly by firing its repellor beams sharply forward. Then it gradually shifted the beams back to a vertical position, holding the ship motionless in the air. The systematic destruction began.

Back and forth traveled the destroying rays, ploughing parallel furrows from hillside to hillside. We gasped in dismay, Wilma and I, as time after time we saw it plough through sections where we knew camps or plants were located.

The destroying rays swept back and forth, cutting parallel furrows from one hillside to another. Wilma and I gasped in dismay as we watched them cut through areas where we knew camps or plants were located. This happened again and again.

"This is awful," she moaned, a terrified question in her eyes. "How could they know the location so exactly, Tony? Did you see? They were never in doubt. They stalled at a predetermined spot—and—and it was exactly the right spot."

"This is awful," she moaned, a terrified question in her eyes. "How could they know the exact location, Tony? Did you see? They were never in doubt. They stopped at a spot they had chosen in advance, and, and it was exactly the right spot."

We did not talk of what might happen if the rays were turned in our direction. We both knew. We would simply disintegrate in a split second into mere scattered electronic vibrations. Strangely enough, it was this self-reliant girl of the 25th Century, who clung to me, a relatively primitive man of the 20th, less familiar than she with the thought of this terrifying possibility, for moral support.

We didn't talk about what might happen if the rays turned toward us. We both knew. We would simply disintegrate in a split second into scattered electronic vibrations. Strangely, this self-reliant girl from the 25th century clung to me for moral support. I was a relatively primitive man from the 20th century, less familiar than she was with that terrifying possibility.

We knew that many of our companions must have been whisked into absolute non-existence before our eyes in these few moments. The whole thing paralyzed us into mental and physical immobility for I do not know how long.

We knew that many of our companions must have vanished completely before our eyes in those few moments. The whole experience left us unable to think or move for I don't know how long.

It couldn't have been long, however, for the rays had not ploughed more than thirty of their twenty-foot furrows or so across the valley, when I regained control of myself, and brought Wilma to herself by shaking her roughly.

It couldn't have been long, though. The rays had cut only about thirty furrows, each twenty feet wide, across the valley when I regained control of myself. I shook Wilma roughly until she came to.

"How far will this rocket gun shoot, Wilma?" I demanded, drawing my pistol.

"How far can this rocket gun shoot, Wilma?" I demanded, drawing my pistol.

"It depends on your rocket, Tony. It will take even the longest range rocket, but you could shoot more accurately from a longer tube. But why? You couldn't penetrate the shell of that ship with rocket force, even if you could reach it."

"It depends on your rocket, Tony. It can handle even the longest range rocket, but you could aim more accurately from a longer tube. But why? Even if you could reach that ship, a rocket wouldn't have enough force to pierce its shell."

I fumbled clumsily with my rocket pouch, for I was excited. I had an idea I wanted to try; a "hunch" I called it, forgetting that Wilma could not understand my ancient slang. But finally, with her help, I selected the longest range explosive rocket in my pouch, and fitted it to my pistol.

I fumbled with my rocket pouch because I was excited. I had an idea I wanted to try. I called it a "hunch," forgetting that Wilma couldn't understand my old slang. But finally, with her help, I chose the longest-range explosive rocket in my pouch and fitted it to my pistol.

"It won't carry seven thousand feet, Tony," Wilma objected. But I took aim carefully. It was another thought that I had in my mind. The supporting repellor ray, I had been told, became molecular in character at what was called a logarithmic level of five (below that it was a purely electronic "flow" or pulsation between the source of the "carrier" and the average mass of the earth). Below that level if I could project my explosive bullet into this stream where it began to carry material substance upward, might it not rise with the air column, gathering speed and hitting the ship with enough impact to carry it through the shell? It was worth trying anyhow. Wilma became greatly excited, too, when she grasped the nature of my inspiration.

"It won't reach seven thousand feet, Tony," Wilma objected. But I took careful aim. I had another idea in mind. I had been told that the supporting repellor ray became molecular at what was called a logarithmic level of five. Below that level, it was a purely electronic "flow" or pulsation between the source of the "carrier" and the average mass of the earth. I wondered if I could fire my explosive bullet into the stream below that level, where it began carrying material upward. Might the bullet rise with the column of air, picking up speed? Could it hit the ship hard enough to penetrate the shell? It was worth trying, anyway. Wilma became very excited, too, when she understood my idea.

Feverishly I looked around for some formation of branches against which I could rest the pistol, for I had to aim most carefully. At last I found one. Patiently I sighted on the hulk of the ship far above us, aiming at the far side of it, at such an angle as would, so far as I could estimate, bring my bullet path through the forward repellor beam. At last the sights wavered across the point I sought and I pressed the button gently.

I searched frantically for a arrangement of branches where I could rest the pistol. I had to aim very carefully. At last I found one. I patiently aimed at the bulk of the ship high above us. I aimed at its far side, at an angle that I estimated would send my bullet through the forward repellor beam. At last the sights wavered across the spot I wanted, and I gently pressed the button.

For a moment we gazed breathlessly.

For a moment, we stared, holding our breath.

Suddenly the ship swung bow down, as on a pivot, and swayed like a pendulum. Wilma screamed in her excitement.

Suddenly, the ship tilted bow down as if on a pivot, then swayed like a pendulum. Wilma screamed with excitement.

"Oh, Tony, you hit it! You hit it! Do it again; bring it down!"

"Oh, Tony, you hit it! You hit it! Do it again. Bring it down!"

We had only one more rocket of extreme range between us, and we dropped it three times in our excitement in inserting it in my gun. Then, forcing myself to be calm by sheer will power, while Wilma stuffed her little fist into her mouth to keep from shrieking, I sighted carefully again and fired. In a flash, Wilma had grasped the hope that this discovery of mine might lead to the end of the Han domination.

Between us, we had only one more long-range rocket. In our excitement, we dropped it three times while loading it into my gun. Then I forced myself to stay calm through sheer willpower. Wilma stuffed her little fist into her mouth to keep from screaming as I took careful aim again and fired. In a flash, Wilma realized that my discovery might lead to the end of Han domination.

The elapsed time of the rocket's invisible flight seemed an age.

The rocket's unseen flight seemed to take forever.

Then we saw the ship falling. It seemed to plunge lazily, but actually it fell with terrific acceleration, turning end over end, its disintegrator rays, out of control, describing vast, wild arcs, and once cutting a gash through the forest less than two hundred feet from where we stood.

Then we saw the ship falling. It seemed to fall slowly, but it was actually accelerating at a tremendous rate. It tumbled end over end, its disintegrator rays sweeping wildly through vast arcs. Once, the rays cut a gash through the forest less than two hundred feet from where we stood.

The crash with which the heavy craft hit the ground reverberated from the hills—the momentum of eighteen or twenty thousand tons, in a sheer drop of seven thousand feet. A mangled mass of metal, it buried itself in the ground, with poetic justice, in the middle of the smoking, semi-molten field of destruction it had been so deliberately ploughing.

The crash echoed off the hills as the heavy craft hit the ground. It weighed eighteen or twenty thousand tons and had fallen seven thousand feet straight down. Now a mangled mass of metal, it buried itself in the ground. In a bit of poetic justice, it landed in the middle of the smoking, partly melted field of destruction it had been deliberately plowing.

The silence, the vacuity of the landscape, was oppressive, as the last echoes died away.

As the last echoes faded, the silence and emptiness of the landscape felt oppressive.

Then far down the hillside, a single figure leaped exultantly above the foliage screen. And in the distance another, and another.

Then, far down the hillside, one figure leaped joyfully above the screen of leaves. In the distance, another appeared, and then another.

In a moment the sky was punctured by signal rockets. One after another the little red puffs became drifting clouds.

In a moment, signal rockets pierced the sky. One by one, the little red puffs turned into drifting clouds.

"Scatter! Scatter!" Wilma exclaimed. "In half an hour there'll be an entire Han fleet here from Nu-yok, and another from Bah-flo. They'll get this instantly on their recordographs and location finders. They'll blast the whole valley and the country for miles beyond. Come, Tony. There's no time for the gang to rally. See the signals. We've got to jump. Oh, I'm so proud of you!"

"Scatter! Scatter!" Wilma cried. "In half an hour, an entire Han fleet will be here from Nu-yok, and another from Bah-flo. Their recordographs and location finders will pick this up instantly. They'll blast the whole valley and the land for miles beyond it. Come on, Tony. There's no time for the gang to gather. Look at the signals. We have to jump. Oh, I'm so proud of you!"

Over the ridge we went, in long leaps toward the east, the country of the Delawares.

We leaped over the ridge and headed east in long bounds, toward the country of the Delawares.

From time to time signal rockets puffed in the sky. Most of them were the "red warnings," the "scatter" signals. But from certain of the others, which Wilma identified as Wyoming rockets, she gathered that whoever was in command (we did not know whether the Boss was alive or not) was ordering an ultimate rally toward the south, and so we changed our course.

From time to time, signal rockets burst in the sky. Most were "red warnings," the "scatter" signals. But Wilma identified some of the others as Wyoming rockets. From those, she understood that whoever was in command was ordering everyone to rally farther south. We did not know whether the Boss was alive or not. So we changed course.

It was a great pity, I thought, that the clan had not been equipped throughout its membership with ultrophones, but Wilma explained to me, that not enough of these had been built for distribution as yet, although general distribution had been contemplated within a couple of months.

I thought it was a shame that not every member of the clan had an ultrophone. But Wilma explained that not enough had been built yet. Still, there were plans to give everyone one within a couple of months.

We traveled far before nightfall overtook us, trying only to put as much distance as possible between ourselves and the valley.

We traveled far before night fell, trying only to get as far from the valley as possible.

When gathering dusk made jumping too dangerous, we sought a comfortable spot beneath the trees, and consumed part of our emergency rations. It was the first time I had tasted the stuff—a highly nutritive synthetic substance called "concentro," which was, however, a bit bitter and unpalatable. But as only a mouthful or so was needed, it did not matter.

As dusk fell, jumping became too dangerous, so we found a comfortable spot beneath the trees and ate some emergency rations. It was my first taste of the stuff. It was a highly nutritious synthetic substance called "concentro," but it was a little bitter and unpleasant. Still, that didn't matter, because we only needed about a mouthful.

Neither of us had a cloak, but we were both thoroughly tired and happy, so we curled up together for warmth. I remember Wilma making some sleepy remark about our mating, as she cuddled up, as though the matter were all settled, and my surprise at my own instant acceptance of the idea, for I had not consciously thought of her that way before. But we both fell asleep at once.

Neither of us had a cloak, but we were both very tired and happy, so we curled up together for warmth. As Wilma cuddled up, she made a sleepy remark about our mating, as if it were already settled. I was surprised that I accepted the idea right away, because I had never consciously thought of her that way before. But we both fell asleep at once.

In the morning we found little time for love making. The practical problem facing us was too great. Wilma felt that the Wyoming plan must be to rally in the Susquanna territory, but she had her doubts about the wisdom of this plan. In my elation at my success in bringing down the Han ship, and my newly found interest in my charming companion, who was, from my viewpoint of another century, at once more highly civilized and yet more primitive than myself, I had forgotten the ominous fact that the Han ship I had destroyed must have known the exact location of the Wyoming Works.

In the morning, we had little time for romance. The practical problem we faced was too great. Wilma thought the Wyoming plan must be to rally in the Susquanna territory, but she doubted it was wise. I was thrilled by my success in bringing down the Han ship and newly interested in my charming companion. From my perspective as a man from another century, she was both more civilized and more primitive than I was. In my excitement, I had forgotten an ominous fact. The Han ship I had destroyed must have known the exact location of the Wyoming Works.

This meant, to Wilma's logical mind, either that the Hans had perfected new instruments as yet unknown to us, or that somewhere, among the Wyomings or some other nearby gang, there were traitors so degraded as to commit that unthinkable act of trafficking in information with the Hans. In either contingency, she argued, other Han raids would follow, and since the Susquannas had a highly developed organization and more than usually productive plants, the next raid might be expected to strike them.

To Wilma’s logical mind, this meant one of two things. Either the Hans had developed new instruments unknown to us, or there were traitors among the Wyomings or another nearby gang. These traitors were so degraded that they would do the unthinkable and trade information with the Hans. In either case, she argued, more Han raids would follow. The Susquannas had a highly developed organization and more productive plants than most. So the next raid might be expected to strike them.

But at any rate it was clearly our business to get in touch with the other fugitives as quickly as possible, so in spite of muscles that were sore from the excessive leaping of the day before, we continued on our way.

But in any case, we clearly needed to contact the other fugitives as quickly as possible. So we continued on our way, despite muscles sore from all the leaping we had done the day before.

We traveled for only a couple of hours when we saw a multi-colored rocket in the sky, some ten miles ahead of us.

We had traveled for only a couple of hours when we saw a multicolored rocket in the sky, about ten miles ahead.

"Bear to the left, Tony," Wilma said, "and listen for the whistle."

"Head left, Tony," Wilma said, "and listen for the whistle."

"Why?" I asked.

"Why?" I asked.

"Haven't they given you the rocket code yet?" she replied. "That's what the green, followed by yellow and purple means; to concentrate five miles east of the rocket position. You know the rocket position itself might draw a play of disintegrator beams."

"Haven't they given you the rocket code yet?" she replied. "Green followed by yellow and purple means to gather five miles east of the rocket position. The rocket position itself might draw fire from disintegrator beams."

It did not take us long to reach the neighborhood of the indicated rallying, though we were now traveling beneath the trees, with but an occasional leap to a top branch to see if any more rocket smoke was floating above. And soon we heard a distant whistle.

It did not take us long to reach the area of the indicated rallying point. We were now traveling beneath the trees, though we occasionally leaped to a top branch to check for more rocket smoke overhead. Soon we heard a distant whistle.

We found about half the Gang already there, in a spot where the trees met high above a little stream. The Big Boss and Raid Bosses were busy reorganizing the remnants.

We found about half the Gang already gathered where the trees formed a canopy over a small stream. The Big Boss and Raid Bosses were busy reorganizing those who remained.

We reported to Boss Hart at once. He was silent, but interested, when he heard our story.

We reported to Boss Hart right away. He listened in silence, but he was interested in our story.

"You two stick close to me," he said, adding grimly, "I'm going back to the valley at once with a hundred picked men, and I'll need you."

“You two stay close to me,” he said grimly. “I’m going back to the valley right away with a hundred chosen men, and I’ll need you.”