The Han City

This conversation set me thinking. All of the Han electrophone inter-communication had been an open record to the Americans for a good many years, and the Hans were just finding it out. For centuries they had not regarded us as any sort of a menace. Unquestionably it had never occurred to them to secrete their own records. Somewhere in Nu-yok or Bah-flo, or possibly in Lo-Tan itself, the record of this traitorous transaction would be more or less openly filed. If we could only get at it! I wondered if a raid might not be possible.

This conversation got me thinking. For many years, all Han electrophone communications had been open to the Americans. The Hans were only just finding this out. For centuries, they had not seen us as any kind of threat. Surely, it had never occurred to them to hide their own records. Somewhere in Nu-yok or Bah-flo, or possibly in Lo-Tan itself, the record of this treacherous deal would be filed more or less openly. If only we could get to it! I wondered if a raid might be possible.

Bill Hearn and I talked it over with our Han-affairs Boss and his experts. There ensued several days of research, in which the Han records of the entire decade were scanned and analyzed. In the end they picked out a mass of detail, and fitted it together into a very definite picture of the great central filing office of the Hans in Nu-yok, where the entire mass of official records was kept, constantly available for instant projectoscoping to any of the city's offices, and of the system by which the information was filed.

Bill Hearn and I discussed it with our Han-affairs Boss and his experts. They spent several days researching, scanning and analyzing Han records from the entire decade. In the end, they gathered a mass of details and fitted them together. This gave them a clear picture of the Hans’ great central filing office in Nu-yok. The office held all the official records, which were always available for instant projectoscoping to any city office. They also learned how the information was filed.

The attempt began to look feasible, though Hart instantly turned the idea down when I first presented it to him. It was unthinkable, he said. Sheer suicide. But in the end I persuaded him.

The attempt began to seem possible, though Hart rejected the idea as soon as I presented it. He said it was unthinkable. Sheer suicide. But in the end, I persuaded him.

"I will need," I said, "Blash, who is thoroughly familiar with the Han library system; Bert Gaunt, who for years has specialized on their military offices; Bill Barker, the ray specialist, and the best swooper pilot we have." Swoopers are one-man and two-man ships, developed by the Americans, with skeleton backbones of inertron (during the war painted green for invisibility against the green forests below) and "bellies" of clear ultron.

"I'll need Blash," I said. "He knows the Han library system thoroughly. I'll also need Bert Gaunt, who has specialized in their military offices for years, Bill Barker, the ray specialist, and our best swooper pilot." Swoopers are one- or two-person ships developed by the Americans. They have skeletal inertron backbones and clear ultron "bellies." During the war, the backbones were painted green to make them invisible against the green forests below.

"That will be Mort Gibbons," said Hart. "We've only got three swoopers left, Tony, but I'll risk one of them if you and the others will voluntarily risk your existences. But mind, I won't urge or order one of you to go. I'll spread the word to every Plant Boss at once to give you anything and everything you need in the way of equipment."

"That will be Mort Gibbons," said Hart. "We've only got three swoopers left, Tony. But I'll risk one if you and the others are willing to risk your lives. Mind you, I won't urge or order any of you to go. I'll tell every Plant Boss at once to give you any equipment you need."

When I told Wilma of the plan, I expected her to raise violent and tearful objections, but she didn't. She was made of far sterner stuff than the women of the 20th Century. Not that she couldn't weep as copiously or be just as whimsical on occasion; but she wouldn't weep for the same reasons.

When I told Wilma about the plan, I expected her to protest fiercely and tearfully, but she didn't. She was much tougher than the women of the 20th Century. She could still cry just as much or be just as unpredictable at times. But she wouldn't cry for the same reasons.

She just gave me an unfathomable look, in which there seemed to be a bit of pride, and asked eagerly for the details. I confess I was somewhat disappointed that she could so courageously risk my loss, even though I was amazed at her fortitude. But later I was to learn how little I knew her then.

She just gave me a look I couldn't read, though there seemed to be a little pride in it. Then she eagerly asked for the details. I admit I was somewhat disappointed that she could so bravely risk losing me, though I admired her courage. But later I would learn how little I knew her then.

We were ready to slide off at dawn the next morning. I had kissed Wilma good-bye at our camp, and after a final conference over our plans, we boarded our craft and gently glided away over the tree tops on a course, which, after crossing three routes of the Han ships, would take us out over the Atlantic, off the Jersey coast, whence we would come up on Nu-yok from the ocean.

We were ready to leave at dawn the next morning. I kissed Wilma goodbye at our camp. After one final discussion of our plans, we boarded our craft and glided gently over the treetops. Our course crossed three routes used by Han ships, then took us over the Atlantic off the Jersey coast. From there, we would approach Nu-yok from the ocean.

Twice we had to nose down and lie motionless on the ground near a route while Han ships passed. Those were tense moments. Had the green back of our ship been observed, we would have been disintegrated in a second. But it wasn't.

Twice, we had to land near a route and lie motionless on the ground while Han ships passed. Those were tense moments. If anyone had spotted the green back of our ship, we would have been disintegrated in a second. But no one spotted it.

Once over the water, however, we climbed in a great spiral, ten miles in diameter, until our altimeter registered ten miles. Here Gibbons shut off his rocket motor, and we floated, far above the level of the Atlantic liners, whose course was well to the north of us anyhow, and waited for nightfall.

Once over the water, however, we climbed in a wide spiral, ten miles across. We continued until our altimeter showed we were ten miles high. There, Gibbons shut off his rocket motor, and we floated as we waited for nightfall. We were far above the Atlantic liners, which were traveling well to the north of us anyway.

Then Gibbons turned from his control long enough to grin at me.

Then Gibbons turned away from his control just long enough to grin at me.

"I have a surprise for you, Tony," he said, throwing back the lid of what I had supposed was a big supply case. And with a sigh of relief, Wilma stepped out of the case.

"I have a surprise for you, Tony," he said. He threw open the lid of what I had thought was a large supply case. Wilma stepped out of the case with a sigh of relief.

"If you 'go into zero' (a common expression of the day for being annihilated by the disintegrator ray), you don't think I'm going to let you go alone, do you, Tony? I couldn't believe my ears last night when you spoke of going without me, until I realized that you are still five hundred years behind the times in lots of ways. Don't you know, dear heart, that you offered me the greatest insult a husband could give a wife? You didn't, of course."

"If you 'go into zero' (a common expression at the time for being destroyed by the disintegrator ray), you don't think I'll let you go alone, do you, Tony? I couldn't believe my ears last night when you talked about going without me. Then I realized you're still five hundred years behind the times in many ways. Don't you know, dear heart, that you gave me the greatest insult a husband could give his wife? Of course you didn't."

The others, it seemed, had all been in on the secret, and now they would have kidded me unmercifully, except that Wilma's eyes blazed dangerously.

It seemed the others had all known the secret. They would have teased me mercilessly, but Wilma’s eyes flashed dangerously.

At nightfall, we maneuvered to a position directly above the city. This took some time and calculation on the part of Bill Barker, who explained to me that he had to determine our point by ultronic bearings. The slightest resort to an electronic instrument, he feared, might be detected by our enemies' locators. In fact, we did not dare bring our swooper any lower than five miles for fear that its capacity might be reflected in their instruments.

At nightfall, we maneuvered into position directly above the city. This took Bill Barker some time and calculation. He explained that he had to determine our position using ultronic bearings. He feared that even the slightest use of an electronic instrument might be detected by our enemies' locators. In fact, we did not dare bring our swooper below five miles, for fear that its capacity might register on their instruments.

Finally, however, he succeeded in locating above the central tower of the city.

Finally, however, he managed to position himself above the city's central tower.

"If my calculations are as much as ten feet off," he remarked with confidence, "I'll eat the tower. Now the rest is up to you, Mort. See what you can do to hold her steady. No—here, watch this indicator—the red beam, not the green one. See—if you keep it exactly centered on the needle, you're O.K. The width of the beam represents seventeen feet. The tower platform is fifty feet square, so we've got a good margin to work on."

"If my calculations are off by as much as ten feet," he said confidently, "I'll eat the tower. Now the rest is up to you, Mort. Do what you can to hold her steady. No, here, watch this indicator. The red beam, not the green one. See? If you keep it centered exactly on the needle, you're fine. The beam is seventeen feet wide. The tower platform is fifty feet square, so we have plenty of room to work with."

For several moments we watched as Gibbons bent over his levers, constantly adjusting them with deft touches of his fingers. After a bit of wavering, the beam remained centered on the needle.

For several moments, we watched Gibbons lean over his levers, constantly adjusting them with quick, skillful movements of his fingers. After wavering a little, the beam stayed centered on the needle.

"Now," I said, "let's drop."

"Now," I said, "let's drop."

I opened the trap and looked down, but quickly shut it again when I felt the air rushing out of the ship into the rarefied atmosphere in a torrent. Gibbons literally yelled a protest from his instrument board.

I opened the hatch and looked down, but quickly shut it again. Air was rushing out of the ship into the thin atmosphere. From his instrument panel, Gibbons literally yelled in protest.

"I forgot," I mumbled. "Silly of me. Of course, we'll have to drop out of compartment."

"I forgot," I mumbled. "That was silly of me. Of course, we'll have to drop out of compartment."

The compartment, to which I referred, was similar to those in some of the 20th Century submarines. We all entered it. There was barely room for us to stand, shoulder to shoulder. With some struggles, we got into our special air helmets and adjusted the pressure. At our signal, Gibbons exhausted the air in the compartment, pumping it into the body of the ship, and as the little signal light flashed, Wilma threw open the hatch.

The compartment I mentioned was like those in some 20th-century submarines. We all entered it. There was barely enough room for us to stand shoulder to shoulder. After some difficulty, we put on our special air helmets and adjusted the pressure. At our signal, Gibbons pumped the air out of the compartment and into the body of the ship. When the small signal light flashed, Wilma threw open the hatch.

Setting the ultron-wire reel, I climbed through, and began to slide down gently.

I set the ultron-wire reel, climbed through, and began to slide down gently.

We all had our belts on, of course, adjusted to a weight balance of but a few ounces. And the five-mile reel of ultron wire that was to be our guide, was of gossamer fineness, though, anyway, I believe it would have lifted the full weight of the five of us, so strong and tough was this invisible metal. As an extra precaution, since the wire was of the purest metal, and therefore totally invisible, even in daylight, we all had our belts hooked on small rings that slid down the wire.

Of course, we all wore our belts, adjusted so we weighed only a few ounces. The five-mile reel of ultron wire was to be our guide. The wire was as fine as gossamer, though I believe it could have lifted all five of us. The invisible metal was that strong and tough. The wire was made of the purest metal, so it was completely invisible, even in daylight. As an extra precaution, we all hooked our belts to small rings that slid along the wire.

I went down with the end of the wire. Wilma followed a few feet above me, then Barker, Gaunt and Blash. Gibbons, of course, stayed behind to hold the ship in position and control the paying out of the line. We all had our ultrophones in place inside our air helmets, and so could converse with one another and with Gibbons. But at Wilma's suggestion, although we would have liked to let the Big Boss listen in, we kept them adjusted to short-range work, for fear that those who had been clearing with the Hans, and against whom we were on a raid for evidence, might also pick up our conversation. We had no fear that the Hans would hear us. In fact, we had the added advantage that, even after we landed, we could converse freely without danger of their hearing our voices through our air helmets.

I went down with the end of the wire. Wilma followed a few feet above me, then Barker, Gaunt and Blash. Gibbons, of course, stayed behind to hold the ship in position and control the release of the line. We all had our ultrophones inside our air helmets, so we could talk to one another and to Gibbons. We would have liked to let the Big Boss listen in. But at Wilma's suggestion, we kept the ultrophones set to short range. We feared that those who had been dealing with the Hans might also hear us. They were the people we were raiding to find evidence against. We had no fear that the Hans would hear us. In fact, even after we landed, we could talk freely without risking the Hans hearing our voices through our air helmets.

For a while I could see nothing below but utter darkness. Then I realized, from the feel of the air as much as from anything, that we were sinking through a cloud layer. We passed through two more cloud layers before anything was visible to us.

For a while, I could see nothing below but complete darkness. Then I realized we were sinking through a layer of clouds. I could tell as much from the feel of the air as from anything else. We passed through two more layers of clouds before we could see anything.

Then there came under my gaze, about two miles below, one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen; the soft, yet brilliant, radiance of the great Han city of Nu-yok. Every foot of its structural members seemed to glow with a wonderful incandescence, tower piled up on tower, and all built on the vast base-mass of the city, which, so I had been told, sheered upward from the surface of the rivers to a height of 728 levels.

Then, about two miles below me, I saw one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. The great Han city of Nu-yok shone with a soft yet brilliant radiance. Every foot of its structures seemed to glow with a marvelous light. Towers rose upon towers, all built on the city’s vast base. I had been told that the base rose sheer from the surface of the rivers to a height of 728 levels.

The city, I noticed with some surprise, did not cover anything like the same area as the New York of the 20th Century. It occupied, as a matter of fact, only the lower half of Manhattan Island, with one section straddling the East River, and spreading out sufficiently over what once had been Brooklyn, to provide berths for the great liners and other air craft.

I noticed with some surprise that the city covered nowhere near as much ground as 20th century New York. It occupied only the lower half of Manhattan Island. One section crossed the East River and spread into what had once been Brooklyn. It extended far enough to provide berths for the great liners and other aircraft.

Straight beneath my feet was a tiny dark patch. It seemed the only spot in the entire city that was not aflame with radiance. This was the central tower, in the top floors of which were housed the vast library of record files and the main projectoscope plant.

Directly beneath my feet was a tiny dark patch. It seemed to be the only spot in the entire city that was not blazing with light. It was the central tower. Its top floors housed the vast library of record files and the main projectoscope plant.

"You can shoot the wire now," I ultrophoned Gibbons, and let go the little weighted knob. It dropped like a plummet, and we followed with considerable speed, but braking our descent with gloved hands sufficiently to see whether the knob, on which a faint light glowed as a signal for ourselves, might be observed by any Han guard or night prowler. Apparently it was not, and we again shot down with accelerated speed.

"You can shoot the wire now," I ultrophoned Gibbons, and let go of the small weighted knob. It dropped like a plummet, and we followed quickly. But we slowed our descent with our gloved hands. We wanted to see if any Han guard or night prowler noticed the faint light on the knob. It was a signal for us. Apparently no one noticed it, and we sped down again.

We landed on the roof of the tower without any mishap, and fortunately for our plan, in darkness. Since there was nothing above it on which it would have been worth while to shed illumination, or from which there was any need to observe it, the Hans had neglected to light the tower roof, or indeed to occupy it at all. This was the reason we had selected it as our landing place.

We landed safely on the tower roof. Fortunately for our plan, it was dark. There was nothing above the roof worth lighting, and no need to observe the roof from above. So the Hans had not lit the roof or even occupied it. That was why we had chosen it as our landing place.

As soon as Gibbons had our word, he extinguished the knob light, and the knob, as well as the wire, became totally invisible. At our ultrophoned word, he would light it again.

As soon as we gave Gibbons the word, he turned off the knob light. Both the knob and the wire became completely invisible. He would turn the light on again when we gave him the word by ultrophone.

"No gun play now," I warned. "Swords only, and then only if absolutely necessary."

"No shooting now," I warned. "Use swords only if absolutely necessary."

Closely bunched, and treading as lightly as only inertron-belted people could, we made our way cautiously through a door and down an inclined plane to the floor below, where Gaunt and Blash assured us the military offices were located.

Huddled close together, we stepped as lightly as only people wearing inertron belts could. We moved cautiously through a door and down a ramp to the floor below. Gaunt and Blash assured us the military offices were there.

Twice Barker cautioned us to stop as we were about to pass in front of mirror-like "windows" in the passage wall, and flattening ourselves to the floor, we crawled past them.

Twice, Barker warned us to stop as we were about to pass mirror-like "windows" in the passage wall. We flattened ourselves against the floor and crawled past them.

"Projectoscopes," he said. "Probably on automatic record only, at this time of night. Still, we don't want to leave any records for them to study after we're gone."

"Projectoscopes," he said. "They're probably just recording automatically at this time of night. Still, we don't want to leave any recordings for them to study after we're gone."

"Were you ever here before?" I asked.

"Have you ever been here before?" I asked.

"No," he replied, "but I haven't been studying their electrophone communications for seven years without being able to recognize these machines when I run across them."

"No," he replied, "but I've studied their electrophone communications for seven years. That's long enough to recognize these machines when I come across them."