The Finger of Doom

As we crossed the Hudson River, a few miles north of the city, we dropped several units of the Yellow Intelligence Division, with full instrumental equipment. Their apparatus cases were nicely balanced at only a few ounces weight each, and the men used their chute capes to ease their drops.

As we crossed the Hudson River a few miles north of the city, we dropped several Yellow Intelligence Division units. They had all their equipment with them. Each equipment case was carefully balanced and weighed only a few ounces. The men used their chute capes to slow their descent.

We recrossed the river a little distance above and began dropping White Intelligence units and a few long and short range gun units. Then we held our position until we began to get reports. Gradually we ringed the territory of the Sinsings, our observation units working busily and patiently at their locators and scopes, both aloft and aground, until Garlin finally turned to me with the remark:

We crossed the river again a little farther upstream. We began dropping White Intelligence units and a few long and short range gun units. Then we held our position until reports began coming in. Gradually, we surrounded the Sinsings' territory. Our observation units worked busily and patiently at their locators and scopes, both in the air and on the ground. Finally, Garlin turned to me and said:

"The map circle is complete now, Boss. We've got clear locations all the way around them."

"The circle on the map is complete now, Boss. We have clear locations all the way around them."

"Let me see it," I replied, and studied the illuminated viewplate map, with its little overlapping circles of light that indicated spots proved clear of the enemy by ultroscopic observation.

"Let me see it," I replied. I studied the illuminated viewplate map. Small, overlapping circles of light marked spots that ultroscopic observation had confirmed were clear of the enemy.

I nodded to Bill Hearn. "Go ahead now, Hearn," I said, "and place your barrage men."

I nodded to Bill Hearn. "Go ahead, Hearn," I said, "and position your barrage men."

He spoke into his ultrophone, and three of the ships began to glide in a wide ring around the enemy territory. Every few seconds, at the word from his Unit Boss, a gunner would drop off the wire, and slipping the clasp of his chute cape, drift down into the darkness below.

He spoke into his ultrophone, and three ships began to glide in a wide circle around the enemy territory. Every few seconds, on his Unit Boss's command, a gunner would drop off the wire. He would release the clasp on his chute cape and drift down into the darkness below.

Bill formed two lines, parallel to and facing the river, and enclosing the entire territory of the enemy between them. Above and below, straddling the river, were two defensive lines. These latter were merely to hold their positions. The others were to close in toward each other, pushing a high-explosive barrage five miles ahead of them. When the two barrages met, both lines were to switch to short-vision-range barrage and continue to close in on any of the enemy who might have drifted through the previous curtain of fire.

Bill formed two lines parallel to the river, facing it from opposite sides. The lines enclosed all the enemy territory between them. Two defensive lines straddled the river upstream and downstream. These lines were simply to hold their positions. The other two lines were to close in toward each other, pushing a high-explosive barrage five miles ahead of them. When the barrages met, both lines were to switch to a short-vision-range barrage. They would continue closing in on any enemies who might have slipped through the earlier curtain of fire.

In the meantime Bill kept his reserves, a picked corps of a hundred men (the same that had accompanied Hart and myself in our fight with the Han squadron) in the air, divided about equally among the "kite-tails" of four ships.

Meanwhile, Bill kept his reserves in the air, divided roughly equally among the "kite-tails" of four ships. They were a handpicked corps of a hundred men. These were the same men who had joined Hart and me in our fight with the Han squadron.

A final roll call, by units, companies, divisions and functions, established the fact that all our forces were in position. No Han activity was reported, and no Han broadcasts indicated any suspicion of our expedition. Nor was there any indication that the Sinsings had any knowledge of the fate in store for them. The idling of rep-ray generators was reported from the center of their camp, obviously those of the ships the Hans had given them—the price of their treason to their race.

A final roll call by units, companies, divisions, and functions confirmed that all our forces were in position. No Han activity was reported, and no Han broadcasts suggested they suspected our expedition. There was no sign that the Sinsings knew what fate awaited them, either. Rep-ray generators were reported idling in the center of their camp. These were obviously the generators on the ships the Hans had given them, the price of their treason to their race.

Again I gave the word, and Hearn passed on the order to his subordinates.

Again, I gave the order, and Hearn passed it on to his subordinates.

Far below us, and several miles to the right and left, the two barrage lines made their appearance. From the great height to which we had risen, they appeared like lines of brilliant, winking lights, and the detonations were muffled by the distances into a sort of rumbling, distant thunder. Hearn and his assistants were very busy: measuring, calculating, and snapping out ultrophone orders to unit commanders that resulted in the straightening of lines and the closing of gaps in the barrage.

Far below us, the two barrage lines came into view, several miles to our right and left. From the great height we had reached, they looked like lines of brilliant, flashing lights. The distance muffled the explosions into a kind of distant, rumbling thunder. Hearn and his assistants were busy measuring and calculating. They snapped out ultrophone orders to unit commanders, straightening the lines and closing gaps in the barrage.

The White Division Boss reported the utmost confusion in the Sinsing organization. They were, as might be expected, an inefficient, loosely disciplined gang, and repeated broadcasts for help to neighboring gangs. Ignoring the fact that the Mongolians had not used explosives for many generations, they nevertheless jumped at the conclusion that they were being raided by the Hans. Their frantic broadcasts persisted in this thought, despite the nervous electrophonic inquiries of the Hans themselves, to whom the sound of the battle was evidently audible, and who were trying to locate the trouble.

The White Division Boss reported total confusion in the Sinsing organization. As expected, they were an inefficient gang with little discipline. They repeatedly broadcast requests for help to neighboring gangs. They jumped to the conclusion that the Hans were raiding them, ignoring the fact that Mongolians had not used explosives for many generations. Their frantic broadcasts continued to blame the Hans, despite nervous electrophonic inquiries from the Hans themselves. The Hans could evidently hear the battle and were trying to find out where the trouble was.

At this point, the swooper I had sent south toward the city went into action as a diversion, to keep the Hans at home. Its "kite-tail" loaded with long-range gunners, using the most highly explosive rockets we had, hung invisible in the darkness of the sky and bombarded the city from a distance of about five miles. With an entire city to shoot at, and the object of creating as much commotion therein as possible, regardless of actual damage, the gunners had no difficulty in hitting the mark. I could see the glow of the city and the stabbing flashes of exploding rockets. In the end, the Hans, uncertain as to what was going on, fell back on a defensive policy, and shot their "hell cylinder," or wall of upturned disintegrator rays into operation. That, of course, ended our bombardment of them. The rays were a perfect defense, disintegrating our rockets as they were reached.

At this point, the swooper I had sent south toward the city went into action as a diversion. Its purpose was to keep the Hans at home. Its "kite-tail," loaded with long-range gunners using our most highly explosive rockets, hung invisible in the dark sky. From about five miles away, the gunners bombarded the city. They had the entire city to shoot at, and their goal was to cause as much commotion as possible, regardless of the actual damage. So they had no difficulty hitting their target. I could see the glow of the city and the sharp flashes of exploding rockets. In the end, the Hans were unsure what was happening and fell back on a defensive strategy. They activated their "hell cylinder," a wall of upward-pointing disintegrator rays. That, of course, ended our bombardment. The rays provided a perfect defense, disintegrating our rockets as soon as they reached them.

If they had not sent out ships before turning on the rays, and if they had none within sufficient radius already in the air, all would be well.

If they had not sent out ships before turning on the rays, and none were already flying close enough, all would be well.

I queried Garlin on this, but he assured me Yellow Intelligence reported no indications of Han ships nearer than 800 miles. This would probably give us a free hand for a while, since most of their instruments recorded only imperfectly or not at all, through the death wall.

I asked Garlin about this, but he assured me that Yellow Intelligence had reported no Han ships within 800 miles. This would probably give us a free hand for a while. Most of their instruments worked poorly or not at all through the death wall.

Requisitioning one of the viewplates of the headquarters ship, and the services of an expert operator, I instructed him to focus on our lines below. I wanted a close-up of the men in action.

I obtained a viewplate on the headquarters ship and the services of an expert operator. I told him to focus on our lines below. I wanted a close-up of the men in action.

He began to manipulate his controls and chaotic shadows moved rapidly across the plate, fading in and out of focus, until he reached an adjustment that gave me a picture of the forest floor, apparently 100 feet wide, with the intervening branches and foliage of the trees appearing like shadows that melted into reality a few feet above the ground.

He began adjusting the controls. Chaotic shadows moved rapidly across the plate, going in and out of focus. Finally, he found a setting that showed me a section of the forest floor, apparently 100 feet wide. The branches and foliage between us and the ground looked like shadows that became solid a few feet above the ground.

I watched one man setting up his long-gun with skillful speed. His lips pursed slightly as though he were whistling, as he adjusted the tall tripod on which the long tube was balanced. Swiftly he twirled the knobs controlling the aim and elevation of his piece. Then, lifting a belt of ammunition from the big box, which itself looked heavy enough to break down the spindly tripod, he inserted the end of it in the lock of his tube and touched the proper combination of buttons.

I watched a man set up his long-gun with practiced speed. His lips pursed slightly, as if he were whistling, while he adjusted the tall tripod supporting the long tube. He quickly turned the knobs that controlled the gun's aim and elevation. Then he lifted a belt of ammunition from the large box. The box alone looked heavy enough to break the spindly tripod. He inserted the end of the belt into the tube's lock and pressed the right combination of buttons.

Then he stepped aside, and occupied himself with peering carefully through the trees ahead. Not even a tremor shook the tube, but I knew that at intervals of something less than a second, it was discharging small projectiles which, traveling under their own continuously reduced power, were arching into the air, to fall precisely five miles ahead and explode with the force of eight-inch shells, such as we used in the First World War.

Then he stepped aside and carefully peered through the trees ahead. The tube did not shake at all. But I knew it was firing small projectiles at intervals of less than a second. Powered by their own continuously diminishing power, they arched through the air and landed exactly five miles ahead. They exploded with the force of the eight-inch shells we used in the First World War.

Another gunner, fifty feet to the right of him, waved a hand and called out something to him. Then, picking up his own tube and tripod, he gauged the distance between the trees ahead of him, and the height of their lowest branches, and bending forward a bit, flexed his muscles and leaped lightly, some twenty-five feet. Another leap took him another twenty feet or so, where he began to set up his piece.

Another gunner, fifty feet to his right, waved and called something to him. Then the gunner picked up his own tube and tripod. He judged the distance between the trees ahead and the height of their lowest branches. Bending forward slightly, he flexed his muscles and leaped lightly about twenty-five feet. Another leap took him about twenty feet farther, where he began to set up his gun.

I ordered my observer then to switch to the barrage itself. He got a close focus on it, but this showed little except a continuous series of blinding flashes, which, from the viewplate, lit up the entire interior of the ship. An eight-hundred-foot focus proved better. I had thought that some of our French and American artillery of the 20th Century had achieved the ultimate in mathematical precision of fire, but I had never seen anything to equal the accuracy of that line of terrific explosions as it moved steadily forward, mowing down trees as a scythe cuts grass (or used to 500 years ago), literally churning up the earth and the splintered, blasted remains of the forest giants, to a depth of from ten to twenty feet.

I then ordered my observer to switch to the barrage itself. He focused in close, but this showed little except a continuous series of blinding flashes. On the viewplate, the flashes lit up the entire interior of the ship. A focus at eight hundred feet worked better. I had thought some French and American artillery in the 20th Century had reached the peak of mathematical precision. But I had never seen anything as accurate as that line of tremendous explosions. It moved steadily forward, mowing down trees as a scythe cuts grass, or used to 500 years ago. The explosions literally churned up the earth and the splintered, blasted remains of the giant trees, to a depth of ten to twenty feet.

By now the two curtains of fire were nearing each other, lines of vibrant, shimmering, continuous, brilliant destruction, inevitably squeezing the panic-stricken Sinsings between them.

By now, the two curtains of fire were drawing closer. They were brilliant, shimmering, unbroken lines of destruction, steadily squeezing the panic-stricken Sinsings between them.

Even as I watched, a group of them, who had been making a futile effort to get their three rep-ray machines into the air, abandoned their efforts, and rushed forth into the milling mob.

As I watched, a group of them gave up trying to get their three rep-ray machines into the air. They rushed into the milling crowd.

I queried the Control Boss sharply on the futility of this attempt of theirs, and learned that the Hans, apparently in doubt as to what was going on, had continued to "play safe," and broken off their power broadcast, after ordering all their own ships east of the Alleghenies to the ground, for fear these ships they had traded to the Sinsings might be used against them.

I sharply questioned the Control Boss about why their attempt was futile. I learned that the Hans apparently did not know what was happening and had continued to "play safe." They had ordered all their own ships east of the Alleghenies to land, then stopped broadcasting power. They feared that the ships they had traded to the Sinsings might be used against them.

Again I turned to my viewplate, which was still focussed on the central section of the Sinsing works. The confusion of the traitors was entirely that of fear, for our barrage had not yet reached them.

I turned back to my viewplate, which was still focused on the central section of the Sinsing works. The traitors were in complete confusion because they were afraid. Our barrage had not yet reached them.

Some of them set up their long-guns and fired at random over the barrage line, then gave it up. They realized that they had no target to shoot at, no way of knowing whether our gunners were a few hundred feet or several miles beyond it.

Some of them set up their long-guns and fired randomly over the barrage line, then gave up. They realized they had no target to shoot at. They couldn't tell whether our gunners were a few hundred feet or several miles beyond the barrage line.

Their ultrophone men, of whom they did not have many, stood around in tense attitudes, their helmet phones strapped around their ears, nervously fingering the tuning controls at their belts. Unquestionably they must have located some of our frequencies, and overheard many of our reports and orders. But they were confused and disorganized. If they had an Ultrophone Boss they evidently were not reporting to him in an organized way.

They did not have many ultrophone men. Those they had stood around tensely, their helmet phones strapped over their ears. They nervously fingered the tuning controls on their belts. They must have found some of our frequencies and overheard many of our reports and orders. But they were confused and disorganized. If they had an Ultrophone Boss, they apparently were not reporting to him in an organized way.

They were beginning to draw back now before our advancing fire. With intermittent desperation, they began to shoot over our barrage again, and the explosions of their rockets flashed at widely scattered points beyond. A few took distance "pot shots."

They were beginning to retreat as our fire advanced. In occasional bursts of desperation, they began firing over our barrage again. Their rockets exploded in flashes at widely scattered points beyond it. A few took long-distance "pot shots."

Oddly enough it was our own forces that suffered the first casualties in the battle. Some of these distance shots by chance registered hits, while our men were under strict orders not to exceed their barrage distances.

Oddly enough, our own forces suffered the first casualties of the battle. Some of the long-range shots hit by chance, while our men had strict orders not to fire beyond their barrage distances.

Seen upon the ultroscope viewplate, the battle looked as though it were being fought in daylight, perhaps on a cloudy day, while the explosions of the rockets appeared as flashes of extra brilliance.

On the ultroscope viewplate, the battle looked as if it were being fought in daylight, perhaps on a cloudy day. The rockets exploded in flashes of extra brightness.

The two barrage lines were not more than five hundred feet apart when the Sinsings resorted to tactics we had not foreseen. We noticed first that they began to lighten themselves by throwing away extra equipment. A few of them in their excitement threw away too much, and shot suddenly into the air. Then a scattering few floated up gently, followed by increasing numbers, while still others, preserving a weight balance, jumped toward the closing barrages and leaped high, hoping to clear them. Some succeeded. We saw others blown about like leaves in a windstorm, to crumple and drift slowly down, or else to fall into the barrage, their belts blown from their bodies.

The two barrage lines were no more than five hundred feet apart when the Sinsings used tactics we had not anticipated. First, we noticed them throwing away extra equipment to lighten themselves. In their excitement, a few threw away too much and shot suddenly into the air. Then a few others floated up gently, followed by more and more. Still others kept their weight balanced and jumped toward the closing barrages, leaping high in hopes of clearing them. Some succeeded. We saw others blown about like leaves in a windstorm. They crumpled and drifted slowly down, or fell into the barrage with their belts blown off their bodies.

However, it was not part of our plan to allow a single one of them to escape and find his way to the Hans. I quickly passed the word to Bill Hearn to have the alternate men in his line raise their barrages and heard him bark out a mathematical formula to the Unit Bosses.

But we did not plan to let a single one escape and reach the Hans. I quickly told Bill Hearn to have every other man in his line raise his barrage. I heard him bark out a mathematical formula to the Unit Bosses.

We backed off our ships as the explosions climbed into the air in stagger formation until they reached a height of three miles. I don't believe any of the Sinsings who tried to float away to freedom succeeded.

We moved our ships back as the explosions rose in a staggered formation to a height of three miles. I don't think any of the Sinsings who tried to float away to freedom succeeded.

But we did know later, that a few who leaped the barrage got away and ultimately reached Nu-yok.

But we later learned that a few who leaped over the barrage escaped and eventually reached Nu-yok.

It was those who managed to jump the barrage who gave us the most trouble. With half of our long-guns turned aloft, I foresaw we would not have enough to establish successive ground barrages and so ordered the barrage back two miles, from which positions our "curtains" began to close in again, this time, however, gauged to explode, not on contact, but thirty feet in the air. This left little chance for the Sinsings to leap either over or under it.

Those who managed to jump over the barrage gave us the most trouble. Half our long-guns were aimed upward, so I knew we would not have enough to set up successive ground barrages. I ordered the barrage moved back two miles. From there, our "curtains" began closing in again. This time, however, they were set to explode thirty feet in the air instead of on contact. That left the Sinsings little chance of jumping over or under the barrage.

Gradually, the two barrages approached each other until they finally met, and in the grey dawn the battle ended.

The two barrages gradually approached each other until they met. In the gray light of dawn, the battle ended.

Our own casualties amounted to forty-seven men in the ground forces, eighteen of whom had been slain in hand to hand fighting with the few of the enemy who managed to reach our lines, and sixty-two in the crew and "kite-tail" force of swooper No. 4, which had been located by one of the enemy's ultroscopes and brought down with long-gun fire.

Our ground forces suffered forty-seven casualties. Eighteen were killed in hand-to-hand fighting with the few enemies who reached our lines. Another sixty-two casualties were among the crew and "kite-tail" force of swooper No. 4. An enemy ultroscope had located the swooper, and long-gun fire brought it down.

Since nearly every member of the Sinsing Gang had, so far as we knew, been killed, we considered the raid a great success.

As far as we knew, nearly every member of the Sinsing Gang had been killed, so we considered the raid a great success.

It had, however, a far greater significance than this. To all of us who took part in the expedition, the effectiveness of our barrage tactics definitely established a confidence in our ability to overcome the Hans.

However, it had a much greater significance. The success of our barrage tactics gave all of us on the expedition confidence that we could defeat the Hans.

As I pointed out to Wilma:

As I pointed out to Wilma:

"It has been my belief all along, dear, that the American explosive rocket is a far more efficient weapon than the disintegrator ray of the Hans, once we can train all our gangs to use it systematically and in co-ordinated fashion. As a weapon in the hands of a single individual, shooting at a mark in direct line of vision, the rocket-gun is inferior in destructive power to the dis ray, except as its range may be a little greater. The trouble is that to date it has been used only as we used our rifles and shot guns in the 20th Century. The possibilities of its use as artillery, in laying barrages that advance along the ground, or climb into the air, are tremendous.

"I've believed all along, dear, that the American explosive rocket is a far more effective weapon than the Hans' disintegrator ray. We just need to train all our gangs to use the rocket systematically and together. In the hands of one person firing at a visible target, the rocket-gun is less destructive than the dis ray. Its range may be a little greater, though. The trouble is that, so far, we have used the rocket-gun only as we used rifles and shotguns in the 20th Century. The possibilities for using it as artillery are tremendous. It could lay barrages that advance along the ground or climb into the air.

"The dis ray inevitably reveals its source of emanation. The rocket gun does not. The dis ray can reach its target only in a straight line. The rocket may be made to travel in an arc, over intervening obstacles, to an unseen target.

"The dis ray always reveals where it came from. The rocket gun does not. The dis ray can only reach its target in a straight line. The rocket can be made to travel in an arc over obstacles to a target out of sight.

"Nor must we forget that our ultronists now are promising us a perfect shield against the dis ray in inertron."

"We must also remember that our ultronists now promise us a perfect shield against the dis ray, made of inertron."

"I tremble though, Tony dear, when I think of the horrors that are ahead of us. The Hans are clever. They will develop defenses against our new tactics. And they are sure to mass against us not only the full force of their power in America, but the united forces of the World Empire. They are a cowardly race in one sense, but clever as the very Devils in Hell, and inheritors of a calm, ruthless, vicious persistency."

“I tremble, though, Tony dear, when I think of the horrors ahead of us. The Hans are clever. They will develop defenses against our new tactics. They will surely bring the full force of their power in America against us. They will also bring the united forces of the World Empire against us. In one sense, they are a cowardly race. But they are as clever as the Devils in Hell. They have inherited a calm, ruthless, vicious persistence.”

"Nevertheless," I prophesied, "the Finger of Doom points squarely at them today, and unless you and I are killed in the struggle, we shall live to see America blast the Yellow Blight from the face of the Earth."

"Even so," I predicted, "the Finger of Doom points straight at them today. Unless you and I are killed in the fight, we will live to see America blast the Yellow Blight off the face of the Earth."