The Mysterious "Air Balls"

The American barrage had been a long distance bombardment, designed, apparently, to draw the Han disintegrator ray batteries into operation and so reveal their positions on the mountain tops and slopes, for the Hans, after the destruction of Nu-Yok, had learned quickly that concealment of their positions was a better protection than a surrounding wall of disintegrator rays shooting up into the sky.

The American barrage was a long-range bombardment. Apparently, its purpose was to draw fire from the Han disintegrator ray batteries and reveal their positions on the mountaintops and slopes. After the destruction of Nu-Yok, the Hans had quickly learned that concealing their positions protected them better than a surrounding wall of disintegrator rays shooting into the sky.

The Hans, however, had failed to reply with disintegrator rays. For already this arm, which formerly they had believed invincible, was being restricted to a limited number of their military units, and their factories were busy turning out explosive rockets not dissimilar to those of the Americans in their motive power and atomic detonation. They had replied with these, shooting them from unrevealed positions, and at the estimated positions of the Americans.

The Hans, however, had not fired back with disintegrator rays. They had once believed this weapon was invincible. But they were already limiting its use to a small number of their military units. Their factories were busy producing explosive rockets. These were similar to the Americans’ rockets in their propulsion and atomic detonation. The Hans had fired back with these rockets from hidden positions, aiming at the estimated positions of the Americans.

Since the Americans, not knowing the exact location of the Han outer line, had shot their barrage over it, and the Hans had fired at unknown American positions, this first exchange of fire had done little more than to churn up vast areas of mountain and valley.

The Americans did not know exactly where the Han outer line was, so they fired their barrage beyond it. The Hans fired at American positions without knowing where they were. As a result, the first exchange of fire did little more than churn up vast areas of mountain and valley.

The Hans appeared to be elated, to feel that they had driven off an American attack. I knew better. The next American move, I felt, would be the occupation of the air, from which they had driven the Hans, and from swoopers to direct the rocket fire at the city itself. Then, when they had destroyed this, they would sweep in and hunt down the Hans, man to man, in the surrounding mountains. Command of the air was still important in military strategy, but command of the air rested no longer in the air, but on the ground.

The Hans seemed thrilled, apparently believing they had driven off an American attack. I knew better. I felt the Americans would next take control of the airspace from which they had driven the Hans. From swoopers, they would direct rocket fire at the city itself. Once they had destroyed the city, they would sweep in and hunt down the Hans man by man in the surrounding mountains. Control of the air was still important in military strategy, but it no longer depended on the air. It depended on the ground.

The Hans themselves attempted to scout the American positions from the air, under cover of a massed attack of ships in "cloud bank" or beaming formation, but with very little success. Most of their ships were shot down, and the remainder slid back to the city on sharply inclined repeller rays, one of them which had its generators badly damaged while still fifty miles out, collapsed over the city, before it could reach its berth at the airport, and crashed down through the glass roof of the city, doing great damage.

The Hans also tried to scout the American positions from the air. They used a mass attack of ships in "cloud bank" or beaming formation as cover, but had very little success. Most of their ships were shot down. The rest slid back to the city on steeply inclined repeller rays. One ship had its generators badly damaged while it was still fifty miles out. It collapsed over the city before reaching its berth at the airport. It crashed through the city's glass roof, causing great damage.

Then followed the "air balls," an unforeseen and ingenious resurrection by the Americans of an old principle of air and submarine tactics, through a modern application of the principle of remote control.

Then came the "air balls." In an unexpected and ingenious move, the Americans used modern remote control to revive an old principle of air and submarine tactics.

The air balls took heavy toll of the morale of the Hans before they were clearly understood by them, and even afterward for that matter.

The air balls badly damaged the morale of the Hans before they clearly understood them. Even afterward, the air balls still hurt their morale.

Their first appearance was quite mysterious. One uneasy night, while the pulsating growl of the distant barrage kept the nerves of the city's inhabitants on edge, there was an explosion near the top of a pinnacle not far from the Imperial Tower. It occurred at the 732nd level, and caused the structure above it to lean and sag, though it did not fall.

Their first appearance was quite mysterious. One uneasy night, the pulsing growl of the distant barrage kept the city’s inhabitants on edge. Then an explosion occurred near the top of a pinnacle not far from the Imperial Tower. It struck at the 732nd level, causing the structure above it to lean and sag, though it did not fall.

Repair men who shot up the shafts a few minutes later to bring new broadcast lamps to replace those which had been shattered, reported what seemed to be a sphere of metal, about three feet in diameter, with a four-inch lens in it, floating slowly down the shaft, as though it were some living creature making a careful examination, pausing now and then as its lens swung about like a great single eye. The moment this "eye" turned upon them, they said, the ball "rushed" down on them, crushing several to death in its vicious gyrations, and jamming the mechanism of the elevator, though failing to crash through it. Then, said the wounded survivors, it floated back up the shaft, watchfully "eyeing" them, and slipped off to the side at the wrecked level.

A few minutes later, repair workers shot up the shafts with new broadcast lamps to replace the shattered ones. They reported seeing what looked like a metal sphere, about three feet across, with a four-inch lens. It floated slowly down the shaft, as if it were a living creature making a careful inspection. Now and then it paused, its lens swinging around like a great single eye. The workers said that the moment this "eye" turned on them, the ball "rushed" down at them. It spun violently, crushing several of them to death and jamming the elevator mechanism, though it did not crash through the elevator. The wounded survivors said it then floated back up the shaft, watchfully "eyeing" them, and slipped off to the side at the wrecked level.

The next night several of these "air balls" were seen, following explosions in various towers and sections of the city roof and walls. In each case repair gangs were "rushed" by them, and suffered many casualties. On the third night a few of the air balls were destroyed by the repair men and guards, who now were equipped with disintegrator pistols.

The next night, explosions struck various towers and sections of the city’s roof and walls. Afterward, several of these "air balls" were seen. In each case, they "rushed" the repair crews, causing many casualties. On the third night, repair workers and guards destroyed a few of the air balls. They were now equipped with disintegrator pistols.

This, however, was pretty costly business, for in each case the ray bored into the corridor and shaft walls beyond its target, wrecking much machinery, injuring the structural members of that section, penetrating apartments and taking a number of lives. Moreover, the "air balls," being destroyed, could not be subjected to scientific inspection.

This was costly, however. Each time, the ray bored past its target and into the walls of the corridor and shaft. It wrecked machinery, damaged structural supports in that section, and penetrated apartments, killing several people. Moreover, the "air balls" were destroyed, so they could not be examined scientifically.

After this the explosions ceased. But for many days the sudden appearances of those "air balls" in the corridors and shafts of the city caused the greatest confusion, and many times they were the cause of death and panic.

After this, the explosions stopped. But for many days, "air balls" suddenly appeared in the city's corridors and shafts, causing great confusion. Many times, they caused deaths and panic.

At times they released poison gases, and not infrequently themselves burst, instead of withdrawing, in a veritable explosion of disease germs, requiring absolute quarantine by the Han medical department.

Sometimes they released poison gas. Often, instead of withdrawing, they burst in an explosion of disease germs. This required the Han medical department to impose a complete quarantine.

There was an utter heartlessness about the defense of the Han authorities, who considered nothing but the good of the community as a whole; for when they established these quarantines, they did not hesitate to seal up thousands of the city's inhabitants behind hermetic barriers enclosing entire sections of different levels, where deprived of food and ventilation, the wretched inhabitants died miserably, long before the disease germs developed in their systems.

The Han authorities defended the community with utter heartlessness, caring only about the good of the community as a whole. When they imposed quarantines, they did not hesitate to seal thousands of the city’s inhabitants behind airtight barriers. These barriers enclosed entire sections of different levels. Deprived of food and ventilation, the wretched inhabitants died miserably, long before the disease germs developed in their bodies.

At the end of two weeks the entire population of the city was in a mood of panicky revolt. News service to the public had been suspended, and the use of all viewplates and phones in the city were restricted to official communications. The city administration had issued orders that all citizens not on duty should keep to their apartments, but the order was openly flouted, and small mobs were wandering through the corridors, ascending and descending from one level to another, seeking they knew not what, fleeing the air balls, which might appear anywhere, and being driven back from the innermost and deepest sections of the city by the military guard.

After two weeks, the entire city was in a state of panicked revolt. Public news service had been suspended. All viewplates and phones in the city were restricted to official communications. The city administration had ordered all citizens not on duty to stay in their apartments. But people openly ignored the order. Small mobs wandered through the corridors, moving up and down between levels. They did not know what they were looking for. They fled the air balls, which could appear anywhere. Military guards drove them back from the innermost and deepest sections of the city.

I now made up my mind that the time was ripe for me to attempt my escape. In all this confusion I might have an even break, in spite of the danger I might myself run from the air balls, and the almost insuperable difficulties of making my way to the outside of the city and down the precipitous walls of the mountain to which the city clung like a cap. I would have given much for my inertron belt, that I might simply have leaped outward from the edge of the roof some dark night and floated gently down. I longed for my ultrophone equipment, with which I might have established communication with the beleaguering American forces.

I decided that the time was right to try to escape. In all the confusion, I might have a fair chance. The air balls might put me in danger, and getting out of the city would be almost impossibly difficult. So would climbing down the steep walls of the mountain, where the city clung like a cap. I would have given much for my inertron belt. With it, I could have leaped from the edge of the roof on a dark night and floated gently down. I longed for my ultrophone equipment, which might have let me communicate with the American forces besieging the city.

My greatest difficulty, I knew, would be that of escaping my guard. Once free of them, I figured it would be the business of nobody in particular, in that badly disorganized city, to recapture me. The knives of the ordinary citizens I did not fear, and very few of the military guard were armed with disintegrator pistols.

I knew my greatest difficulty would be escaping my guards. Once free of them, I figured no one in that badly disorganized city would have the specific job of recapturing me. I wasn't afraid of ordinary citizens' knives, and very few military guards carried disintegrator pistols.

I was sitting in my apartment busying my mind with various plans, when there occurred a commotion in the city corridor outside my door. The captain of my guard jumped nervously from the couch on which he had been reclining, and ordered the excited guards to open the door.

I was sitting in my apartment, thinking about various plans, when a commotion broke out in the city corridor outside my door. The captain of my guard jumped nervously from the couch where he had been lying. He ordered the excited guards to open the door.

In the broad corridor, the remainder of the guard lay about, dead or groaning, where they had been bowled over by one of these air balls, the first I had ever seen.

In the wide corridor, the rest of the guard lay where an air ball had knocked them down. Some were dead, and others were groaning. It was the first air ball I had ever seen.

The metal sphere floated hesitantly above its victims, turning this way and that to bring its "eye" on various objects around. It stopped dead on sighting the door the guard had thrown open, hesitated a moment, and then shot suddenly into the apartment with a hissing sound, flinging into a far corner one of the guards who had not been quick enough to duck. As the captain drew his disintegrator pistol, it launched itself at him with a vicious hiss. He bounded back from the impact, his chest crushed in, while his pistol, which fortunately had fallen with its muzzle pointed away from me, shot a continuous beam that melted its way instantly through the apartment wall.

The metal sphere floated uncertainly above its victims, turning to aim its "eye" at objects around it. It stopped dead when it spotted the door the guard had opened. It paused for a moment, then suddenly shot into the apartment with a hiss. One guard had not ducked quickly enough, and the sphere flung him into a far corner. As the captain drew his disintegrator pistol, the sphere lunged at him with a vicious hiss. He bounced backward from the impact, his chest crushed. His pistol fell, fortunately with its muzzle pointing away from me. It fired a continuous beam that instantly melted through the apartment wall.

The sphere then turned on the other guard, who had thrown himself into a corner where he crouched in fear. Deliberately it seemed to gauge the distance and direction. Then it hurled itself at him with another vicious hiss, which I now saw came from a little rocket motor, crushing him to death where he lay.

The sphere then turned on the other guard, who had thrown himself into a corner. He crouched there in fear. The sphere seemed to carefully judge the distance and direction. Then it hurled itself at him with another vicious hiss. I could now see that the hiss came from a small rocket motor. The sphere crushed him to death where he lay.

It swung slowly around until the lens faced me again, and floated gently into position level with my face, seeming to scan me with its blank, four-inch eye. Then it spoke, with a metallic voice.

It slowly turned until the lens faced me again. Then it floated gently to the level of my face, seeming to scan me with its blank, four-inch eye. It spoke in a metallic voice.

"If you are an American," it said, "answer with your name, gang and position."

"If you are an American," it said, "reply with your name, gang, and position."

"I am Anthony Rogers," I replied, still half bewildered, "Boss of the Wyomings. I was captured by the Hans after my swooper was disabled in a fight with a Han airship and had drifted many hundred miles westward. These Hans you have killed were my guard."

"I am Anthony Rogers," I replied, still half bewildered. "I'm Boss of the Wyomings. The Hans captured me after my swooper was disabled in a fight with a Han airship. It had drifted hundreds of miles west. These Hans you killed were my guards."

"Good!" ejaculated the metal ball. "We have been hunting for you with these remote control rockets for two weeks. We knew you had been captured. A Han message was picked up. Close the door of your room, and hide this ball somewhere. I have turned off the rocket power. Put it on your couch. Throw some pillows over it. Get out of sight. We'll speak softly, so no Hans can hear, and we'll speak only when you speak to us."

"Good!" exclaimed the metal ball. "We've been looking for you with these remote control rockets for two weeks. We knew you had been captured. We picked up a Han message. Close the door to your room and hide this ball somewhere. I've turned off the rocket power. Put the ball on your couch. Throw some pillows over it. Get out of sight. We'll speak softly so no Hans can hear us, and we'll only speak when you speak to us."

The ball, I found, was floating freely in the air. So perfectly was it balanced with ultron and inertron that it had about the weight of a spider web. Ultimately, I suppose, it would have settled to the floor. But I had no time for such an idle experiment. I quickly pushed it to my couch, where I threw a couple of pillows and some of the bed clothes over it. Then I threw myself back on the couch with my head near it. If the dead guards outside attracted attention, and the Han patrol entered, I could report the attack by the "air ball" and claim that I had been knocked unconscious by it.

I found that the ball was floating freely in the air. Its ultron and inertron were so perfectly balanced that it weighed about as much as a spider web. I suppose it would eventually have settled to the floor. But I had no time for such an idle experiment. I quickly pushed it to my couch and covered it with a couple of pillows and some bedding. Then I threw myself back on the couch with my head near the ball. The dead guards outside might attract attention, and a Han patrol might enter. If so, I could report the attack by the "air ball" and claim that it had knocked me unconscious.

"One moment," said the ball, after I reported myself ready to talk. "Here is someone who wants to speak to you." And I nearly leaped from the couch with joy when, despite the metallic tone of the instrument, I recognized the eager, loving voice of my wife, almost hysterical in her own joy at talking to me again.

"One moment," said the ball after I said I was ready to talk. "Here is someone who wants to speak to you." I nearly leaped off the couch with joy when I recognized my wife's eager, loving voice, despite the instrument's metallic sound. She was almost hysterical with joy at talking to me again.