Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

\ 24 all at once the door of the laboratory v.as opened and Torch appeared, "Your Majesty," the captain of the bodyguard reported tensely, "the Earth man Gordon has escaped. We found no trace of him or of the Princess Aura on the net—only the three barbarians, whom we cast to the dragons. And we have searched tho passages in vain, your Majesty." It was heartening news for Zarkov, but not for Ming, whose eyes blazed venomously. "My daughter will return," he barked. ' We shall learn where this man Gordon i, then." lie dismissed Torch, and it was as the latter was making his way from the laboratory that an elderly man in strik- ing raiment crossed the threshold. The newcomer was the High Priest, aud, bowing gravely to the emperor, lie spoke in a sepulchral tone: "I have just learned of your Majesty's desire to wed the Earth girl," he said, " but the maidens of the court ask me to inform you that she refuses to become Your bride* and I do not have to remind your Majesty that the gods frown upon a marriage in which either the man or woman is an unwilling participant." Ming scowled, and fingered his dark beard. "We could use the hypnotic machine." be muttered at length. "The machine n nich reduces the mind to a passive .slate and leaves the victim submissive to the will of others. The Earth girl would not be in a position then to anger the gods by expressing unwillingness. You see, my friend, science can overcame all things—even the human emotions." The High Priest bowed again, and departed from the laboratory, and Ming tinned to note that Zarkov was eyeing him bitterly. "You do not seem to be in favour of my plans regarding the Earth girl." be observed, as he saw the doctor's expres- sion. Zarkov attempted to make some reply, but before he could do so there was a scuffle of feet in the doorway of the work- shop, and a scared-looking soldier burst into the room. "Your Majesty," the fellow panted. '.' I he ship* of the Lion Men are approach- ing in the sky! Four of them, your Majesty! They arc coming to attack rs!" Ming's sallow face changed colour, and, Striding to the windows of the laboratory, be peered forth to see four machines of the gyro type cruising towards his n ountain citadel. He swung around as Zarkov joined him. "They must have learned that my feet was absent on an expedition into the distant country of the barbarians!" b>' said harshly. "They would not have dared to attack otherwise." "Who are these enemies of yours?" Zarkov demanded. "The Lion Men, as they call them- selves!" Ming snarled. "They are a I eople on Mongo who have long stood in my path. Now they send four emit to strike at mo when I am unprepared. Those four ships can do great damage— they c^u\ wreck my entire palace—my entire city—they can smash this work- shop to atoms. My laboratory! My itory " The four gyro-ships were approaching ■ly. In sixty seconds they Were above the mountain metropolis; above the palace; and suddenly there was a reverberating explosion as some deadly missile fell within a short distance of -Ming's stronghold. 11 was followed by another and another, and the walls of tin- laboratory trembled. In the meantime (lie Emperoi M ..<. 18th, 1938 BOY'S CINEMA Ming was wringing his hands and acting like a man bereft of his senses, and he seemed in an extremity of despair when Zarkov clutched him all at once by the arm. "Look!" the doctor exclaimed, point- ing through the windows to the boulder- strewn plain away at the foot of the mountain. From that distant plain a bullet-shaped craft had soared unexpectedly, was speeding now to engage the machines ^f the Lion Men. Like a meteor it soareST and, though the occupan-s of tho gyro- ships tried to gain height so that they might meet its onset, the lone vessel rapidly outstripped them in altitude. Then it swooped down upon the heli- copters of the Lion Men, and in another instant a desperate duel was in progress high amid the clouds. "It is one of my own rocket-ships!" Ming cried. "A gallant pilot—single- handed—has come to my aid!" "A brave man," ZarkoY commented feelingly. "Yes," the emperor jerked, "and he will be royally rewarded if he lives through this fight." It would havj amazed them both if they could have discovered that the gallant pilot of the locket-ship was none other than—Flash Gordon ! The Claws of the Monster IT was fortunate for Flash Gordon that he had paid heed to Aura's instruc- tions when she had told him how to control the rocket-ship, and it was for- tunate for him. too. that the capabilities o f the craft were far superior to those of the helicopters flown by the Lion Men. Diving upon one of the hostile machines, he pulled the switch that sprung the trap containing those explo- sives which the rocket-ship was carrying. An object resembling a bomb was promptly released, and there was a burst of fire as it 6truck its mark. It did not wreck the enemy vessel, but crippled it. and the helicopter veered away. Next moment Flash was chal- lenging another of his adversaries, all of whom were endeavouring to close in on him. Glittering fingers of light shot from the gyro-ships, searchingly, and Flash guessed that ray-guns were included in tin' equipment of those machines. Re- membering what be had seen of such ray-guns in Mongo already, he did hir". utmost to keep his craft clear of them— at the same lime singling out one of his antagonists for retaliation. The flexibility of the rocket-ship was his salvation. Within the space of a minute he had damaged another of the helicopters so severely that it, too, was foticd to retire from the combat, and it had not. gone far on its way when a third gvro was making ofT like a wounded bird. With three of the raiders departing in the direction whence they had come. Mash concentrated his attention on the remaining vessel, whoso pilot seemed un- daunted by the fate of his comrades, for he was still trying to bring the American under (he sights of his ray-gun. Flash managed to outwit him. and. soaring high, pot (lie ?ocket-ship into a dive and swooped over his opponent's craft. Put this time when he tugged at ill.' bomb-release switch there was no result, and he realised with dismay that he had used his last missile. Meanwhile his dive had carried him beyond and below his enemy's heli- copter, and. wheeling, be .saw a death- ray strike out from the gyro-ship. It passed above him. but be knew thai it would soon bud its target, and in do-- poration he sent his machine straight at Every Tuesday the foe, determined that if he were to die ho would first make sure that the raider did no further damage to Ming's palace. With the rocket-ship coming towards him the pilot of the other craft lost his head, however, and made an attempt to swerve. He only succeeded in turning broad- side-on to the rocket-ship, and there was a grinding shock as the \een nose of the latter pierced the tough shell of the gyro. Then both machines began to fall, the propeller of the gyro still spinning and its motor still giving the vessel a tendency to remain in the air, though the weight of the machine that was embed- ded in its metal plates was dragging it down. Locked together, the two ships descended slowly through the void, and, drifting high over the roofs of the Emperor Ming's city, they finally 6ank upon an expanse of level terrain away on the other side of the mountain. As the vessels grounded. Flash Gordon stumbled out of the rocket-ship, bruised in every limb and badly shaken. Yet. dazed as he was, he wa6 aware of a figure crawling from the buckled gyro — the figure of a man whose hair was like a lion's mane and whose chin was hidden behind the tangled locks of a great beard. His back and chest were encased in armour, and, oddly enough, he was clutching a heavy sword, a weapon that seemed almost incongruous in hi6 hand, considering the craft from which he had emerged and the ray-gun with which it had been equipped. Yet that sword was capable of dealing death, and with upraised blade the bearded man rushed at Flash im- petuously. The young American was unarmed, and his brain was" by no means clear. But somehow he managed to collect his wits, and, leaping aside even as his antagonist came within striking distance, he dodged the swing of the sword. Then, in the moment that the fellow was blundering past him, Flash whipped his bunched knuckles into action and caught him with a punch that sent iiim sprawl- ing in the dust. The sword slid from the bearded man's grasp, and with a swift movement Flash seized it, lifting it from the ground and standing over his foe, who lay where he .had fallen and looked up at the American with an expression of dumb resignation in his eyes. "Get on your feet." said Flash. His vanquished opponent stared at him, and then, after a brief silence, he rose with an effort and spoke to the younger man in English. "Why do you not slay me?" "I have no quarrel with you." Flash replied. "I saw you pa*s over the mountain and .start to bomb Ming's stronghold, so I attacked you. But J fought only to save two friends of mine who are prisoners in that palace." "Then—you are not an ally of Minn's '. " Flash shook his head, and proceeded to explain how he and Dale Arden and Zarkov had come to Mongo, and how he had fared at Ming's hands; and when ho had finished his 6tory the bearded man looked at him keenly. "I am Thun, Prince of the Lion Men." he said. "Ming is also my enemy. And you have spared my life. Faith .Man. I will help von free the prisoners of whom you speak." Flash hesitate, I. "I promised to await the Princess Aura at a cavern on the far side of the mountain," he breathed". " But she may (Continued on page 27'