Captain Future 12 - Planets in Peril (Fall 1942) Read Online Free Page B

scientist. But I always had the idea that when all the stars of a universe were cold and dead, that universe would remain dead forever."
    "No, that was the old idea of early physicists," Captain Future told her. "They believed that the second law of thermodynamics was immutable, that the flow of energy into lower forms was a one-way, irreversible process, But generations ago, as far back as the year nineteen forty-one, they began to see that they had been too positive about it.
    "The great physicist Einstein of that era finally admitted that cosmic laws were immutable in appearance only, and that the Heisenberg principle of uncertainty might rule in cosmic as well as atomic physics. Millikan, his contemporary, had always insisted that the decay of a universe might only be part of a great cycle.
    "Finally, J. B. S. Haldane, another famous scientific name of that age, propounded his theory of cosmic 'dynamism,' which asserted that a dead universe would be reborn in time.
    "Haldane's theory set the cosmogonists of later generations on the right track. We know now, from searching mathematical investigation, that every three-dimensional universe has a continuous cycle of decay and rebirth. It begins as a comparatively small bubble of three-dimensional space.
    "But as the matter of its stars and its world melt into radiation, that bubble of space expands. That universe expands until it is a much vaster sphere, containing a welter of radiation and a few inert embers of burned-out suns.
    "Then, when it reaches a critical point in size, the curved space of the bubble gives way under the strain. The bubble collapses upon itself just as a balloon blown too big will burst and collapse. The bubble of space becomes suddenly in that way a much smaller sphere, a much smaller universe. The immense amounts of free radiation, now compressed into that smaller universe, build rapidly into new nebulae, suns, planets."
    Gerdek's dark eyes were brilliant with hope when he understood.
    "Then if my people can keep their race alive until the critical point is reached and our universe is reborn, our racial future will be assured!"
    Shiri impulsively grasped Curt's hand.
    "If you could convince our Tarast people of that and could help them hold off the Cold Ones, you would have saved us."
    Captain Future frowned.
    "I'd certainly like to help your people. But — they wouldn't listen to your own assurances. Would they listen to us strangers, no matter what scientific proofs we presented?"
    "They'd listen to you!" Shiri cried when Tiko had translated. "They'd believe anything you said — because of your red hair."
    "My hair?" Curt looked blank. "I still don't see what that has to do with it."
     
    SHIRI explained eagerly. "We Tarasts have legends of a great hero of our race, whose memory is still venerated among us. His name was Kaffr, and he lived ages ago and led our people in the conquest of our universe.
    "Tradition says that he had flame-red hair, something not seen among my people for hundreds of generations. Tradition also says that in the hour of our direst need, Kaffr will return from the dead to help his people."
    Curt nodded understandingly.
    "Sure, every race has old legends like that. But what about it?"
    Shiri's great violet eyes flashed.
    "If you, with your flame-red hair, appeared in our universe, you could tell my people that you were Kaffr himself, come back from death to help them. They'd believe you! And they would believe and do everything that you told them."
    "Holy space-imps!" exclaimed Grag, astonished. "They want you to palm yourself off as their national hero, Chief!"
     

     
Chapter 4: Into Infinity
     
    CURT NEWTON was stunned also by the proposal.
    "It's a crazy idea," he told the two Tarasts vehemently. "How could I impersonate this fellow Kaffr? I don't know your language or your customs. I may not look in the least like the man, aside from my hair."
    "That would not matter, for nobody now knows what Kaffr really looked