Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact & Fiction August 1961. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
FLAMEDOWN
By H. B. FYFE
It was, of course, one Hell of
an ending for a trip to Mars—
Illustrated by Summers
harlie Holmes lost touch with reality amid rending and shatteringsounds that lingered dimly. Blackness engulfed him in a wave of agony.
He was not sure exactly when the possibility of opening his eyesoccurred to him. Vaguely, he could sense—"remember" was toodefinite—much tugging and hauling upon his supine body. It doubtlessseemed justifiable, but he flinched from recalling more clearly thatwhich must have been so extremely unpleasant.
Gently, now, he tried rolling his head a few inches right, then left.When it hurt only one-tenth as much as he feared, he let his eyesopen.
"Hel-lo!" rasped the bulbous creature squatting beside his pallet.
Charlie shut his eyes quickly, and very tightly.
Something with a dampish, spongy tip, probably one of the grape-redtentacles he had glimpsed, prodded his shoulder.
"Hel-lo!" insisted the scratchy voice.
Charlie peeped warily, was trapped at it, and opened his eyesresignedly.
"Where'n'ell am I?" he inquired.
It sounded very trite, even in his confused condition. Sections of thedark red skin before him, especially on the barrel-shaped belly,quivered as he spoke.
"Surely," grated the remarkable voice, "you remember something?"
"The crash!" gasped Charlie, sitting up abruptly.
He held his breath, awaiting the knifing pain it seemed natural toexpect. When he felt none, he cautiously fingered his ribs, and then ahorrid thought prompted him to wiggle his bare toes. Everything seemedto be in place.
He lay in a small room, on a thin pallet of furs. Floor and walls ofslick, ocher clay reflected the bright outside light pouring through awide doorway.
"What's all the sand?" he demanded, squinting at the heatwavesoutside.
"You do not recognize it? Look again, Earthman!"
Earthman! thought Charlie. It must be real: I can still see him.What a whack on the head I must have got!
"You are in pain?" asked the creature solicitously.
"Oh ... no. Just ... I can't remember. The crash ... and then—"
"Ah, yes. You have not been conscious for some time." His reddish hostrippled upward to stand more or less erect upon three thick tentacles."Even with us, memory is slow after shock. And you may be uneasy inthe lighter gravity."
Light gravity! reflected Charlie. This can only mean—MARS! Sure!That must be it—I was piloting a rocket and cracked up somewhere onMars.
It felt right to him. He decided that the rest of his memory wouldreturn.
"Are you able to rise?" asked the other, extending a helpfultentacle.
The Earthman managed to haul himself stiffly to his feet.
"Say, my name is Holmes," he introduced himself dizzily.
"I am Kho Theki. In your language, learned years since from otherspacemen, I might say 'Fiery Canalman.'"
"Has to be Mars," muttered Charlie under his breath. "What a bump!When can you show me what's left of the