The Project Gutenberg EBook of Masters of Space, by
Edward Elmer Smith and Edward Everett Evans

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Title: Masters of Space

Author: Edward Elmer Smith
Edward Everett Evans

Illustrator: Berry

Release Date: September 24, 2007 [EBook #22754]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MASTERS OF SPACE ***

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PART ONE

MASTERS
OF
SPACE

By EDWARD E. SMITH &
E. EVERETT EVANS

Illustrated by BERRY

The Masters had ruled all space
with an unconquerable iron fist. But
the Masters were gone. And this new,
young race who came now to take their
place--could they hope to defeat the
ancient Enemy of All?

I

"But didn't you feel _anything_, Javo?" Strain was apparent in every
line of Tula's taut, bare body. "Nothing at all?"

"Nothing whatever." The one called Javo relaxed from his rigid
concentration. "Nothing has changed. Nor will it."

"That conclusion is indefensible!" Tula snapped. "With the promised
return of the Masters there must and will be changes. Didn't _any_ of
you feel anything?"

Her hot, demanding eyes swept the group; a group whose like, except for
physical perfection, could be found in any nudist colony.

No one except Tula had felt a thing.

"That fact is not too surprising," Javo said finally. "You have the most
sensitive receptors of us all. But are you sure?"

"I am sure. It was the thought-form of a living Master."

"Do you think that the Master perceived your web?"

"It is certain. Those who built us are stronger than we."

"That is true. As they promised, then, so long and long ago, our Masters
are returning home to us."

* * * * *

Jarvis Hilton of Terra, the youngest man yet to be assigned to direct
any such tremendous deep-space undertaking as Project Theta Orionis,
sat in conference with his two seconds-in-command. Assistant Director
Sandra Cummings, analyst-synthesist and semantician, was tall, blonde
and svelte. Planetographer William Karns--a black-haired, bla