The Project Gutenberg EBook of Flamedown, by Horace Brown Fyfe

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Title: Flamedown

Author: Horace Brown Fyfe

Illustrator: Summers

Release Date: September 8, 2009 [EBook #29936]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FLAMEDOWN ***

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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

* * * * *

Charlie Holmes lost touch with reality amid rending and shattering
sounds that lingered dimly. Blackness engulfed him in a wave of agony.

He was not sure exactly when the possibility of opening his eyes
occurred to him. Vaguely, he could sense--"remember" was too
definite--much tugging and hauling upon his supine body. It doubtless
seemed justifiable, but he flinched from recalling more clearly that
which 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 eyes
open.

"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-red
tentacles he had glimpsed, prodded his shoulder.

"_Hel-lo!_" insisted the scratchy voice.

Charlie peeped warily, was trapped at it, and opened his eyes
resignedly.

"Where'n'ell am I?" he inquired.

It sounded very trite, even in his confused condition. Sections of the
dark 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 C