Project Gutenberg's The Golden Amazons of Venus, by John Murray Reynolds

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Title: The Golden Amazons of Venus

Author: John Murray Reynolds

Release Date: May 27, 2010 [EBook #32544]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE GOLDEN AMAZONS OF VENUS

By JOHN MURRAY REYNOLDS

[Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Winter
1939. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.]

[Sidenote: Dakta death, horrible beyond the weirdest fever-dreams of
Earth-men, faced Space Ship Commander Gerry Norton. The laconic
interplanetary explorer knew too much. He stood in the dynamic path of
Lansa, Lord of the Scaly Ones, the crafty monster bent on conquering the
fair City of Larr and all the rich, shadowless lands of the glorious
Amazons of Venus.]

The space-ship _Viking_--two hundred feet of gleaming metal and polished
duralite--lay on the launching platform of New York City's municipal
airport. Her many portholes gleamed with light. She was still taking on
rocket fuel from a tender, but otherwise all the final stores were
aboard. Her helicopters were turning over slowly, one at a time, as
they were tested.

In the _Viking's_ upper control room Gerry Norton and Steve Brent made a
final check of the instrument panels. Both men wore the blue and gold
uniform of the Interplanetary Fleet. Fatigue showed on both their faces,
on Steve's freckled pan and on Gerry Norton's lean face. Gerry in
particular had not slept for thirty-six hours. His responsibility was a
heavy one, as commander of this second attempt to reach the planet Venus
from Earth. Well--he would have a chance to catch up on sleep during the
long days of travel that lay ahead.

The two officers finished their inspection, and strolled out onto the
open deck atop the vessel. For a while they leaned on the rail, staring
down at the dense crowds that had thronged the airport to see