Chapter 31
When the net stopped being dragged through the darkness of the mountain interior, the three uncomfortable occupants had a few seconds to recover their orientation. Tom, Biggles and Gregor had no time for questions about what happened or "Are they OK?". Electrical sticks appeared out of the dark and prodded Gregor. Each prod gave an extended shock to the man insect and many sticks touched him multiple times. Gregor bellowed continuous shrill screams that were earsplitting. He was hopelessly tangled in the net and unable to move, his back was exposed as was his stomach since he could still not close and suture his elytra. His head could not be tucked in as his antennae were also tangled, There were many nerves just under the bare flesh for the cruel prods to work on, and they did.
Biggles and Tom pleaded with the stick bearers to stop this torture, they were just as helpless but not targeted by the prods. Some figures step out of the darkness and cut the two humans out of the entanglement and pulled them free of the net.
The electrical prodding of Gregor continued as his screams and threshing became more frenzied. Soon the man insect went into a seizure that had his abdomen bobbing up and down until his limbs shuddered frenetically. This was apparwently the moment to cease the cruel prodding. Gregor slumped into unconsciousness.
Biggles pistol was taken off him by the guards, who were dressed in the uniform of the Imperial German Navy. Gregor was cut free of the net and several guards lifted the bulky insect up and laid him down on a wheeled gurney, then proceeded to strap him tight, belly up. All six limbs were secured and a metal yoke placed around his neck, preventing the head from withdrawing into its shell. A taut mouth guard was fastened to prevent any oral attack.
Tom and Biggles were led down a corridor while Gregor was being wheeled beside them. A guard handed Biggles pistol over to figure waiting at the corridor's end. When the pilot's eyes adjusted to the light he recognised his recurring enemy in the air, Stalhein.
"Greeting Herr Biggles, we meet again." Said the Bosch.
"We don't often meet on the ground, Stalhein." Replied Biggles. "Last time we met you were lucky to reach the ground in one piece."
"Perhaps you should have stuck to your war duty." Stalhein smiled then noticed Tom. "Tom Swift, inventor of the Great War Tank."
"How do you know me?"
"You, have an invitation."
A wide open area opened up as the three League members found themselves in the volcano's interior, the sky could be seen through the high rimmed top. A catwalk lead to a metallic ramp, which they were taken down to the crater bed, which was a smooth and level floor. Science had clearly worked its wonder on the floor and walls turning this once rough natural interior into a place of civilized habitation.
There was much activity ahead with flickering lights. The rocket was there, it was as tall as an oak tree and shaped like a large white dart with metal wings where the plastic flights would be.
Electricity was clearly abundant here: not only was their many light fixtures for nighttime but an endless emission of sparks spitting out of the various scientific equipment. There were Jacob's ladders with continuous streaks of electricity passing between their terminals; Tesla coils glowing bright as power was conducted through them; cathode vacuum tubes sending their discharges this way and that. A Braun tube showed light parabolas on its glass screen, these were Lissajous curves, a physicist turned one of the tube's dials then the curves destabilised and shook, a careful return dial twist restored the pattern to its perfection, thus the harmonics he was working on balanced out. All scientists working in the vast laboratory directed their goggled eyes to the prisoners as they were being led through. Gregor was clearly the focus for interest.
Chemistry was the next section of the laboratory they were brought to. Beakers, flasks, tubes and other laboratory glassware had boiling liquid giving off a smell of petroleum. I was here that Stalhein halted the walk and presented the captives to the chief scientist.
Dr. Totenkopf had no lab coat on, just his suit, he was in his late sixties but looked much younger, his hair was black with just a few scattered strands of grey.
"Well well." He smoothed out. "What do we have here?"
He spoke in perfect English, as if he was a seasoned stage actor. No trace of his German nationality showed.
"Tom Swift, welcome. I have been so looking forward to you working with us."
As he approached the young American, Tom backed off to stand beside Biggles. The pilot stretched his arm in front of Tom in what he knew was a futile gesture and a biting irony. The League moved Heaven and Earth to rescue the lad from being taken by Unit 11, then end up virtually dishing him up to them on a silver platter.
Totenkopf took little interest in Biggles but rubbed his hand with pure delight when he saw the man insect secured on a gurney.
"So this is the Prague salesman who woke up one morning to find he was an insect." Said Totenkopf. "What wonders I could do with such a specimen."
"He's not a specimen Totenkopf, he's our friend." yelled Biggles.
Totenkopf turned to the pilot. "I have a sabre-toothed tiger out there, he's my friend. Shall I bring him in and introduce you?"
Tom cut in. "Oh, we've met him. Where did he come from?"
"I'm surprised you're still alive." Said the doctor while signaling one of his aides to bring something. "I made him."
Biggles and Tom turned to each other in bafflement then back to the doctor.
"Its called gene splicing. This is one of many wonders I will show and teach you once you are with us Tom."
A curtained set of shelves was wheeled in by Jorge Vargas.
"What other extinct species have you noticed on the island?" Asked Totenkopf.
Tom Answered. "Eohippus and Elephant bird."
Totenkopf smiled as he pulled aside the curtains to reveal large glass jars containing animal fetuses. He picked one out.
"Recognise this?"
Tom moved forward though Biggles kept his distance. Transparent fluid filled the jar, the immersed fetus was definitely a minute horse.
"This one did not survive but others grew in a synthetic uterus, were nurtured during infancy and then set free among the wild."
He shelved the jar and drew out another one. "Your elephant bird." The fetus was that of a large avian. Totenkopf showed another jar.
"Here is another bird that needs rescuing from extinction."
The fetus was of a large bird with a big beak, wide waist and short legs.
"A dodo bird." Said Tom. "You brought them back as well?"
"Not yet." Answered Totenkopf. "None have survived to birth as yet. But one of these days, they will waddle the Earth again."
A cat fetus was in the next jar. "Here is a brother to my sabre-toothed tiger. But the following jar is going to be a surprise."
What Tom saw in the contained fluid was a large lizard with a bony head. "Note the growths on the creature's back."
Tom did so and equated those growths with those on bird fetuses. "A flying lizard?"
"Something much more profound than that." Said Totenkopf.
Tom was bereft of any explanation, He looked up from the jar to Totenkopf.
"A dragon." Announced the doctor. "This island will see real live dragons in the years ahead."
"Will they breathe fire?"
Totenkopf grinned. "Maybe; it's too early to tell. But it will be one of many wonders we will create young man."
Biggles was concerned and Tom fascinated. This scientist seemed confident that the young American will voluntarily join him after being seduced by the extraordinary wonders on the verge of creation.
Another curtain was pulled aside to reveal more Jars, but these fetuses were humanoid.
One such jar was shown; it was a human fetus with no visible alterations. "I am working on creating the perfect human of tomorrow, one without the flaws of its current incarnation."
Totenkopf put the jar back and brought another into view. The fetus was clearly that of a homunculus, one of the many that terrorised the Western Front.
"This is a current achievment." Said Totenkopf. "You know of them I believe."
"Those things are monsters." Protested Biggles. "Why do put your genius into making those horrible homunculi?"
"Why indeed." Totenkopf returned the jar to its shelf and drew the curtains. "Because of the war. Mankind has set about destroying itself with this Great War. Well I'm just helping it along. These homunculi and those tanks not only serve my Kaiser and Fatherland but help take the gloves off human conflict allowing it to employ man's capacity for self destruction."
Tom moved away from the driven scientist and stood beside Biggles.
Totenkopf continued. "If I help the Kaiser win this war, then he will continue to send me the resources I need to achieve my own grand design. Come with me"
Biggles and Tom were ushered into the next area. This was close to the rocket. Charts and rocket blueprints were seen pinned up on the partition walls. Colorful illustrations of Noah's Ark were displayed throughout the centre. The spectacular pictures showed two of each animal marching in line to board the Ark.
Gregor was wheeled forward, he was recovering his faculties but remained securely strapped down.
Little models of the finished rocket were present along with more Braun screens with lissajous curves of light on them. This section was clearly developing aerodynamics.
Biggles pointed to the rocket. "Is that your grand design?"
"No, merely a test flight model." Said Totenkopf. "The finished product will be massive. It will be as tall as a Manhattan skyscraper. The rocket will be the salvation of all life on Earth."
Biggles cut in. "Which you are now actively trying to destroy."
When Tom saw The scientist's bitter frown at the pilot, he was concerned. Totenkopf would welcome Tom into the laboritories but there was no apparent place for Biggles amidst these works. The pilot's wit and open cynicism was not endearing him to the science mastermind.
Many other scientists assembled within earshot of the conversation. Biggles recognised Dr Kraft and Professor Calculus. These scientists, whether kidnapped or volunteers were clearly made to be engineers on this rocket project.
"I have marked a planet in the vastness of space." Said Totenkopf. "I call it the World of Tomorrow. These scientists will build the rocket that will take my perfected humans there along with two of every animal on Earth. It will be a new beginning. A new Genesis."
Totenkopf picked up the handle of a machine that shone in his face. It was a camera that doubled as a microphone. "Go forth unto this world. Be fruitful and multiply."
The machine was switched off and put down. The doctor then pressed a button which activated a large imager up above. Totenkopf's face as filmed by the camera appeared on the screen and articulated in perfect synchronisation with the played voice the words he preached. "Go forth unto this world. Be fruitful and multiply."
"I have many such recordings." Said Totenkopf.
"You're Mad." Uttered Biggles.
There were gasps from several of the assembled scientists. Tom gave the pilot a vicious nudge. Stalhein shook his head at his adversary. Totenkopf undertook an extended silence before launching into his next explanation with a dose of malice.
"I don't know why but I hate pilots." He ranted. "I am even in the process of developing a plane that does not require a pilot. My final rocket will not need one."
He indicated the finished model standing on the launch pad. "I allowed these engineers to include a space for a pilot in this small prototype. Not because it needed one, because I wanted to demonstrate the folly of putting a flesh and bone human into a place where he will be crushed to death by the G-force. Then the engineers will put their efforts into developing rockets and flying machines that do not require pilots. You are just in time for this test flight, there are no pilot controls, just a seat. The unfortunate test passenger will be a testimonial to the need for intricately programmed automation and incubated travel, both to be incorporated in the Ark.
"This test rocket will not clear the atmosphere. It will burn out and fall back to Earth. The Passenger's body will be recovered, though the G-force will twist it into a dead mess."
Totenkopf cast a hateful gaze towards Biggles. "What better test passenger can there be than a pilot."
Rough hands suddenly seized Biggles and dragged him towards the rocket. Tom yelled out a protest and was about to approach Totenkopf before Stalhein restrained him. Biggles could give little resistance to the strong guards moving him up a metal stairwell.
Totenkopf opened a cabin door on the scaffold. "Strap him in." He commanded.
Gregor gyrated his antennae in fury, he wanted to thrash his limbs about but they were firmly secured. He knew that his friend was being sent to a painful death.
Tom was invited to enter the cabin to say goodbye; Stalhein escorted him in. "Cramped" was the word that came to the American's mind, this cabin was small, reach both your arms out and both sides can be pushed against. There was a glass porthole at seated eye level allowing the passenger a view of the outside. The pilot's hands and feet were strapped to the cushioned seat. A look around the cabin revealed an absence of control mechanisms but a brief examination of certain panels gave Tom an idea.
"Biggles, this rocket can be controlled from within. Behind these panels are magnets that can adjust the angle of the exterior wings. If you can pry open the panels you can adjust the magnets and thus bring this rocket back to Earth before it kills you."
"Thanks Tom." Said Biggles. "But I don't think that's going to help me."
Stalhein said. "He won't be doing anything but not enjoying the ride. Say your goodbye, then leave."
Tom moved up close to the doomed pilot to whisper in his ear. Stalhein seized his wrist and drew the file that was being sneakily handed over to Biggles.
"Right. Out on the double." Commanded Stalhein as he pushed Tom out of the cabin.
Totenkopf gazed inside to see the commotion and saw Stalhein display the tool that was the cause; he grinned and turned to chastise Tom. Stalhein spent a few seconds with his doomed adversary then exited the cabin, shutting the door behind him.
Everyone left the scaffold; the stairs were wheeled away; the scaffold dismantled and removed from the launch pad.
"You may launch now." Said Totenkopf to the engineers.
Stalhein had to keep Tom under restraint as the American youth wanted to shake the doctor's arm in a futile plea for compassion.
A roaring sound came from the rocket as a whoosh of fire erupted from its base. The combustion lifted the rocket off the pad, then a more powerful surge of fire shot the giant dart at great speed up through the volcano's mouth and into the sky. A trail of smoke was left in the rocket's wake which was the only thing visible as the craft was quickly out of sight to all but those monitoring its flight through telescopes.
Gregor made sounds of cursing and protest, through his mouth guard, against what had been done to his friend. Totenkopf shifted his interest to the bound man insect. A keen and close gaze over the helpless organism had Tom, now pacified, approach the doctor, with emotional restraint.
"You can't do what you're thinking." Said Tom. "You have already killed one of my friends."
"Science cannot let friendship get in the way Tom. What we could learn from this should prove very valuable."
"Do you want me to help you?"
"Totenkopf turned to the young American. "Why of course Tom. There is much to do, much to discover."
"Tell you what. I will help you with this new rocket. But you have to swear that Gregor here does not get vivisected."
"I will need your help on that and other things." He stared at Gregor for a few seconds then turned to Tom.
"Very Well. I hereby swear on my honour that this man insect known as Gregor, will not be vivisected or subjected to any scientific cruelty."
Tom smiled. "You just gained another inventor doctor."
Totenkopf lead Tom to the scientists working in the rocket program and introduced him to one with a bushy black beard and an Eastern European accent.
Totenkopf said. "This man will be your guide to understanding rocket science. He has learned much from me as will you from him."
Tom shook the bearded man's hand.
"Tom Swift." Introduced Totenkopf. "Meet Dr Hans Zarkoff."