Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 159: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE RADIO MAN. numbered the ant-men there present and had captured the University after a fierce struggle, thus preventing the ant-men from removing or destroying the priceless gems of knowledge stored there. When our van- guard arrived, our students were already in control. In the days that followed, our advance progressed. City after city fell into our hands, in sufficient numbers and containing sufficient supplies, so that we did not have to give any thought to the quartering or feeding of our men. All that was necessary was a steady stream of ammunition proceed- from Kuana to our outposts. I had given strict orders that Doggo and Yuri were to be taken alive, the former be- cause I wished to spare him as a friend, the latter because I looked forward with extreme pleasure to seeing him executed for treason. But neither was captured. The numbers of all dead ant-men were taken and turned in, but Doggo’s number was not among them. And to this day I do not know what became of him or of Yuri. It was my ambition to exterminate the entire race of ant-men from the face of Poros, with the single exception of my friend Doggo. But this wish was not to be gratified. For, as the Formians retreated southward, our lines of communication became more and more extended, and our troops more and more undisciplined. Gradually the Formians obtained rifles, particularly from the two cities which they had bombed. Then they made a stand and sent out snipers, and this netted them more rifles. Our people began to grumble. The wid- ows and orphans of the slain did not ap- preciate the honor which had been thrust upon them. The sport-loving Cupians in the field chafed under military restraint, and demanded to be returned home to their games. And a considerable number of the populace were even heard to say that two eyears slavery to Formia was far better than a life-long slavery in the army of a military dictator—meaning the four or five weeks since the war had started. So, reluctantly, King Kew concluded a new peace with what was left of Formia. _ A new pale was set up far to the south of 793 the old. Formia had to bear the entire cost of the war. Ant-men were forbidden to carry arms or to enter Cupia, and all their airships were confiscated. The Kings of Cupia reserved a veto power over Formian laws forever. But King Kew wise- ly decided not to demoralize Cupia by the introduction of Formian slaves. Our University set up a branch at Mooni, in order that the glamour of that name might not be lost. Our bravest soldiers, and our war widows, were rewarded by grants of land and of city residences in the captured territory, which almost completely alleviated the popular discontent. Not until the treaty was concluded did I return from the field. The papers were signed in the same hall at Mooni which had witnessed the degradation of Cupia five hundred years ago; for ‘‘ defeat is bitterest at the scene of a former victory,” as Poblath remarked. And on the occasion ot the present treaty, Kew, surrounded by his generals and in the presence of the signatories, was crowned King of all Poros. This idea, by the way, was due to Poblath, the philosopher, and it won him a bar- sarkarship, which came in very handy. There was much decorating with medals and handing out of promotions. Needless to state, the king made me a sarkar; and: the Assembly, not to be outdone, voted me a winko, or field marshal, for life. How little had I ever dreamed, as I humbly fought under Pershing in France, that one day I should outrank even him. Now marriage was possible between Lilla and me. And also between Bthuh and Poblath, for Bthuh had proved to be a good sport and had finally accepted him; and, as Lilla had prophesied, Bthuh settled down and became a most quiet and domestic wife. The proudest and happiest moment of my entire life was when, upon the joining- stand of Kuana in the presence of the assembled multitude, King Kew pronounced the words which made me and Lilla man and wife. We spent our honeymoon camping out on a most beautiful rocky island in the middle of Lake Luno, which lies nestled in the hills and surrounded by deep woods, about a thousand stads to the northwest of Kuana. (S@) GComicbooks