Transcribers note: This etext was produced from Astounding StoriesApril 1932. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence thatthe U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
The Finding of Haldgren
A Complete Novelette
By Charles Willard Diffin
Chet Ballard answers the pinpoint of light that from thecraggy desolation of the moon stabs out man's old call for help.
The beasts fell into the pit beyond; their screams ranghorribly as they fell.
CHAPTER I
SOS
The venerable President of the Federation Aeronautique Internationalehad been speaking. He paused now to look out over the sea of faces thatfilled the great hall in serried waves. He half turned that he might lethis eyes pass over the massed company on the platform with him. TheStratosphere Control Board—and they had called in their representativesfrom the far corners of Earth to hear the memorable words of this agedman.
From the waiting audience came no slightest sound; the men and womenwere as silent as that other audience listening and watching in everyhamlet of the world, wherever radio and television reached. Again thefigure of the President was drawn erect; the scanty, white hair wasthrown back from his forehead; he was speaking:
" ... And this vast development has come within the memory of one man.I, speaking to you here in this year of 1974, have seen it all come topass. And now I am overwhelmed with the wonder of it, even as I was whenthose two Americans first flew at Kittyhawk.
"I, myself, saw that. I saw with these eyes the first crudeengine-bearing kites; I saw them from 1914 to 1918 tempered andperfected in the furnace of war; I saw the coming of detonite and thebeginning of our air-transport of to-day. And always I have seen bravemen—men who smiled grimly as they took those first crude controls intheir hands; who laughed and waved to us as they took off in the 'flyingcoffins' of the great war; who had the courage to dare the unknowndangers of the high levels and who first threw their ships through theRepelling Area and blazed the air-trails of a new world.
"And to-day I, who have seen all this, stand before you and say: 'ThankGod that the spirit of brave men goes on!'
"It has never ended—that adventurer strain—that race of Viking men. Wehave two of them here to-night. The whole world is pausing this instantwherever men are on land or water or air to do honor to these two.
"They do not know why they are here. They have been summoned by theStratosphere Control Board which has delegated to me the honor of makingthe announcement."
The tall figure was commandingly erect; for an instant the fire of youthhad returned to him.
"Walter Harkness!" he called. "Chester Bullard! Stand forth that theeyes of the world may see!"
Two men arose from among the members of the Board and came hesitantlyforward. Strongly contrasting was the darkly handsome face of Harkness,man of wealth and Pilot of the Second Class, and the no less pleasingfeatures of Chet Bullard, Master Pilot of the World. For Bullard'scurling hair was as golden as the triple star upon his chest thatproclaimed his standing to the world and all the air above.
The speaker was facing them; he turned away for a moment that he mightbow to a girl who was still seated next to the chair where WaltHarkness had been.
"T