This civilization was advanced far beyond any the Terrans had ever seen. Wanted—
7 Fearless Engineers!
By WARNER VAN LORNE
A great civilization's fate lay in Dick Barrow's handsas he led his courageous fellow engineers into a strangeand unknown land. None of them knew what lay ahead—whatdangers awaited them—or what rewards.But they did not hesitate because the first questionasked them had been: "Are you a brave man?"
CHAPTER I
Opportunity
From where Dick Barrow sat,hundreds of men were visible,occupying benches in everymanner of position. Somestretched at full length, sleepingin the morning sun after a nightin the park. Others sat withheads hanging; thinkingthoughts of their own.
Depression or recession, itmeant the same to all of them.Some didn't care, but otherstried to find any kind of workthat would fill their stomachswith food.
For three days Dick hadn'teaten a good meal, and felt almostas low as the derelictswhom he had for companions. Hewould have enjoyed a smoke, butturned away as two men dovefor a cigarette-butt; discardedby a passerby.
Anyone who could afford tobuy a newspaper was an aristocrat,and Dick watched until hesaw one discarded. For threedays he had been reading themsecondhand, but the only jobswere too far to walk and applyfor.
His eyes stopped at one itemin the column and a puzzledfrown slowly puckered his forehead.
Wanted: An Engineer. Youngman with love for electrical andmechanical work, who is notafraid of isolation. Have someknowledge of engineering, butgeneral experience more desirablethan specialized training.Must be willing to leave country,never to return; for which hewill be well remunerated. Haveno close family ties, and willingto submit to certain amount ofdanger. Will be isolated withfew members of own race, butwill have great opportunity todevelop mastery of huge machines.Come prepared to leavefor post immediately, withoutpreparation. Every want will betaken care of by employers. Thisposition is for lifetime, withoutopportunity of turning back afterhaving accepted responsibility.GREAT OPPORTUNITY!Room 36, 18 W. Morgan Ave.,City.
For a long time Dick Barrowgazed at the ad, mentally comparinghis own qualifications forthe position—and they seemedto fit! He was not a graduateengineer, being forced to quitschool after two years of study.Three years later his fatherdied, then Dick lost the job thathad kept them eating regularly.His love of mechanics remainedinsatiable, and he constantlyhoped for work which would allowhim to use his knowledgeand ability.
He had no relations, and theonly girl had forgotten him,when he left school. He heardthat she married a classmate!
Dick was twenty-seven. Fiveyears had slipped by since hequit school, and he couldn't rememberwhere they had gone. Itwas only six months after hisfather died that he lost his lastregular job. He tried selling andwas a failure. He had been carpenter'shelper, plumber's helper,porter, counter-man and busboyas the months passed, but nothingsteady. For the past twomonths he had been hunting forwork, while his few dollarsdwindled to where he no longerhad room rent. Then it was thepark.
His feet were sore and blisteredfrom holes in his shoes, andhe limped with every step. Ittook so long to reach the addressthat there was littl