Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Astounding Stories October 1931. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
At this the titanic thing went wholly, colossally mad.
The Red Hell of Jupiter
A Complete Novelette
By Paul Ernst
CHAPTER I
The Red Spot
ommander Stone, grizzled chief of the Planetary Exploration Forces,acknowledged Captain Brand Bowen's salute and beckoned him to take aseat.
Brand, youngest officer of the division to wear the triple-V fordistinguished service, sat down and stared curiously at his superior.He hadn't the remotest idea why he had been recalled from leave: butthat it was on a matter of some importance he was sure. He hunched hisbig shoulders and awaited orders.
"Captain Bowen," said Stone. "I want you to go to Jupiter as soon asyou can arrange to do so, fly low over the red area in the southernhemisphere, and come back here with some sort of report as to what'swrong with that infernal death spot."
He tapped his radio stylus thoughtfully against the edge of his desk.
"As you perhaps know, I detailed a ship to explore the red spot abouta year ago. It never came back. I sent another ship, with two good menin it, to check up on the disappearance of the first. That ship, too,never came back. Almost with the second of its arrival at the edge ofthe red area all radio communication with it was cut off. It was neverheard from again. Two weeks ago I sent Journeyman there. Now he hasbeen swallowed up in a mysterious silence."
An exclamation burst from Brand's lips. Sub-Commander Journeyman!Senior officer under Stone, ablest man in the expeditionary forces,and Brand's oldest friend!
Stone nodded comprehension of the stricken look on Brand's face. "Iknow how friendly you two were," he said soberly. "That's why I choseyou to go and find out, if you can, what happened to him and the othertwo ships."
Brand's chin sank to rest on the stiff high collar of his uniform.
"Journeyman!" he mused. "Why, he was like an older brother to me. Andnow ... he's gone."
here was silence in Commander Stone's sanctum for a time. Then Brandraised his head.
"Did you have any radio reports at all from any of the three shipsconcerning the nature of the red spot?" he inquired.
"None that gave definite information," replied Stone. "From each ofthe three ships we received reports right up to the instant when thered area was approached. From each of the three came a vaguedescription of the peculiarity of the ground ahead of