#29) Worlds of If Super Pack #1 ISBN: 978-1-5154-1-148-2
(PSP #30) Worlds of If Super Pack #2 ISBN: 978-1-5154-1-182-6
(PSP #31) Worlds of If Super Pack #3 ISBN: 978-1-5154-1-234-2
(PSP #32) The Dragon Super Pack 978-1-5154-1-124-6
(PSP #33) Fritz Leiber Super Pack #1 ISBN: 978-1-5154-1-847-4
(PSP #34) Wizard of Oz Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-1-872-6
(PSP #35) The Vampire Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-3-954-7
(PSP #36) The Doctor Dolittle Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4-296-7
(PSP #37) Charles Boardman Hawes Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4-384-1
(PSP #38) The Edgar Wallace Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4-387-2
(PSP #39) Inspector Gabriel Hanaud Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4-385-8
(PSP #40) Tarzan Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4497-8
(PSP #41) Algis Budry Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4496-1
(PSP #42) Max Brand Western Super Pack ISBN 978-1-63384-841-2
(PSP #43) R. A. Lafferty Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4504-3
(PSP #44) Keith Laumer Super Pack ISBN: 978-1-5154-4511-1
Phantom Out of Time
By Nelson S. Bond
Graed Garroway’s empire on Earth was toppling, smashed by the flaming vengeance of Dirk Morris who struck from nowhere with blinding speed and true justice. Yet such a thing could not be—for Dirk Morris was dead, slain at the brutal command of the Black Dictator.
Metal grated upon metal, a heavy gate at the far end of the corridor swung open, and footsteps stirred dull echoes down the quiet prison-block. Neil Hardesty turned beseeching eyes to his friend and leader.
"Dirk," he begged, "for the last time…let us share this with you? Please!"
Vurrth, the hulking Venusian, nodded mutely, lending his support to Neil’s appeal. Shaughnessey, Vurrth’s earthly equal in size and strength, rumbled deep in his throat, "Yes, Dirk. We’re all in this together. Let’s take the punishment together…like men."
Dirk Morris shook his head. His voice was firm; his gaze calm and steady.
"No. It’s better one of us should die, than all. We set ourselves a righteous task: to rid the System of a madman and a tyrant. We pledged ourselves to fight…to win…or to die. Our first leader has already given his life that worlds may someday again breathe the air of freedom. A dozen of our comrades have paid the price of rebellion. Edwards, Johnson, Vallery…our blood-brothers.
"Now it is my turn. But my passing does not mean we give up the fight. You, Hardesty, must take over the leadership of our little clan. When you have been freed, carry on! Find new recruits; rebuild our organization. Four against an empire is mighty odds, but if you four surrender, the liberty of all men is doomed for generations!"
Fred Meacher said hopefully, "That’s right. Someone must pick up the torch. Neil, if you’d rather not, I’ll bear the Message —"
"Never mind," said Hardesty. "I’m ready to take it. Well, Dirk?"
The footsteps were drawing nearer. Swiftly, coolly, but deliberately, Dirk Morris placed his lips close to Neil’s ear, whispered a brief sentence. Hardesty started. His eyes first widened, then narrowed with incredulous surmise.
"Dirk!" he gasped. "But that’s.... You can’t mean—"
"Quiet!" warned Brian Shaughnessey. "Here they come! The skulking rats!" He spat contemptuously on the floor as a band of armed men halted before the cell in which the quartet was imprisoned.
The foremost guardsmen parted, and before the grille appeared a man tall and powerful, dark of eye and beetling of brow; a personage whose innate ruthlessness and cruelty could not be disguised even by the ornate finery he wore. This was Graed Garroway, "Black" Garroway, tyrant of Earth, emperor of the System, Overlord—by force of arms—of the entire Solar Union.
He smiled. But there was little mirth in his smile, and no sincerity.
"Well, Morris?" he demanded.
"Well?" repeated Dirk stonily.
"Your time passes swiftly. Have you decided to tell your secret?"
"I know one thing," said Morris, "that is no secret. My time passes swiftly, yes. But so does yours. The days of your dictatorship are numbered, Garroway. Soon the cleansing flame of righteous rebellion will rise to sweep you and every evil thing you stand for from the face of creation!"
Garroway stiffened, flushing with dark anger.
"You speak boldly for a doomed man, Morris. Guards, open the cell!" He scowled. "It may amuse you to learn that I did not need your information, traitor. I gave you a final chance to offer it of your own free will. But your cherished ‘secret’ has already been solved."
"Solved!" That was Hardesty. "You mean—?"
"Quiet, Neil!" warned Dirk. "He’s faking!"
Garroway laughed.
*
"Faking? You shall see in a few minutes, when I put you to death in the murderous device constructed by your one-time leader, Dr. Townsend!"
"Murderous—" began Hardesty.
"Please, Neil! Then you…you found Dr. Townsend’s chamber?" asked Dirk.
"Yes. And experimented with it, too. We know, now, its purpose. Too bad Robert Townsend did not live to receive our congratulations. So that was your secret, eh? Your late leader succeeded in perfecting a disintegration chamber?"
"Disint—" began Morris. Then he stopped abruptly. When he spoke again, his voice was defiant. "Well…now that you know, what are you going to do about it?"
Brian Shaughnessey stared at his friend miserably.
"Disintegrating machine!" he choked. "Nothing but a damned theoretical gadget! Is that the great invention we’ve been risking our lives for? Dirk—"
"Do about it?" laughed Garroway negligently. "Why, I’m going to turn it to my own usage, of course. And you, my unfortunate young conspirator, will attain the distinction of being the instrument’s first human victim. Come, guards! We have no more time to waste."
"A moment!" interrupted Morris. "You will keep your promise? My companions go free when I die?"
The Overlord nodded with mock graciousness.
"Graed Garroway needs compromise with no man. But I have given my word. Yes, your companions go free."
"Very
