The World Beyond

This etext was produced from Amazing Stories July 1942. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
Out of nowhere came these grim, cold, black-clad men, to kidnap three Earth people and carry them to a weird and terrible world where a man could be a giant at will.
Lee Anthony crouched and set himself to resist the attack of the robed men.
By RAY CUMMINGS
The old woman was dying. There could be no doubt of it now. Surely she would not last through the night. In the dim quiet bedroom he sat watching her, his young face grim and awed. Pathetic business, this ending of earthly life, this passing on. In the silence, from the living room downstairs the gay laughter of the young people at the birthday party came floating up. His birthday—Lee Anthony, twenty-one years old today. He had thought he would feel very different, becoming—legally—a man. But the only difference now, was that old Anna Green who had been always so good to him, who had taken care of him almost all his life, now was dying.
Terrible business. But old age is queer. Anna knew what was happening. The doctor, who had given Lee the medicines and said he would be back in the morning, hadn't fooled her. And she had only smiled.
Lee tensed as he saw that she was smiling now; and she opened her eyes. His hand went to hers where it lay, so white, blue-veined on the white bedspread.
I'm here, Anna. Feel better?
Oh, yes. I'm all right. Her faint voice, gently tired, mingled with the sounds from the party downstairs. She heard the laughter. You should be down there, Lee. I'm all right.
I should have postponed it, he said. And what you did, preparing for it—
She interrupted him, raising her thin arm, which must have seemed so heavy that at once she let it fall again. Lee—I guess I am glad you're here—want to talk to you—and I guess it better be now.
Tomorrow—you're too tired now—