MARTIAN NIGHTMARE
A novelet by BRYCE WALTON
Three tough, cynical fighting-men of
Earth—Danton, Keith, Van Ness—rose
from their tomb of forgetfulness ... to
find themselves space-wrecked on Mars,
the last hope of mankind against the
evil and immortal Oligarchs. It was
weird, incredible, it was a horrible
dream ... but it was real. Or was it?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Planet Stories January 1951.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
His name was Burton. John R. Burton.
He was as happy as anyone could expect to be. His wife loved him and he loved his wife. Their children were very well adjusted, as was everyone of course in the New World system.
Burton worked ten hours a week in a coal mine, though the job was merely one demanding the overseeing of machines. The rest of the week was one of leisure devoted to gardening, hobbies, play, music. There was no more hate, no violence, no feelings of insecurity. It wasn't that everyone loved everyone else particularly. It was just that no one was afraid of the future anymore.
Sometimes though, Burton had bad dreams. Sometimes they were very bad. In these dreams it seemed that he was somebody else. Someone who—
But after he woke up he never remembered the dreams, so, he thought, maybe they didn't matter.