What does a boy do when he meets a danger
from another world? Should he run for help—or
fight bravely as he comes face to face with—
The Frightful Ones
By Richard Maples
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
November 1954
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Right then he was the scaredest he'd ever been in his life. Yet even as he watched the spaceship turning within the glow of its flaring jets, he kept thinking of his father's warning:
"A boy's duty, son, is to keep his eyes and ears open and to give the alarm. We must be alerted ... or we're doomed."
It had been drummed into him ever since the landing and explosion of the rockets. He'd been very little then and it was hard to understand. But they'd explained it carefully—over and over again.
The rockets were a test. They'd been fired by beings on another planet. Some day the beings themselves would come to invade.
He'd often thought about it—especially at night in bed. And he'd dreamed about it, too. Horrible dreams. And now the dreams had come true!