Read The Martian Falcon (Lovecraft & Fort) for Free Online Page A

work’s been going on for the last two hundred years, and what have we got to show for it?’
    Lovecraft smiled. ‘I admire your ambition, sir. Perhaps you should write up your research in a book.’
    ‘I am, in my spare time. I call it the Book of the Damned .’
    Fort took in the smile and realised that he’d told Lovecraft more about himself than he’d intended. Suddenly, he felt like he was the one being interviewed. He should have been annoyed, but somehow he wasn’t.
    ‘What do you know about Mars, Mr Lovecraft – and the Martian Falcon in particular?’
    Lovecraft raised his eyebrows in surprise at the sudden change of direction. ‘Well… I know it was stolen last night.’
    ‘Yeah, you and the rest of the country. What else?’
    ‘It’s an artefact created by the civilisation that once existed on Mars, about five million years ago. We believe that the Martians became extinct as a result of catastrophic changes in the climate of their world – at least, that’s the conclusion drawn by the NCPE following their examination of the data gathered by the X-M expedition… although I have to say I’ve wondered about that, in view of the problems suffered by the crew upon their return.’
    Fort nodded. ‘Yeah, I’ve wondered about that myself.’
    ‘And then there are the rumours concerning the hieroglyphs…’
    Fort regarded Lovecraft in silence for a moment. ‘Go on,’ he said.
    ‘As a member of the United Amateur Press Association, I am in contact with a great many correspondents, from all walks of life – including those of academia. Many have commented on the failure to translate the hieroglyphs discovered in Cydonia…’
    ‘It’s understandable enough, though, isn’t it?’ said Fort. ‘There’s no Rosetta Stone on Mars – at least, none that was discovered by the crew of the X-M.’
    ‘Ah!’ said Lovecraft, leaning forward again, a sudden look of excitement animating his gaunt face. ‘That’s where the rumours come in. Some of my correspondents have speculated that the expedition may indeed have discovered something like the Rosetta Stone – or at least something which allowed the NCPE to begin proper translation work on the hieroglyphs found in the city… and especially those found in the chamber where the Falcon was discovered.’
    ‘Interesting,’ said Fort slowly. ‘And you’re suggesting that the NCPE doesn’t like what the hieroglyphs say and have suppressed that information, right?’
    ‘Not me – my correspondents.’
    ‘But you think there might be some truth to the rumours.’
    Lovecraft shrugged. ‘One is forced to wonder why the crew of the X-M dropped out of the public eye so suddenly, amid suggestions that they were suffering from mental difficulties, and why the Falcon was the only artefact brought back from Mars that was placed within a lead-lined receptacle prior to its transfer to the Metropolitan Museum… not to mention why it was stolen. Now, I admit that there is no link between those questions and my correspondents’ speculations on the possible translation of the Martian hieroglyphs…’
    Fort held up a hand. ‘Okay, I accept that… but it’s intriguing nevertheless. Who are these correspondents of yours? What are their credentials?’
    ‘Their credentials are impeccable, I assure you,’ said Lovecraft, and Fort marvelled at his ability to convey simultaneously both enthusiasm and mild offense. ‘George Angell is Professor Emeritus of Semitic Languages at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island – my hometown, incidentally – and Dr Albert Wilmarth teaches history and folklore at Miskatonic.’
    ‘They sound like an impressive enough pair,’ conceded Fort, ‘but what makes them think that the NCPE has secretly managed to translate the Martian hieroglyphs?’
    ‘There’s one intriguing thing which set their speculations in motion; not exactly evidence, I must admit, but…’
    ‘What’s that?’
    ‘I take it you listened with