Produced by Greg Weeks and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Transcriber's note:
This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction September1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.copyright on this publication was renewed.
_It was like a mirage in reverse, this strange island off the California coast--it couldn't always be seen, but it was there--in Time._
_Sinister Paradise_
By Robert Moore Williams
"There's the island, Parker!" Retch called.
Bill Parker shifted the controls of the 'copter and the big craft swungin the direction Retch was pointing. Squinting his eyes against the sunglare rising from the Pacific, Parker clearly saw the island. It wasmiles away as yet but it swam like a mirage suspended just above thesurface of the sea.
The island was not large--Parker guessed it as probably being less thantwo miles in circumference--but he could make out a fringe of treesalong the shore and a central peak rising like a cliff in the center.
"I've found it again!" Retch spoke with fierce satisfaction--clenchedfists. Parker heard the indrawn hiss of breath following the words; ahiss that seemed to hold a promise for the future. Revenge, vengeance,triumph, or something else? Parker could not determine what emotionalovertone had found expression in Retch's words. But the emotionalovertone was there. Out of the corner of his eyes, Parker glanced at theman sitting in the seat next to him. What he saw did not please him.
Retch was big. He had the muscular build of a prize fighter. The scarover his left cheekbone did not add to the attractiveness of hisappearance. He did not, in Parker's opinion, look like the scientist hehad claimed to be.
Parker shrugged such thoughts aside. What difference did it make whatRetch was, or the nature of his business here? He had paid chartercharges on the big helicopter.
"There it is, Parker!" Retch almost screamed the words. As he pointedagain toward the island in the far distance, Parker caught a glimpse ofa pistol in a shoulder holster under the man's arm.
The sight of the gun caused a split second of alarm in the big pilot. Hehad not known that Retch was armed. Then the alarm subsided. Parkerpressed his left arm down against his body, assuring himself that hisown gun was where it belonged.
The woman, Mercedes Valdar, seemed to catch some of Retch's excitement.She leaned forward across Retch's shoulder to stare at the island.Parker caught another whiff of the musky perfume that she used. Henoticed again what he had realized the first time he met her--that inany man's language she was a beauty. Aquiline face, smouldering blackeyes, high cheek bones, a delicate brown complexion that hinted atIndian blood back several generations in the past, she looked likesomething out of an exotic movie. The slacks and sport coat that shewore accentuated the fact that she was a woman.
Parker was aware again of the enigma of her presence. Retch hadintroduced her as his secretary. Parker, accepting the man's statement,had asked no questions. Asking questions in a matter such as this was afine way to get a bust in the snoot.
"It ees the island!" Her whisper was sharp. A glow appeared on her face."Soon we will be reech!" She slapped Parker heartily on the shoulder."Beel, is not that wonderful!"
"It sure is," Parker answered. He was as astonished by the statement ashe was by the slap on the shoulder.
"Shut up, Mercedes!" Retch spoke. "Parker, turn some juice into thisthing."
"She's cruising at about her best speed," Parker answered.
"Then get her faster than cruising speed. We've found the island." Hismanner indicated that finding the island was very important but thatsomething else perhaps of equal importance remained to be done.
"What's the big rush!" Parker countered. "You don't think it will vanishbefore we get there, do you?"
A startled look appeared on Retch's face. "No, of course not. That is--"
A thudding jar went through the ship.
"What 'appened?" Mercedes screamed in fear.
With a snarling crash of breaking metal, one of the helicopter bladeswas yanked from its mounting above them.
Parker had the dazed impression that he saw the big blade jerked awaythrough the air. Then, like a leaf suddenly caught in a violenthurricane, the helicopter began to turn flip-flops in the air.
"Do somesing!" Mercedes cried.
As the ship jumped and began to yaw, she was thrown across the cabin.Jerking, buckling, jumping, twisting, the big helicopter lurched its waytoward the surface of the sea below. Cutting the power, Parker leapedfrom his seat. He knew what was going to happen. He intended to try andbe ready for it.
* * * * *
Retch, gripping his seat with both hands, yelled. "We're falling!"
"It's not news to me," Parker answered, jerking open the door to thecompartment at the rear. Inside that compartment was a mass of syntheticfabric. Tossed to the surface of the sea, inflated by the self-containedflask of gas under pressure, it would make a rubber raft.
"You've left the controls!" Retch barked. "Do something to stop us.We're going to fall." The man's face was wild with fear as he twistedhis head around to see what Parker was doing.
"You damned right I've left the controls!" Parker answered. "We've lostthe equivalent of a wing in an ordinary plane. If you know any way tostop a plane from falling you tell me." Working with deft, sure hands,he pulled the mass of synthetic fabric out of its compartment.
"But we've got to get to that island. We've found it. We've got to getthere while--"
"If we get there, we'll have to swim," Parker answered. "Personally,I'll consider myself lucky to get there by swimming. Here we go."
The last was spoken as the helicopter began its final plunge to thesurface of the blue water below them.
Parker, with the mass of fabric clutched firmly in both hands, threwhimself flat on the floor.
The 'copter hit with a terrific thud. An instant later, Parker was onhis feet. The life raft was under one hand. With the other hand, he wasreaching for the handle that opened the cabin door.
"We've got to get out of here. This ship will go the bottom like arock."
Behind him, Mercedes and Retch were struggling to their feet. Parkeryanked on the handle that opened the cabin door.
The handle did not budge.
The heavy jolt the craft had taken when it struck the surface hadtwisted the whole frame.
"Get that door open!" Retch moaned. "We'll be drowned like rats."
"Hell, I'm trying!" Parker answered. He yanked upward with all hisstrength.
The door still did not budge.
Outside Parker could see the green water rising around the cabin.
He backed away, ducked his head, threw himself with all his strengthagainst the door.
Under the driving impact of his body, the door was knocked open. Themass of synthetic fabric in his arms, Parker catapulted through theopening and into the sea. He hit with a terrific splash. Mercedesfollowed him. Parker, treading water and working with the valve thatwould release the gas and inflate the raft, saw that Retch was stillstanding in the door of the 'copter.
"What am I going to do?" Retch screamed.
"Jump."
"But I can't swim."
"Then wait until I get this goddamned raft inflated. Ugh!" Parker'svoice went into silence as arms came up out of the water and closedaround his neck with a grip of death.
Mercedes, in a panic that often comes to people catapulted suddenly andunexpectedly into the water, was grabbing the nearest source ofpotential safety.
"Let go!" Even as he spoke, Parker felt her arms close even tighteraround his neck. He knew then that she was not going to let go. She waspulling him unde
r with her.
Giving one final jerk at the valve of the gas container, Parker foundhimself pulled under water.
The arms around his neck seemed to grip like iron. He caught them inboth hands, yanked at them. His hands slipped. He grabbed again. She wasbehind him, on his back, so he could not slug her. Meanwhile eachpassing second was sending both of them deeper into the sea. He yankedat her arms again. This time his fingers held. Her grip was broken.
Twisting, he grabbed her hair. Then he began to fight his way to thesurface.
His head broke water. As he gulped air, he realized the blessed sightbefore his eyes.
The rubber raft! His last jerk at the valve before Mercedes dragged himunder had opened it.
From the door of the sinking helicopter