1,000-Year Voyage by John Russell Fearn Page B

promptly. “Even when she is not present one can feel that she is watching from somewhere, probably by scientific instruments following our every move, dictating everything that we must do and always hinting what must be the penalty if we do not do what she has proposed.
    â€œI can understand you tolerating it, Exodus, because after all she is your mother, but to me she means nothing; she simply exists as a complete tyrant who will never die. She will always be present even after I and all these others have gone. You I do not fear even though I do not love you. For one thing you are almost my own age and to a certain extent we have views in common even if there is no romantic interchange.”
    â€œYou do not suppose, do you, that I will be forever dominated by my mother?” Exodus asked.
    â€œI fail to see how you can avoid it.”
    â€œIn time, Vilnia, you will learn. Mother has taught me the art of domination and revenge to the exclusion of all else and for that reason I feel there must come a time when….”
    Exodus paused, shaking his head, and Vilnia looked at him quickly.
    â€œYou don’t mean to say that you are planning something against your mother?”
    â€œIt is too early yet to say what I am planning and in any case the nebulous scheme which I have in mind may take many years to evolve—but come, we have no more time to waste. We have to get dressed in readiness for the celebration dinner which mother has insisted must be given.”
    * * * * * * *
    The following ‘day’ Merva was somewhat surprised to behold Vilnia entering the comfortably furnished apartment, which represented the headquarters. The girl was looking half frightened yet resolute as she advanced quickly towards the broad table where Merva was at work. As usual, plans for scientific instruments and weapons of destruction were absorbing her but she ceased her concentrations as the girl stood before her, waiting.
    â€œWell,” Merva asked, with a rather forced smile, “and what has my new daughter to say to me?”
    â€œIt is because I am your new daughter that I feel in a rather vague way that I am responsible for your safety.”
    â€œMy safety ?” Merva’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Well, much as I appreciate your solicitude, Vilnia, I can assure you that I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.”
    â€œIn the normal way, yes, but this is something different. I don’t know whether it really signifies but I think it just as well to warn you that in a conversation I had with Exodus yesterday he hinted at the fact that he would not always be under your domination.”
    â€œI see.” Merva gave a rather grim smile. “I can assure you, Vilnia, that Exodus has never been under my domination. Right from the day he was born he has proved to be a problem child, and now he is rapidly growing to manhood I have even more difficulty in keeping him under control.”
    Vilnia quickly and then rather nervously added, “I don’t exactly mean it in that sense. I felt from the way he talked that he had some dim idea in the back of his mind about getting rid of you. Naturally he didn’t tell me anything and he hinted that it would be a long time yet before he acted, but I did think that you ought to have the facts.”
    â€œYou do not mean,” Merva asked deliberately, “that he spoke of taking my life?”
    â€œNo, not exactly that, but….” Vilnia hesitated obviously unsure how to continue; for she could not say that she was giving this warning through any love for Merva, but because she felt that it might place her in a better light as far as her mother-in-law was concerned.
    â€œI find all this very hard to believe, Vilnia,” Merva said at length, “but on the other hand I feel perfectly sure that you would never make such a statement without due reason. Exodus is a boy with many strange ideas, and now that he is a