IMAGE OF SPLENDOR
BY LU KELLA
from
Planet Stories Summer 1955
From Venus to Earth, and all the way between, it was a hell of a world for men ... and Apprentice Burnerman O’Rielly particularly.
- - - -
* * * *
THE INTERCOM ROARED fit to blow O’Rielly back to Venus. “Burner Four!”
“On my way, sir!”
At the first flash of red on the bank of meters Apprentice Burnerman O’Rielly had slammed the safety helmet on his head; he was already throwing open the lock to the burner room. The hot, throbbing rumble whipped around him and near crushed his breath away. Power! Power of the universe trapped here and ready to destroy its captors given one chance! Swiftly O’Rielly unlocked the controls and reset them. The throbbing rumble changed tone.
Old Callahan’s voice crackled now through the helme
