the far horizon ahead, there began to lift the domes and towers
and minarets of a mighty city. Closana proudly lifted her arm.

"The Golden City of Larr!" she said, "Capitol of our land of Savissa.
None but our own people have ever penetrated those walls except as
prisoners of war."

The walled city of Larr dominated the plain in all its towered splendor.
Its walls of polished yellow stone were more than a hundred feet high.
The serrated battlements at the top were faced with plates of thin gold.
Domes of blue and scarlet gleamed within the walls. Slender minarets
lifted their lattices high in the air. In the center was a massive round
tower whose top was shaped like the point of a golden arrow.

"But surely your people never built this place!" he gasped. Closana
shook her head.

"The city was not built by my people as they are now. Larr, the Golden
City, is very ancient. It was built by the Old Ones--they who lived here
long ago, in the dim dawn of time. I have forgotten most of the tale but
my father can tell you."

As they passed over the outer walls, Gerry saw some long steel tubes
mounted on swivels above the battlements. They were protected by
gleaming metal shields. He touched Closana's arm.

"What are those things that look like giant ray-guns?"

"Those are the defences of the walls," the girl answered, "We also have
them at the barrier forts. In some way they send out rays of heat that
burn and shrivel all things within reach. I do not know much about them,
but my father can tell you."

"Looks like he's going to tell me a lot of things," Gerry said. Closana
shook back her long hair and looked at him thoughtfully for a moment.

"Yes, Geree. He will also tell you why you had better marry me as I
suggested."

"I told you we'd have to let that subject wait till later!" he said
grimly. Steve Brent prodded him gently in the ribs.

"Persistent souls, these Golden Amazons!" he said in English.

* * * * *

The appearance of the _Viking_ in the air over Larr created a mounting
excitement among the citizens of the city. Through the open windows of
the control room Gerry could hear the brazen clamor of many trumpets,
sounding the alarm. Crowds appeared on the roofs. Arrows streaked up at
the space-ship, futile shafts that fell short of the mark. As they
neared the central tower, gun crews swarmed about two of the ray-tubes.
Knowing the resisting power of the _Viking's_ duralite