Wandl the Invader | Page 8

Doubtless Molo was never sure
whether he had been spied on or not.
Halsey was on his feet. "Foley, get out into the main room. Stay with
him."
But there was no need to follow Molo. He had sent his visitor and sister
out by the escape-port, which was usual enough; now he was back in
the main room as though nothing of importance had happened, with an
appearance of intoxication about him. He wavered jovially across the
room, threading his way through the gay diners, and reached the table
where his party still sat carousing.
Again Halsey shut us off.

"He's got a base somewhere in the city; you heard what they said about
it. We've got to trick him into going there, unsuspecting."
Halsey seized the audiphone. "Your chance, Venza. It's the only way.
Foley, keep away from that Martian. Shut off all contacts. I'll meet you
out there in a moment. I'm sending a girl; she'll go after him."
"Now?" Venza asked.
"Yes. It's the only way. Perhaps you can get him drinking. Venza, use
all the wiles you possess now."
"No!" gasped Snap. "It's too dangerous!"
Anita was clinging to Venza. "Colonel Halsey, I'm going too."
Halsey stared, then made a swift decision. "Right. That is still better."
I jumped to my feet. "Colonel, I should prefer that one of us men...."
He gripped me by the shoulders. "Gregg Haljan, I take no suggestions
from you!" His blazing eyes bored into me. "There isn't a second to
lose. Don't you realize this means destruction of our three inhabited
planets? I'll sacrifice myself, you, or these girls! Venza, take Anita
outside. I'll join you immediately, give you last instructions. Take a
portable audiphone with you."
He turned to Snap. "This is the only way. These demons can't be forced.
You know that."
The girls were moving toward the door. I met Snap's anguished gaze.
"Gregg, don't let them go!"
"No! No, I won't!"
I made a lunge past Halsey, with Snap after me. Halsey did not move,
but one of his rays struck us. With all senses numbed, I felt myself
falling.

"Gregg--don't--let them...."
Snap had tumbled upon me. My senses did not quite fade. I was aware
of Anita's and Venza's horrified cries, but Halsey pushed them toward
the door. It slid up. I vaguely saw the two girls going out with Halsey
after them; and the door coming down.

3
I have no idea how long it was before Halsey came back. Snap and I
were seated on a low metal bench against the wall. The effect of the
paralysing ray was wearing off. We were tingling all over, our senses
still confused.
Halsey stalked in upon us. "So you are recovered?"
Snap stammered, "We--I say, we're sorry as hell we acted like that."
"I know you are." His voice softened. "If I could have done anything
else, believe me, I would have. But I don't think harm will come to
them. They're clever."
"Are they outside?" I asked. "Did they find a way of meeting the
Martians? How long have you been gone?"
Halsey merely stared at me as though he had no intention of answering.
And then the audiphone on the desk buzzed.
"This is Halsey," he said. "Yes, I have them here. Bring them--did you
say bring them?"
We could not hear the answering voice, for Halsey had the muffler in
contact.
"No, I would prefer not to come. I'm watching something. I'm at the
Red Spark Cafe. Well, I'm going back to my office presently to wait
there."

He continued in code. Like Snap, I had never had occasion to learn it.
The words were a strange sounding staccato gibberish. He ended, "I
will send them, Grantline. Very well, I'll tell them to locate him. At
once, yes." He closed off the audiphone.
Halsey swung on us. "You're all right now?"
"Yes." I stood up, drawing Snap up with me. "What is wanted of us
Colonel?"
"That's better, Gregg." He smiled, but he was still grim. "I wanted you
here to wait for this call from the Conclave of Public Safety. It met at
midnight. They have ordered both of you there."
"That's a secret meeting, isn't it?" asked Snap. "There was no report of
it over the air tonight."
"Yes. Secret." He was leading us to the door. "They won't need you for
more than half an hour. When they finish, come back to my office. You
can come openly." He stood with his finger on the door lever.
"Good-by, lads. Foley will lead you to the service room. You are to
take a mail cylinder for Postal Switch-station 20. They'll re-route you
from there to the conclave auditorium."
The door slid up. "When you disembark," he added, "Ask for Johnny
Grantline.