Part 2 (2/2)

Masters stepped forward and put his pistol against the soldier's back.

”You'll go,” he said. ”Maybe this ain't regulation, but neither are the spheres.”

The stubby little secret service man pushed the soldier ahead of him. The sentry marched with his hands in the air.

Drawing his own pistol, Taylor turned to Norden.

”Help Orkins to the car,” he said.

Norden drew himself up stiffly.

”Go ahead and shoot,” he said. ”It'll save the firing squad some trouble.”

Taylor took one step forward. Norden faced him unflinchingly.

Taylor's hand shot out, caught Norden's coat and threw him after Masters.

”Don't leave me alone!” Orkins cried, crawling after Norden and clasping him about the legs. Norden kicked him aside.

”Keep moving!” Taylor ordered Norden, who had halted.

Norden did not move.

Taylor swung his fist. The blow connected and the officer caught the falling man, swung him over his shoulder, then turned to the cringing Orkins.

”If you don't want to be left here alone, follow us,” he said.

Orkins suddenly regained his ability to use his muscles.

Masters, watching over his shoulder, chuckled. There was a faint wink of one eye visible in the moonlight.

”Kinda screwy, ain't he?” he said, jerking his head in Orkins'

direction.

”I don't know that I blame him, much,” Taylor said. ”Look at the plant.”

Over the roof and the smokestacks floated the yellowish-red ball of fire. Another sphere was emerging from the hole in the roof.

”What are they? A new kind of bomb?” Masters asked.

”Norden's bomb never had a chance. Compared with what actually happened in there, a bomb would have been a picnic. There's not a living person left in the whole place.”

”Not a--hold on there, Cap! Do you know how many were working?”

”They're all dead,” Taylor said. Briefly he outlined what he had seen in the plant.

”Norden, the blankety-blank!” Masters swore. ”Shooting's too good for him.”

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