You “sped the blow” before the truce up. Drago finds this out.
Alarm of Breen when he sees the point. “But I can’t stop it. Any
attempt to stop it will immediately explode it.”
Drago: “I’ll help you out,” Breen grateful.
They prove to Breen that he set it in the truce.
“You’re right. I almost was guilty of wrong. Disconnect it--I can’t.
That was the device I mentioned. The beauty of this machine is that it
is like a decree of the Bureau. Once set, as it is set, no power on
earth can stop it. Automatic locking device. A blacksmith could not now
remove the clockwork.”
Take it down and throw it in the Bay.
“Friends, lunatics--will you permit this?”
“They can’t stop it,” Hanover chuckled. “The irrefragable logic of the
elements! The irrefragable logic of the elements!”
“Are you going to stay here and be blown up?” Hall demanded angrily.
“Certainly not. But, as Breen says, there is plenty of time. Ten
minutes will remove the slowest of us outside the area of destruction.
In the meantime consider the marvel of it!”
Hall considers other people.
Breen: “I broke down in my reasoning. That shows fallibility of human
reason. But, Hanover, you see no breakdown in the reasoning of the
elements. Can’t break.”
So absorbed, all forgot the flight of time, Drago stood up, and put an
affectionate hand on Lucoville’s shoulder--near to the neck.
Speaks pleasantly.--swift--spasmodic--hand.
Death-touch of Japanese. Caught hat and coat. Slips out--Haas springing
like a tiger, collided with servant--crash of dishes.
“Dear friend Lucoville,” says Hanover, peering through spectacles. “You
will never reply.”
The Chief truly had the last word.
* * * * *
Next day’s papers--_San Francisco Examiner_--mysterious explosion in
Bay--dead fish. No clue.
Drago’s message: “Going to Los Angeles. Shall remain some time. Come
and get me.”
At dinner when Drago had exalted adventure path--they accused him of
being a sentimentalist, an Epicurean (sneered).
* * * * *
“Gentlemen!” Hall cried desperately, “I appeal to you as
mathematicians. Ethics can be reduced to science. Why give all your
lives for his?
“Gentlemen, fellow madmen--reflect. Cast this situation in terms of an
equation. It is unscientific, irrational. More, it is unmoral. As high
ethicists it would be a wanton act, etc.”
They debate. They give in.
Drago: “Wisely done. And now, a truce. I believe we are the only group
in the United States or the world who so trust.” Pulls out watch. “It
is 9:30. Let us go and have dinner. 2 hours truce. After that, if
nothing is determined or deranged, let the status quo continue.”
* * * * *
Hall loses Grunya, who saves Drago, and escapes with him. Then
Hall, telegrams, traces them through Mexico, West Indies, Panama,
Ecuador--cables big (5 times) sum to Drago, and starts in pursuit.
Arrives; finds them gone. Encounters Haas, and follows him. Sail on
same windjammer for Australia. There loses Haas.
Himself, cabling, locates them as headed for Tahiti.
Meets them in Tahiti. Marries Grunya. Appearance of Haas.
The three, Drago, Grunya and Hall (married) live in Tahiti until
assassins arrive. Then Drago sneaks in cutter for Taiohae.
Drago assures others of his sanity; they’re not even insane. They’re
stupid. They cannot understand the transvaluation of values he has
achieved.
On a sandy islet, Dragomiloff manages to blow up the whole group except
Haas who is too avidly clever. House mined.
Drago, in Nuka Island, village Taiohae, Marquesas. There is a wrecked
cutter and assassin (Haas) is thrown up on beach where Melville escaped
nearly a century earlier. While Drago is off exploring Typee Valley on
this island, Hall and Grunya play off the assassin Haas, and think are
rid of him.
Drago dies triumphantly: Weak, helpless, on Marquesas island, by
accident of wreck is discovered by appointed slayer--Haas. Only by
accident, however. “In truth I have outwitted organization.” Slayer and
he discuss way he is to die. Drago has a slow, painless poison. Agrees
to take. Takes. Will be an hour in dying.
Drago: “Now, let us discuss the wrongness of the organization which
must be disbanded.”
Grunya and Hall arrive. Schooner lying on and off. They come ashore in
whaleboat, in time for his end.
After all dead but Haas, Hall cleaned up the affairs of the Bureau.
$117,000 was turned over to him. Stored books and furniture of Drago.
Sent mute to be caretaker of the bungalow at Edge Moor.