"It comes to this, then," said Alec. "You mean to go and mingle with
the enemy, and try to discover weak spots in 'em, eh?"
"I don't see any other way to begin. We've been scratching for a plan
ever since we first heard of the usurpers; and nobody's come up with
one, for the good reason that we have nothing to go on. Oh, granted we
know we can kill their worldly bodies and send them home. But I hardly
think we're going to do nothing but roam the countryside killing off
puppets for the next thirty years."
"Remember what Jerry told me--that once one of them was sent back to
his own dimension, he could evidently still communicate with those who
were left here? That the aliens who're attached to human bodies exist
in both dimensions equally?"
"Yes, Alec, I was thinking of that a few minutes ago. It means
that under no circumstances can I let any one of them discover I
can see them; for even if I killed him here, he could go around
his silver-lined dimension telling all his pals about me. It means
working in the dark, from behind, anonymously. It means I've got to be
circumspect as Satan. We all have to be circumspect."
"Beg pardon, sir," put in Johnson, "but when do the rest of us have a
try at warping our eyeballs?"
"You don't, Sergeant," I said flatly.
"What d'you mean, we don't?" cried Alec. "Of course we do."
"No, son, not for a while, anyhow. It's a hundred to one, or a million,
more likely, to one, that we couldn't duplicate the exact injuries
again. We can't blind anyone else now. One of us seeing them may be
enough--or if he isn't, then half a dozen might not be any better."
"I think Will's right," said Marion suddenly. She lit a cigarette while
we waited. "I think we mustn't press our luck too far. At least we
should wait until we have a plan. I think--I really think one will be
enough."
"Why?"
"Those million to one odds. Why did the experiment succeed the second
time? I think God's with us. I think God's on our side, and means us to
win."
We were all very quiet for a while.
* * * * *
I went over to a wall mirror and examined my face. I took out my little
tin of pancake makeup, Marion's clever idea, and spread some thinly on
the scars of the blast: the little pink almost-healed scars that ran
across the bridge of my nose and scattered out fanwise toward my ears.
We were dealing with cleverness beyond thought, and every tiny giveaway
must be taken care of.
"Jerry Wolfe died," I said, still peering in the mirror, "because
he was taken unawares, because he hadn't prepared himself to stay
incognito among them. I have. I've had my first sight of _them_, and
been terribly shocked, yes; but now I think I'll be all right. I'm
ready to go."
"Up to London?"
"Yes."
"We'll all go."
"In a bunch? I don't think."
"No, in pairs and trios. But there's no sense in any of us frettin'
here without news from you." The Colonel was firm. "The motors are
below. Ready, you chaps?"
"Packed and primed," said Geoff.
"Let's be off."
And almost before I knew it we were in the old stables, putting our
gear in the back of Alec's great red Rolls.
"Who'll ride with me?" I asked.
"Not I," barked the Colonel promptly. "I've had some of your idea of
driving."
"I'll go with you, Will," said Geoff Exeter. "Just put my fist on the
car, will you?" I did so, and he climbed in. "I like speed," he said.
I had been hoping for Marion's company, but Geoff--well, he rated a
front-row stall in the game. He'd lost his eyes for us. I said, "Geoff
will stick with me for the first days. The rest of you put up at the
Albany, where Colonel Bedford has a suite, and at that inn in Baker
Street, The Gray Gander. Geoff and I will be at the Gloucester Club."
"I shall be there too, sir," said Johnson. "I've been on 'sick leave'
quite long enough."
"Roger. Geoff, the Sergeant and I at the Gloucester. The Colonel and
John at the Albany. Marion and Alec at The Gray Gander. Don't get in
touch with me, unless you give birth to some really ripping idea. I'll
find you when there's news."
I touched Marion's hand in farewell, and slid into the Jaguar. We
backed out and shot away into the blue.