"Too easy? I doubt if the animal will ever sense what is going on--not
when the crew of the bomber doesn't know, either. They'll consider it a
mighty peculiar order, to destroy one harmless, rather large and rather
elaborate suburban home. But they'll do it. See you tomorrow, Whitney,
after this mess is behind us."
"Yeah," Judd said. "Yeah." But somehow, the scientist had failed to
instill any of his confidence in Judd.
* * * * *
With Lindy, he left home at eleven the following morning, after making a
thorough list of all their properties which the City had promised to
duplicate. Judd did not look at Black Eyes as he left, and the animal
remained where it was, seated on its haunches under the dining room
table, nibbling crumbs. Judd could almost feel the big round eyes boring
a pair of twin holes in his back, and he dared not turn around to face
them....
They were a mile away at eleven forty-five, making their way through the
nearly deserted streets. Judd stopped walking. He looked at Lindy. Lindy
looked at him.
"They're going to destroy it," he said.
"I know."
"Do you want them to?"
"I--I--"
Judd knew that something had to be done with Black Eyes. He didn't like
the little beast, and, anyway, that had nothing to do with it. Black
Eyes was a menace. And yet, something whispered in Judd's ear, _Don't
let them, don't let them ..._ It wasn't Judd and it wasn't Judd's
subconscious. It was Black Eyes, and he knew it. But he couldn't do a
thing about it--
"I'm going to stay right here and let them bomb the place," he said
aloud. But as he spoke, he was running back the way he had come.
Fifteen minutes.
He sprinted part of the time, then rested, then sprinted again. He was
somewhat on the beefy side and he could not run fast, but he made it.
Just.
He heard the jet streaking through the sky overhead, looked up once and
saw it circling. Two blocks from his house he was met by a policeman.
The entire area had been roped off, and the officer shook his head when
Judd tried to get through.
"But I live there!"
"Can't help it, Mister. Orders is orders."
Judd hit him. Judd didn't want to, but nevertheless, he grunted with
satisfaction when he felt the blow to be a good one, catching the stocky
officer on the point of his chin and tumbling him over backwards. Then
Judd was ducking under the rope and running.
He reached his house, plummeted in through the front door. He found
Black Eyes under the kitchen table, squatting on its haunches. He
scooped the animal up, ran outside. Then he was running again, and
before he reached the barrier, something rocked him. A loud series of
explosions ripped through his brain, and instinctively--Black Eyes'
instincts, not his--he folded his arms over the animal, protecting it.
Something shuddered and began to fall behind him, and debris scattered
in all directions. Something struck Judd's head and he felt the ground
slapping up crazily at his face--
He was as good as new a few days later.
And so was Black Eyes.
"I have it," Judd said to his nurse.
"You have what, sir?"
"It's so simple, so ridiculously simple, maybe that's why no one ever
thought of it. Get me Dr. Jamison!"