--and stood aghast! I had only presence of mind to throw a shielding
arm across my face, hold my breath. For no longer was the closet
sealed. The bars had been smashed inward, the lock was a shard of
broken metal, the door a heap of splinters. The gods of chance had
tossed a die for our enemies. That shell I had heard--had found its
way into the granary of death!
I had a momentary glimpse of the inside of the closet. I saw grey,
fungoid granules sifting through the broken door; a cloud whirled and
eddied toward me. To breathe that cloud meant oblivion. Beating at my
clothes, my hair, with suddenly frenzied fingers, I turned and fled
from the room.
In the hallway I stopped, ignited the box of matches I carried, tossed
the blazing brand onto the oil-soaked floor. Flame licked hungrily
along those stained boards; the bright fire-flower grew before my eyes.
Even so, I knew my effort was in vain. The shell had entered through
the walls of the house, and even now I could see those spores of
slumber sifting out to float with the winds.
An agonized cry brought me to my senses. Mallory's voice, "Brian!
Brian, lad--where are you!"
I turned and fled toward the secret portal. I made it just in time.
The aged doctor and I were the last to enter the tunnel as the first
Totie set foot in the laboratory. Stumbling, panting, we raced down
that smooth slope to where the _Jefferson_ awaited us. A dull throbbing
wakened echoes in the hollow depths; eager hands helped us into the
air-lock.
I heard Mallory gasp, "Take off! _Now!_" The humming deepened to a
frightful roar, the Niagara of powers beyond comprehension. I was dimly
aware of a cascade of broken rock smashing down about the _Jefferson's_
permalloy casing, of an unearthly sheet of flame mirrored through
quartzite windows. Then a tremendous tug pulled me to my knees, my
lungs strained for precious air, blood danced before my eyes and there
was agony in my bones....