I was startled. Yet I think that I subconsciously I was prepared for
it; expecting it. The little cylinder flipped out of its tube and
dropped on my desk before me. My name was on it, glowing with tiny
luminous letters: _Frank Elgon, Interplanetary Mails, Division 4,
Great-New York_. It looked just like any other Departmental message
cylinder. But instinctively I knew it was not; and my heart was
beating fast as I clicked it open.
Relayed through Code Headquarters. I saw that on the small rolled tape
inside. And saw the signature, Dr. Gryce. It should not have been
startling, but my fingers were trembling as I unrolled the tape and
hooked it into the automatic decoder. And I stood gripping my chair as
the line of English letters pricked themselves on the blank white sheet
at which I was staring:
"Frank--I can not bear it any longer. We must go--we must find
Brett at any cost. Will you stand by us? Come at once. Hurry.