Robot police swarmed forward, grimly surrounding Eric and Pat. "You skunk," Eric choked, struggling feebly.
Bradshaw came out from behind the cannon, hands in his pockets, grinning calmly. "Sorry, Blake. You should be out of jail in ten or fifteen years, though. Your job will be waiting for you—I promise. As for this extra-dimensional being, I'm quite interested in seeing it. I've heard of such things." He peered toward the box. "I'm happy to take charge of it. Our labs will perform experiments and tests on it which will. .."
Bradshaw's words died. His face turned a sickly hue. His mouth opened and closed, but no sounds came.
From the box came a swelling, frenzied buzz of rage. "Nar Dolk! I knew I'd find you!"
Bradshaw retreated, trembling violently. "Why, of all persons. Tinokuknoi Arevulopapo! What are you doing on Terra?" He stumbled, half falling. "How did you, that is, after so long, how could—"
Then Bradshaw was running, scattering robot police in all directions, rushing wildly past the atomic cannon.
"Nar Dolk!" the god screamed, swelling with fury. "Scourge of the Seven Temples! Flotsam of Space! I knew you were on this miserable planet! Come back and take your punishment!"
The god burst upward, flashing into the air. It raced past Eric and Pat, growing as it flew. A sickening, nauseous wind, warm and damp, lapped at their faces, as the god gained speed.
Bradshaw—Nar Dolk—ran frantically. And as he ran he changed. Immense wings sprouted from him. Great leathery wings, beating the air in frantic haste. His body oozed and altered. Tentacles replaced legs. Scaly claws replaced arms. Gray hide rippled as he flew up, wings flapping noisily.
Tinokuknoi Arevulopapo struck. For a brief moment the two locked together, twisting and rolling in the air, wings and claws raking and flapping.
Then Nar Dolk broke away, fluttering up. A blazing flash, a pop, and he was gone.
For a moment Tinokuknoi Arevulopapo hovered in the air. The scaly head turned, the single eye glancing back and down at Eric and Pat. It nodded briefly. Then, with a curious shimmy, it vanished.
The sky was empty except for a few feathers and the dull stench of burning scales.
Eric was the first to speak. "Well," he said. "So that's why it wanted to come to Terra. I guess I was sort of exploited." He grinned sheepishly. "The first Terran ever to be exploited."
Matson gawked, still peering up. "They're gone. Both of them. Back to their own dimension, I guess."
A robot policeman plucked at Jennings' sleeves. "Shall we arrest anyone, sir? With Mr. Bradshaw gone you are next in charge."
Jennings glanced at Eric and Pat. "I suppose not. The evidence has departed. It seems somewhat silly, anyhow." He shook his head. "Bradshaw. Imagine! And we worked for him for years. Damn strange business."
Eric put his arm around his wife. He pulled her against him, hugging her tight. "I'm sorry, honey," he said softly.
"Sorry?"
"Your present. It's gone. I guess I'll have to get you something else."
Pat laughed, pressing against him. "That's all right. I'll let you in on a secret."
"What?"
Pat kissed him, her lips warm against his cheek. "As a matter of fact—I'm just as glad."
BREAKFAST AT TWILIGHT
"DAD?" Earl asked, hurrying out of the bathroom, "you going to drive us to school today?"
Tim McLean poured himself a second cup of coffee. "You kids can walk for a change. The car's in the garage."
Judy pouted. "It's raining."
"No it isn't," Virginia corrected her sister. She drew the shade back. "It's all foggy, but it isn't raining."
"Let me look." Mary McLean dried her hands and came over from the sink. "What an odd day. Is that fog? It looks more like smoke. I can't make out a thing. What did the weather man say?"
"I couldn't get anything on the radio," Earl said. "Nothing but static."
Tim stirred angrily. "That darn thing on the blink again? Seems like I just had it fixed." He got up and moved sleepily over to the radio. He fiddled idly with the dials. The three children hurried back and forth, getting ready for school. "Strange," Tim said.
"I'm going." Earl opened the front door.
"Wait for your sisters," Mary ordered absently.
"I'm ready," Virginia said. "Do I look all right?"
"You look fine," Mary said, kissing her.
"Ill call the radio repair place from the office," Tim said.
He broke off. Earl stood at the kitchen door, pale and silent, his eyes wide with terror.
"What is it?"
"I—I came back."
"What is it? Are you sick?"
"I can't go to school."
They stared at him. "What is wrong?" Tim grabbed his son's arm. "Why can't you go to school?"
"They—they won't let me."
"Who?"
"The soldiers."
It came tumbling out with a rush. "They're all over. Soldiers and guns. And they're coming here."
"Coming? Coming here?" Tim echoed, dazed.
"They're coming here and they're going to—" Earl broke off, terrified. From the front porch came the sound of heavy boots. A crash. Splintering wood. Voices.
"Good Lord," Mary gasped. "What is it, Tim?"
Tim entered the living room, his heart laboring painfully. Three men stood inside the door. Men in gray-green uniforms, weighted with guns and complex tangles of equipment. Tubes and hoses. Meters on thick cords. Boxes and leather straps and antennas. Elaborate masks locked over their heads. Behind the masks Tim saw tired, whisker-stubbled faces, red-rimmed eyes that gazed at him in brutal displeasure.
One of the soldiers jerked up his gun, aiming at McLean's middle. Tim peered at it dumbly. The gun. Long and thin. Like a needle. Attached to a coil of tubes.
"What in the name of—" he began, but the soldier cut him off savagely.
"Who are you?" His voice was harsh, guttural. "What are you doing here?" He pushed his mask aside. His skin was dirty. Cuts and pocks lined his sallow flesh. His teeth were broken and missing.
"Answer!" a second soldier demanded. "What are you doing here?"
"Show your blue card," the third said. "Let's see your Sector number." His eyes strayed to the children and Mary standing mutely at the dining room door. His mouth fell open.
"A woman!"
The three soldiers gazed in disbelief.
"What the hell is this?" the first demanded. "How long has this woman been here?"
Tim found his voice. "She's my wife. What is this? What—"
"Your wife?" They were incredulous. 1
"My wife and children. For God's sake—"
"Your wife? And you'd bring her here? You must be out of your head!"
"He's got ash sickness," one said. He lowered his gun and strode across the living room to Mary. "Come on, sister. You're coming with us."
Tim lunged.
A wall of force hit him. He sprawled, clouds of darkness rolling around him. His ears sang. His head throbbed. Everything receded. Dimly, he was aware of shapes moving. Voices. The room. He concentrated.
The soldiers were herding the children back. One of them grabbed Mary by the arm. He tore her dress away, ripping it from her shoulders. "Gee," he snarled. "He'd bring her here, and she's not even stung!"
"Take her along."
"OK, Captain." The soldier dragged Mary toward the front door. "We'll do what we can with her."
"The kids." The captain waved the other soldier over with the children. "Take them along. I don't get it. No masks. No cards. How'd this house miss getting hit? Last night was the worst in months!"