CHALLENGERS

OFTHE

UNKNOWN

Hewaslostingreen.

Eventheharshsunlightwhichcameshootingdownthroughthebranchesseemedgreen.Thejunglewas
thickallaroundBrunoFinn,thedeep-greenfronds,thegreen-leaved,interlockingbranchespressingin
everywhere.Thegreenlightofthelateafternoonsunmadethebloodrunningdownhisleftarmglowa
blackish-green.ThehumminginsectsswirlingaroundthegashFinnhadpickedupafterhishelicopter
hadsuddenlydroppedintothisstretchofEreguayjungle.Theyweretintedapaleyellow-green.

Thecopter,twistedandsmashedafewhundredfeetaway,lookedfaintlygreennow,too.

Finn,athicksetmanofforty-one,halted.Stumblingaroundlikethiswasnogood.Heoughttostay
closetothefallenship.EventuallyPetroSurwouldsendoutsomebodytosearchforhim;they'dsenda
plane.

"Night'scoming,"Finnremindedhimself."Theywon'tbeabletoseeyouiftheycomeafterdark."

Wait,though.Hehadsomeflaresinthedamn

chopper.Sure,hecouldsetthoseoffwhenheheardtherescueship.

"Ifandwhen,"hemutteredashethrashedthroughthetwisting,pressinggreentohisruinedhelicopter.
Thejunglewaspushingathim,fillinghisnoseandmouthwithahotgreenness,raspingitintohis
lungs.

PetroSurwouldcome.Hewasoneoftheirbesttroubleshooters;he'dgottenseveralnewoilfieldstothe
southrunningsmooth.

"Excepttheydon'tknowwherethehellIam."

Theradiohadbeensmashedwhenthecopterhit.AndFinnhadfoundhimselffalling,plummeting,so
suddenlyhehadn'thadtimetocontactthenearestPSbase.Arainstorm,itcameandwentinminutes,
hadrolledoverhim.Shovedhimoffcourse.

"GotaprettyfairideawhereIam."Backathishelicopter,Finn,usinghisgoodarm,pulledhimselfover
thegreen-stainedwreckageandintothecrackedbubble.

He'dspottedthelakeashecamefallingoutofthesky,recognizeditsshape.Itwastheonethelocals
calledLakeSombra,thelakeofshadows.

"Somuchcrap."Helocatedtheboxofflares,worriedthemoutofthecabinandlethimselfslidetothe
mossy-greenground.

StoriesaboutLakeSombra.AmazingwhattheystillbelievedinsomeoftheseSouthAmerican
countries."Awholenationfullofgreaseballs,whatcanyouexpect?"

Rumorslately.Finnsquattedontheground,carefullysethisflareboxdown.Rumorsaboutthelake,
aboutsomethingcomingoutofit.Finnshookhishead,snorting.Hereachedforthepackofcigarettes
hecarriedinthebreastpocketofhiskhakishirt.

"Oughttofixupthisdamncut,too."Hewassmearinggreenbloodallacrossthefrontofhim.

Therewasafirst-aidkitupinthechopper,too.Finnhadgonerunningfromthebrokenmetalcarcassof
hisruinedshipamomentafteritsettled,clawingandtearingatthesurroundinggreenness.Heart
thumping,echoinginhisears.Hismindandbodycontrolledbyablindimpulsetogetawayfromthere.

"Okay,soIpanicked."Heworkedhiswaybacktothecabinforthefirst-aidstuff."Nobodyaroundto
seeit,nobody'sgoingtoputablackmarkinthebook."

Everythingwasgettinggreener.Thelight,theair,eventhesilenceshovingandpushingathim.

"Silence?"

Therehadbeennoise.Goddamnmonkeyschatteringandsniggering,birdscawingandflappingaround.
Thatwasallstopped.

When?Onlyamomentago,hethought.Nothingnow,nosound.Notevenwindinthepalmsand
branches.

Finnshrugged,locatedthered-paintedaidbox.Backontheground,leaningagainstthebodyofthe
ruinedcopter,hepriedopenthebox."Bacitracinointment,"hereadoffthelabelofagreentube.
"SoundslikesomethingIbettersmearon."

Thegashwasn'tallthatbad.Patitwithsomeofthisgauzehereand...

Somethingcutacrossthegreensilence.

Finn,handstillgrippingtheedgeoftheopenbox,glancedtohisleft."Overthere?"

Acrackling,growingslowlylouder.Somethingcominginhisdirection.

Finnlettheboxdrop.Ithitthemuddyground,spillingbandagesandmedicines.Hetuggedhis.38
revolverfromhisbeltholster.

Mostlikelyastraynative.Althoughtheyweresupposedtostayonthepreserve,somedistancefrom
LakeSombra.

"Easynow,"Finnurgedhimself."Badpublicrelationstoshootthelocals.Don'twant..."

Somethingsteppedoutofthegreenshadows.

Greenerthananythingelse,somethingFinndidn'treallywanttobelievein.Somethinghisrevolverdid
notfaze.

Hefiredfiveshotsintoitbeforeitreachedhim.

Ninetymilestothewesttwodeadmenhadameeting.Theymetinahugesunlitroomwhich
overlookedapatchworkofbrighttiledroofs.

Oneofthemen,hecalledhimselfShusternow,appearedtobeinhislatethirties.Hestoodwatchingthe
afternoonstreetsofthecapitalcityofEreguay."Youcantakemywordforit,General,"hewassaying.
"Itisamajorproblem."

GeneralCuerpoworenotauniformbutaveryconservativegraybusinesssuit.Hewasrecliningina
wickerchair.Evensotherewassomethingunmistakablymilitaryabouthim;heradiatedit.Longand
lean,extremelytan,helookedtobeinhisearlyforties."Thesestoriesgobackcenturies,Shuster.
Superstition,folklore,mythology.Callthemwhatyouwill,theyshouldbenoconcernofours."

Shusterceasedwatchingthecity."I'mnotofferingyouaproblemincomparativeanthropology."He
scowledatthedeeplytannedman,"Fivelocalshavediedinthepasttwomonths."

"Nogreatloss."

"Whenallofthemdiewithinfifteenmilesofourprocessingcenter,"saidShuster,"oursupposedly
secretcenter,General,thenitmeanstrouble.Whateveritis,alegendcometolifeoracrazednative,we
can'taffordtohaveanyonepokingaroundintheLakeSombraarea."

"Idon'tbelievePresidentChanza,forallhispublicproclamationstothecontrary,muchcaresaboutthe
Indiosortheplantationworkers."

"Perhapsnot,buttoomuchattentionisbeingattracted."

"Surely,Shuster,youdon'tseriouslybelievesome...whatshallIcallit?Youthinksomecreaturehas
livedinthedepthsofthislakeforcenturies?"

Shusterrubbedhispalmstogether.Theyproducedadamp,slitherysound."Somethingkilledfivemen,
rippedthemapart,asIunderstandit.Thepatternfitswhat'sbelievedaboutthething."

Cuerpolaughed,hislipsbarelyparted."Wehaveagooddealmoretoworryaboutthanthis....Isit
Zarpatheycallhim?"

"Zarpa,yes,"saidShuster."AndI'mtellingyou,General,weoughttotakestepsourselvestofindout
what'sgoingon.Wehavetostop—"

"Allright,verywell."TheGeneralmadeadismissinggesture."I'llbesendingsomeoneouttoyou,
someonetoinvestigateyourbogeymonster."

"Thissituationistooseriousfor—"

"Please,I'venotmoretimeforthis,"GeneralCuerpointerrupted."I'mexpectingavisitfromour
Americanfriend."

Itwasaveryspecialphone.Itsataloneonagun-metaltableagainstonewallofthewindowlessroom.
Whenitrangtherewasonlyafaintmechanicalhum.AceMorganlefttheredcanvaschairhe'dbeen

sittingin.Atall,rangy,athleticman,Morgandroppedtheplastic-coveredreporthe'dbeenreading,went
walkingovertothephone.

Itspicturescreen,thesizeofasaucer,wasglowingasoftyellow.

"Talk,"invitedMorganasheflippedatoggleontheinstrument.

Apudgymaninatweedyjacketappearedonthescreen,smilingcautiously."You'relooking
exceptionallyfitandchipper,Ace.Evenbetterthanyoudidinyourtestpilotdays.How'severythingin
Colorado?"

"ForthatkindofinformationyouneedtheChamberofCommerce,Holden.Anythingelseonyour
mind?"

"Ha,yes,"saidHoldenChote,acknowledgingheunderstoodMorganwasbeingflippant."Wemight
havealittleproblemforyouandyourcrewofstalwarts."

HowwasitProfhaddescribedthisgovernmentagent?SaidhelookedlikePorkyPigafteracoupleof
yearsatYale."I'mmindingtheshopprettymuchaloneatthemoment,"saidMorgan,grinning.

"HaveIsaidsomethingamusing,Ace?"

"No,certainlynot.Iwasthinkingaboutsomethingelse.WhichIshouldn'tbedoingwhiletalkingtoa
crackNationalEspionageAgencyagent."

"Oh,Idon'tmindabitoffriendlykidding,Ace.WhenIwascoxswainwith...well,tobusiness.You
saytheChallengersare,saveyourself,offonamission?"

"Notonamission,no.They'rescatteredacrosstheWesternU.S.A.,enjoyingvariouskindsofrestand
recreation.">

"Vacationing,eh?Well,allworkandno...Canyougather'emup?"

"Ican;whatsortofassignmentdoesNEAhavein

mind?"

"Somethingrightinyourline,Ace."OntheovalpixscreenChotesmiledalittle."Fullofmysterious
elements,possiblyevenadashofthesupernatural.ExactlythekindofthingtheChallengersofthe
Unknowndoteon.""Specifics?"

"I'dliketosendAlexHentoffouttobriefyouall,"saidthegovernmentagent."Alsowewanttorequest
yourusingJuneonthisone.""JuneRobbins?Idon'tevenknowwhereshe—""Hi,Ace."Averypretty
blondegirlreplacedChoteonthescreen."I'minWashington,D.C.Justgotaterrificassignmentfrom
Newsmag.""Youamagazinewriternow?""It'spartofthecoverforthiscaperofours,Ace.""Caper?
Listen,June,you'reaverycompetentgirl,but—"

"That'sgoingtobequiteareunionoutthere."Chote'sporcinefacewasback."AlmostwishIcould
jauntouttoyourlittleaerie,Ace.Butthere'snowayIcanfitthatintomyschedule,especiallywiththis

Portugaltrouble.Alex'lldoadamgoodjobfillingyou•»

in.

"BeforeIgathertheclans,"saidMorgan,"whereandwhat?"

"TheassignmentwilltakeyoutoSouthAmerica,"saidChote."Asforthewhat...well—"

"It'samonster,Ace,"cameJune'svoice."TheycallittheMonsterofLakeSombra.Thatmeanslakeof
shadowsand—"

"WhendoesyourboyHentoffplantodescendonus,Holden?"

"Tomorrowafternoon.You'llhavetohavetherestoftheboystherebythen."TheNationalEspionage
agentshotahopefullookoutatAceMorgan."I'llhavethemhere."

"Fine,thenI'llstarttheoldballrolling.Letmeadd,Ace,thatthisisanimportantone.""Andit'llbe
fun,"saidJune."Yeah,fun."Morganbroketheconnection.

Themuggingcameasasurprise.

Itwasapleasantlatesummerday;thesoftbreezedriftingacrossthewoodlandpathhadafainttangof
theoceaninit.RockyDavis,arucksackonhisbroadback,wasjoggingcontentedlythroughGolden
GatePark.Hehadn'twrestledproforquiteawhile,buthestillkeptaggressivelyinshape.Rocky'd
passedaloneguitaristamomentago,butnowtherewasnooneelsearoundhimonthewidepathwhich
zigzaggedthroughthetrees.

"Doacouplemoremilesandpackitin,"headvisedhimself."Twelvemilesisenough,thisbeinga
vacation."Hewasabigman,massive.Hisdisorderedcurlyhairwasblack;hisfacehadbeenthrough
considerable.

Rockyjoggedatanevenpace,hisbreathingregular.Hewas,hefeltcertain,inbetterconditioneven
thanwhenheheldhisvarioustitles.

Behindhimheheardtherattleofanapproachingbicycle.No,makethattwoorthreebikes.

Withoutbotheringtolookback,Rockyedgedovertothesideoftheparkpath.

Thecyclesgotquiteclose,butdidn'tpass.

"Ungh,"saidsomeone.

Rockywondered,"Whatkindofnoiseisthat?"

Hefoundoutimmediately.It'sthesoundabigmanmakeswhenhethrowshimselffromhismoving
bikeontoyourback.

"Kee-rist,fella!"TheforceofthemanhittinghimknockedRockyintothebrushoffthepath.Rocky
tottered,flappedovertosmackdownonhisback.

Somethinginhisrucksackmadeasplungsound.

"Youjerk-offs,youpoppedmyyogurt!"

Thebigmanofferednoapology.InsteadhedroveafistintoRocky'sface.

Rocky'sfacewasn'ttherethesecondtimethefistcamewhizzing.He'dgonerollingaway,leaking
raspberryyogurt.

Jumpingtohisfeet,legswidespread,hegloweredatthemanwho'djumpedhim."Youcanonlygetthat
brandofyogurthereinFrisco,"hesaid,snarling.

"Toughtitty,"wasallthebigmanofferedbywayofapology.HechargedatRocky.

Rockysidesteppedhim,becomingawareoftheothercyclists.

Thereweretwomoreofthem,asbigasthefirstjumperandbothdressedinsimilardarkjeansandski
sweaters.Oneofthemwasheftingalengthofpipe.Together,asateam,theypouncedonRocky.

"Getitoverwith,getitoverwith,"urgedtheonewithoutthehunkofpipe.

Rockygrunted.Oneguyhadhisarmspinnedinabearhugandtheotherone,thepipecarrier,hadan
armaroundhisthroatfrombehindandwasraisingthepipeforaninitialsmack.

ThenRooky'searbuzzed.Atinybuzzwhichonlytheex-wrestlerheard.Itcamefromtheminutechip
implantedinhisear."Kee-rist,"hesaidaloud,"asummonsfromheadquarters."

Duckingsuddenly,heflippedthepipeguyallthewayoverhim.Whenhewasinthering,thathadbeen
oneofhisbesttricks.Straighteningswiftly,heexpandedhishugechest.Thiscausedtheothergoonto
letgo.

Goonnumberone,theguywho'dstartedthiswholefracas,wasupandaroundagain.Headdowninbull
fashion,hewasinthemidstofanotherchargeatRocky'smidsection.

"Gotnomoretimeforfoolingaround,fella."Rockyswiveled,broughtupakneeandconnectedwith
thecharger'schin.

"Unk,"themansaid.

Rockycrouched,turnedtotakecareoftheothers.Buttheywerefleeing.

"Hey,fella,youforgotyourdamnbike,"hecalledaftertheonewho'dbroughtthechunkofplumbing.

Theguywasgettingoutofthereonfoot,veryfast.

Rockycrossedtotheabandonedcycle.Itwasfromthebikerentalshopattheedgeofthepark.He
leaneditagainstahandytree.

Whenthatwasdone,Rockydiscoveredthatthethirdassailanthadslippedawayintothewoods."No
timeforhimanyhow."Rockyshrugged,causingthespilledyogurtinhisrucksacktoslurp."Kee-rist,I
probablywon'tevenhavetimetogetbacktothathealthfoodstoreinNorthBeach."

Forlornlyhestartedjoggingbackinthedirectionfromwhichhe'dcome.

Youtakeyourselfoutoftheeverydayhumdrumlifeandyoumustexpectsurprises.RedRyanaccepted
thatnotion.

Evenso,itwasanentireandcompletesurprisetohimwhentheropeofthetrapezesnappedandhe
starteddroppingtowardthedistantsawdustfarbelow.

Arugged,red-hairedyoungman,Redtwistedashefell.Hearrangedhisbodyintoabetterattitudefor
landing.

Hehitthesafetynetinacannonballposition.Unfolding,heflippedovertotheground.

Redstoodstaringupintotheshadowyheightsoftheoldcircustent."Mightypeculiar."

"Hey,youngfellow,Iwouldn'thaveletyouworkoutwithColonelBimm'sCircusandUnparalleled
FreakShowifI'dknownyouweregoingtobesoroughonmyequipment."Athinoldmanina
venerableblacksuitwasstandingatanentrancetotheemptytent."Thatwasabrand-new,ornearlyso,
trapeze."

"Iknow."Redwalkedovertotheoldman,putanarmaroundhisshoulders."Itshouldn'thavesnapped,

shouldit,Colonel?"

Bimmreplied,"Notunlesssomeyoungloutwhodoesn'tknowhisownstrengthgottofoolingaround.
EversinceyouleftarespectabletradelikethecircusandjoinedthoseChallengersoftheUnknown,
you'vebeentoowildandrough."

"It'snotanact,youknow,Colonel.It'sanorganizationthat—•"

"Yep,I'maware.Bunchofdo-gooders,stickingtheirnoseswheretheydon'tbelong."Theoldcircus
ownersighed."Ruinedadamgoodacrobatandaerialist,thatbunch."

"Maybeso."Redranacrossthesawdust."Goingtocheckthattrapezeout.""Don'tgowreckingany
moreofmyequipment;timesaretoughenoughwithoutthat."

Redwashalfwayuptheladderwhenthesmallbuzzingbeganinhisear.Thatmeanthe'dhavetocontact
AcebackatthecentralhangoutinColoradolightaway.

First,though,he'dfindoutwhathadbeendoneto

thetrapeze.

"Exploded?Whatdoyoumean,exploded?"

"Exploded.Wentboom."

Thehandsome,dark-hairedmaninthesunchairsatup."Blazes!Anybodyhurt?"heaskedthephonehe
washolding.

"Fortunately,no.ThestuntmanhadtogototheJohnandthesupersubpickedthatmomenttoblowup,"
saidthevoicefromHollywood.

ProfHaleyshookhishead,turnedsohecouldwatchboththeafternoonPacificandthegirlwhowas
.sittingneartherailingofthevastredwoodsundeck."Look,Norm,oldsport,Iguaranteeyouthatprop
subwasdesignedwiththeusualHaleyintegrity.SoI—"

"I'mnotblamingyou,Prof,"saidNormLancer."Wefoundpiecesofthebomb."

Profstoodup."Abomb?"

"You'reinaverydoubtingmoodtoday,"observedIhegirl,whowasverytan,verylovely,quiteblonde
andwearingaveryscantswimsuit.

InnearbyHollywood,Lancersaid,"Wecan'tquitefigurewho'dwanttosabotageSeaMonster2002."

Frowning,Profsaid,"Didn'toneofyournimble-wittedpublicitypersons,theonewiththebackside
identicaltoJeanHarlow'sinherprime,sendsomekindofreleasetothepress?Somethingtotheeffect

thatProfHaley,whooutofthegoodnessofhiswideheartwasactingastechnicaladvisertoyour
aquaticepic,wasgoingtodosomestuntworkonyourflicker?"

"Yeah,Ithinkshedid.Youfigure—"

"Icomefromalonglineofparanoids,Norm,"admittedProf,gesturingtotherecliningblondetofetch
himaglassoforangejuice."WhichiswhyI'mpausingtowonderifyourdamnbombwasn'tintended
forme."

"Couldbe,Isuppose,"acknowledgedthemovieproducer."Butsortofsloppy,isn'tit?Blowingupthe
subwhileyou'reoverthereinMalibutakingaday

off."

"Allassassinsaren'tefficient."

"Okay,ifitwasyoutheywereafter,Prof,takecare,huh?Meanwhile,canyougetbacktothestudio,
outofthekindnessofyourheart,tohelpmypeoplewhipupanewsupersub?"

"Tomorrow,"promisedProf.

"Forsure?ThisguyIgotplayingtheseamonsterisveryquirky.Hecomplainsallthetimeifhehasto
sitaroundwithallthatmakeuponand—"

"Tomorrow,trustme.Shootaroundthesub.I'llseeyoubrightandearly,asbrightasthesmogallows,in
Burbanktomorrow.Bye."Hehungupthereceiver,placedthephoneontheredwoodplankingnearhis
chair.

"Isenseayarn,"saidthegirl.

"Where'smyorangejuice?"Profwalkedovertoher.

"Everybody'sequalnow.Hadn'tyouheard?"Sheremainedreclining.

"YoutalkingaboutthatthingLincolnsigned?"Givingheramockscowl,hewanderedbackintothe
rentedbeachhouse.Whenhewasopeningthekitchenrefrigerator,heheardthepatterofbarefeeton
theparquetbehindhim.

"You'reverydrolltoday,"saidtheblonde.

"Gallowshumor."Profpouredhimselfafullglassoforangejuice."Somebodytriedtoblowmeup."

"Ihadn'tnoticed."

"Letusrephrasethat,sunshine.ThatpropsubIlentNormanLancerahandonwasblownupthismorn-
ing."

"Sincesomepeoplethoughtyou'dbeinsideittoday,yoususpect—"

"NotsurewhatIsuspect,Hildy.ThisbeingmyvacationIthinkI'llturnoffthefabledHaleybrainand
—"

"FamedChallenger'sNearMisswithDeath,"HildyNivensaid."Iseeanotherfastthreehundreddollars
fromtheNationalIntelligencercomingmyway."

"No,nix."Heshookahandatherinanegativegesture."NomoreyarnsaboutmeortheChallengersof
theUnknown.Asitis,Ishouldn'thave—"

"Prof,areyouexpectingcompany?"

"Notatall.Why?"

"Ihearfootstepsontheroof."

Profglancedupward."SodoI,alongwiththefamiliarchuffofahelicopter."Hetouchedhersmooth
bareshoulder."Stayhere,gumdrop,andbepreparedtoduckatamoment'snotice."

"ChallengerDefiesDeathinOwnHome,"Hildysaidashelefther."That'sanotherthreehundred
bucks."

"Rentedhome.AndI'vegottoshakethisterriblehabitofgettingromanticallyentangledwithscandal
sheetreporters."Silentlyhepaddeddownthehalltowardthesundeck.

Thefootstepshadceasedtosoundontheslantingshingleroofoverhead.

Profeaseda.32revolveroutoftheholsteratthebackofhisbelt.

"NowonderyoufeltsolumpythelasttimeIhuggedyou,"remarkedHildy.

"Backinthekitchen,"heorderedwithoutturning.

"I'lldono—"

Anupsidedownredheadwasvisibledanglingovertheedgeoftheroofandgrinningatthemthrough
thesliding-glassdeckdoors."Everybodydecent?"

"Onceacircusclown,alwaysacircusclown."Profstowedhisgun."Splendidseeingyouagain,Red."

"Samehere."LegsflashedandRedRyansomersaultedbackwardoffthebeachhouserooftoland
uprightonthedeck."Pleasantsetupyouhavehere.Afternoon,miss."

Profcame,frowningsome,outintothesunlight."Who'supintheautogiro?"

"Rocky."

Profsleftcheekpuckered."Tellhimtoparkit,"hesuggested."Thenwe'llallsitoutheresoakingupthe
proverbialsun.WhenduskspreadsalongMalibu'sgoldenshores,wecangoclammingorperhapsyou
canstickaroundlongenoughforthenextrunofgrunion.Orperhapsyoucantake—"

"Easy,Prof,whoa,"saidRedwithagrin."Wewouldn'tbargeinonyourvacationunlessitwas
important."HeglancedatProfsear."Um...beenhavinganytroublewithyourhearing?"

"Iturneditoff.RedRyan,thisisHildyNiven.Hildy,Red.Sheknowsaboutthelittlesummoningbug."

"Sorry,"thegirlsaidtoRed,"IstumbledonitthelasttimeIfondledhisear."

"Notsupposedtobeabletoshutitoff,"saidRed."Yourman-in-the-streetelectronicswhizcouldn't,

buttoProfHaley,"saidProf,"suchasimpleproblemis—

"Wehavetogo,"interruptedRed."Thatweincludesme,too?"Profasked."Right.Acewantsusback..
.backhomesoonest.""Okay,I'llgathermygeartogether."ProfpattedHildy'selbowonhiswayintothe
house.

TheblondegirlwatchedRed."Youwouldn'twanttotellmewherethenextchallengeisgoingtotake
you?"

"That'sright,"answeredRed,"Iwouldn't."

"Kee-rist!"Rockycamerumblingintothechillmeetingroom,wavingatabloidnewspaperaloft."Have
youguysseenthisrag?"

Slouchingfartherinhisplaceattheovalconferencetable,Profcuppedahandtohisear."Eh?What
say?"

"TheygotawholelotofbaloneyaboutusinthishereNationalIntelligencer."Thewidewrestler
slappedtheoffendingnewspaperdownonthetable-top,pokedathickforefingeratit."Whatkindof
pea-brainednitwitsreadthistripe,anyhow?"Hedroppedintohischairwiththeforceofafelledtree.

Whenthetableceasedshaking,Redsaid,"Ihaven'tseentheannoyingitem,Rock.Readit,willyou?"

Profslouchedstillfarther."Whydon'tyouwaittillyoursubscriptioncopyarrives,oldman?"

"Ain'tAcehere?"RockyhadrealizedtheleaderoftheChallengerswasnotinevidence.

Profsaid,"Expectedmomentarily."

ThepagesofthetabloidgotrippedasRockyturnedthem."Okaynow,listentothisbilge.'Livingon
BorrowedTime,TheyDedicateLivestoFightEvil.'

That'syourherenowheadline.WhichisrightnexttoanadforanEgyptianamuletthatcanboth

increaseanddecreaseyourfertility."

"Don'tscoff,"putinProf."MyUncleRufushadoneofthoseandheendedupfatheringsixteen
children,manyofthemwithhiswife.Thebroodincludedtwosetsofidenticaltwins,threesetsof
triplets,sixsturdy—"

"Whoa,"saidRed."That'snineteenalready."

"Gosh,hewasevenmorefertilethanwerealized."

"Comeon,youguys,"protestedRocky,givingthenewspaperarticleafewmorepokeswithhisfinger.
"Thisbroadgoesontosaythat—"

"Whichbroad?"inquiredRed.

"Idon'tknow,somedippybroadnamedHildyNiven.Probablygotafacelikeabulldogandabuildlike
thewrongendofatruck."

"CouldthatbethesameHildyNivenImetrecentlyinSouthernCalifornia,"saidRed.

Profasked,"Didshehaveafacelikeabulldogandabuildlikethewrongendofatruck?"

"Nope,thisgirlwasterrific-looking,sparselycladandwithaverytinyappendixscarrightalong—-"

"Ha!"Rockyroseup,snappedhisfingers."Iseethehandwritingonthewall."

"Ifyouspotanygoodphonenumbers,"saidProf,"let—"

"ThatdameyouwasdallyingwiththereinMalibu,Prof.Ha!"

"I'llhaveyouknow,oldman,Ineverdalliedinmylife."

"Itwaswhat'shername,itwasHildyNiven,"accusedRocky."Youblabbedtoher,gaveherallthisguff
aboutus.Suchgunkas,andIquote,'EachChallengerfacedapersonalmomentoftruthmereweeks
beforethefatefulplanecrashthatwastoaltertheirlivessocompletely.'Andlike,'Theywereflying
towardfameandfortunewhenasuddenviolentstormchangedtheirflightplanandtheirlives.They
livedthroughacrashthatshouldhavebeenfatal.Andhavingsurvivedthisclashwiththegreatest
unknownofthemall—death—thefeistyquartetvowedtocontinuechallengingthemanymysteriesthat
puzzledandofttimesimperiledmankind.'Kee-rist,Feisty?Vowed?Fateful?"

"Theyoungladywritesverywell,"saidRed."Andshegotyournumber,Rocko.Youareafeistyone."

"Listen,youclowns,"growledRocky,"Iamtickedoff.Gettingwrittenupinthissheetalongwith
Egyptiandoohickiesandguyswhoclaimtohavecuredtheircrippledoldgrannieswithadowsingrod."

Profclearedhisthroat."Doyouwanttoputallthisintheformofamotion?"

"Broads,"mutteredthebigman,"goingtobetheruinofyou."

"Quitelikely,"admittedPrpf."Iwould,however,liketotalkabitmoreaboutthemoreimmediateand
lessattractiveformsofgettingknockedoff."

Redfoldedhisarms,eyedtheceiling."Youthinkourlittleaccidentsareworkofonehand?"

"Themostobviousassumption,isn'tit?Inthesamedaythreeheaviestrytocold-cockRocky,somebody
cutsthestringonyourtrapezeandtheyplantaninfernalmachineinthepropsubIamrumoredtobe
descendingin."

Rockygrunted."Thatmakesitkindofspooky,"hesaid."Meanswhoever'sgotitinforusalsoknows
oneheckofalotaboutus,aboutwhatweweregonnabeupto."HescowleddownthetableatProf.
"Somebodylikethatnewspaperbroadofyours."

Profsmiledslowlyathisteammate."WhatItoldHildyaboutus,Rockbound,waslittlemorethanshe
couldhavedugoutofmagazinesandnewspapers,"hesaid,thesmilegraduallyfading."We'vebeen
togetheralongtimeandyouought,Ithinkyoudo,toknowI'mnotabouttobetraytheChallengers."

"TakesmorethanaprettyfacetogetanythingoutofProf,"addedRed.

"Okay,okay,excuseit."Rockyexaminedhisknuckles."Sowho,then?"

"Toputyourallegedmindatease,"Profsaid,"Hildydidn'tknowwhereyouorRedwere.Andshewas
onepersonwhoknewforsureIwasn'tinthatsub."

"Aw,okay."Rockydugahandfulofcarrotsticksoutofapocket,beganchompingonthem."Don'tkeep
harpingonit,Prof.I'msorry."

"Weunderstand,"Redtoldhim."Gettingjumpedandlosingapintofyourfavoriteyogurtallinoneday
canunsettleanyone."

"Itwasaquart."

"Iamwondering,"saidProf,tiltingbackinhischair,"ifthesetriesatremovingusfromthisplaneof
existencearemaybeconnectedwithournewassignment."

"Possible."Acehadcomesilentlyintothelongwin-dowlessroom.

"Hi,skipper."Rockygavehimacasualsalute,touchingacarrothunktohiscraggyforehead.

"Whatmorecanyoutellusonthisnewjob?"Redwantedtoknow.

Aceslidintothechairattheheadofthetable.

"AlexHentoffoftheNationalEspionageAgencywillbeouthereinthemorningtogiveusacomplete

briefing,"hesaid."FromthehintsJunedropped,though,I'vebeenabletoputtogether—"

"June?"Rockysatup."WegoingtobeworkingwithJuneRobbinsagain?"

"Lookslike,"answeredAce.

Thebigmanmadeachucklingsound."IlikeJuney."FrowninginProf'sdirection,headded,"Don'tgo
bird-doggingthepoorkidthistime,huh?"

"Me?Hardlyknowtheyounglady;besideswhich,myheartispromisedelsewhere."

"Youweresaying,"RedurgedthechiefoftheChallengers.

"DugintooneofthefilesI'vebeenkeeping,"Acesaid."Somethingliketwomonthsagostoriesbegan
driftingoutofanareainEreguayaroundLakeSombra.Nothingbig,back-pagestuffmostly."

"TheMonsterofLakeSombra,"saidProf."Theoldrascalhasn'tsurfacedsincelateinthelastcentury.I
recallseeingasquibabouthisrecentreturn."

Nodding,Acesaid,"Locallyhe'scalledZarpa.MeansclawinSpanish."

"He'scertainlygotclaws,"saidProf."Legendhasithe'squitefondofrippinghisvictimsapart."

"ThisisonelegendarycreatureI'mnotupon,"saidRed."Whatishesupposedtobe?Abigserpentlike
theLochNessbeastieorwhat?"

"StoriesaboutZarpagobackseveralhundredyears,"saidAce."Mostaccounts,whichincludeseveral
byfolkswhoclaimtohavebeenattackedbyZarpaandescaped,depicthimasroughlyhumanoid.But
withtheheadofsomekindofamphibianreptile."

"What'sUncleSamwantustodo?"Rockyfinishedthelastcarrot."Cagetheguy?""PetroSur,whichis
abranchofoneofourbiggestU.S.oilcompanies,isdevelopingoilfieldsinthatpartofEreguay,"said
Ace."Sofarthecreaturehasattackedonlylocalcitizens—"

"Ah,butwecan'thavehimeatingupAmericans,"saidProf."SpeciallynotbigoilbizAmericans."

"Easy,Prof,"cautionedRed,withagrin,"you'restartingtosoundashadetooradical."

"There'salotmoretoitthanprotectingPetroSur'sinterests,"saidAce."Inthefirstplace,I'mdamn
curioustofindoutwhatexactlythiscreatureis."

"Lotof'emturnouttobehoaxes."

"Notall,Rocky,"remindedRed."Whichisoneofthethingswhichkeepsusinbusiness."

Profwasrunninghistonguearoundagainsthischeek,lefteyenearlyshut."There'ssomepolitical

turmoilabrewingdownEreguayway,"hesaid."Atthemomentit'soneofthefewSouthAmerican
countrieswithanythingresemblingademocraticgovernment."

Redadded,"TheirPresidentChanzawasactuallyelected."

Rockyfoldedhisnewspaper,satonit."SpeakingofJuneRobbins,"hesaid,"when'ssheduehereat
Challengerheadquarters?"

"Sometimebetweennowandtomorrow,"saidAce."That'sascloseasIcancome.YouknowhowJune
is."

"Unpredictable,"suppliedRed.

"I'mkindofworriedabouthertaggingalongonthiscaper,"thebigmansaid."Incaseweendup
tanglingwithamonsterandall."

"Worryaboutthemonster,"advisedProf.

Theone-wayglasswallletinasweepingviewoforangeandgoldcliffsandcanyons.AlexHentoff
shookhishead,whichseemedslightlytoolargeforhisslimbody,andwipedathisglasseswitha
swatchoftreatedpaperbeforereplacingthem."Incredible,"hesaidinhissomewhatpipingvoice.
"Fromoutside,thislookslikejustonemoreSouthwesthunkofmountain."

"Wecallitcamouflage,"Profsaidfromthecomfortablechairwherehesatwatchingtheyoung
governmentagent.

Givinghisrimlessspectaclesafinaladjustingpat,Hentoffturnedhisbackonthebriefingroom's
impressiveviewandcrossedtoachair.

Sixchairswereplacedinthecenterofthelargeroom,allbutonenowoccupied.

Rockyshiftedagaininhis,drumminghisfingersontheclipboardonhisknee,frowningtowardthe
entrypanelsinthewall."She'slate,"hemuttered.

RedraisedaneyebrowatProf."Who'stheRockalludingto?""Searchme.Someyounglady,Igather."

"Knockitoff,youguys,"growledthebigman."Allthethingsthat'vebeenhappening...well,Kee-rist,
I'malittleworriedaboutJuneyRobbinsisall."

"Womenarealwayslateformeetings,"Redsaid.

"Notanymore,"putinProf."Theyhaveequalrightsnow."

"Iforgot."

Hentoffallowedasmallsmiletotouchhislips."ShallIwaitforMs.Robbins?"

"Yes,"saidAce.

Nodding,theNationalEspionageagentsaid,"Youalludedtosomeunusualthingswhichhadbeen
takingplace,Rocky.Wouldyouamplifyonthat?"

"Aw."Rockygavealopsidedshrug."Someguystriedtoknockusoff.Nothingserious."

"Attemptsweremadeonyourlives?When?"

"Yesterday,"saidAce.HegaveHentoffabriefandconciseaccountofwhathadbefalleneachofthe
otherChallengers.

Hentoffstrokedhisbeardlesschin."Interesting,Ace,andyetI'matalosstoseehowitconnectswith
thispendingassignmentofyours.Furthermore,noonebutHoldenChote,Ms.Robbinsandmyselfeven
knewNEAintendstobringyouintothisaffair.Infact,untilearlyyesterdaythefinaldecisionhadn't
evenbeenmade.Eveniftherewerealeak,whichIjudgetobenearlyimpossible,therewouldhave
beennotimetosetupthreeseparateschemestodoawaywithyoufellows."

"Probablyjustsomefree-lancekillers,"saidProf,"lookingforpractice."

"Right,"saidRed,"probablyouttoearntheirmeritbadgesinmayhemandslaughter."

"Youweren't,"askedHentoff,afterallowinganotherfleetingsmileontohisface,"abletocatchanyof
thesepeople?Ortogetsomeleadastowhotheywere?"

"Nope,"saidRed."NobodyatBimm'scircussawanysuspiciouscharacterslurkingaround.Therope
hadbeencut,butIcouldn'tdeterminewhenandbywhom.Iwasn't,inwhattimeIhadbefore
hightailingitbackhere,abletogetasingleclue."

"SimilarsituationprevailedinSouthernCal,"saidProf."ThoughI'llhavethebombfragmentsshipped
toourlabhere,oncethepolicebombexpertsgetfinished."

"Besuretohavethemsendthestuffspecialbombrates,"suggestedRed."Savespostage."

"Oh,really?Ithoughtthatonlyappliedtoletterbombs."

"Comeon,youguys,"Rockygrumbled,"knockoffthelevity."Eyebrowsnearlyconnected,heglanced
oncemoreattheentryway.

Ashedid,apanelslidasideandaslimblondegirl,prettyfaceslightlyflushed,camehurryingintothe
briefingroom."SorryI'mlate,oneandall,"shesaid.

Rocky'schairrumbledwhenhehoppedtohisfeet."Youokay,Juney?Youlookkindofflustered."

"Oh,well,somebodytriedtoshootme,"JuneRob-binsreplied."Itsortofunsettledme."

"Welcometotheclub,"saidRed,standingandeasingtheoneemptychairafewinchestowardher.

Junesankintoit,smilingathankyouathim."I'mnottheonlyonewho'sbeenplayingtarget?"

Aceleanedinherdirection."Beforewefillyouin,"hesaid,"giveusthedetailsofwhathappenedto
you."

Herlongblondehairbrushedathershoulderswhenshegaveaself-deprecatingshrug."Itwasatthe
airportwhenIgotinacouplehoursago.""Youshouldhavetakenmeuponmyofferofaliftinthe
NEAjet,"saidHentoff.

Notlookingattheagent,Junesaid,"IhadsomethingstotakecareofbeforeIleftWashington,Alex.
Anyway,whenIwaswalkingfromtheplanetotheairport...bam!Somebodyshotatme.Ihitthedeck
inmyusualnimblefashionandnoharmwasdone.Atleastnottome."

"Anyoneelsehurt?"askedAce.

"No,noneofmyfellowpassengersoranyofthecrew,butalotofthesuitcasesononeofthebaggage
trucksgotslicedinhalfand—"

"Slicedinhalf?"saidRocky.

Juneexplained,"Seemsmyassassinwasusingsomesortoflasergun."

Hentoffbouncedinhischair."That'simpossible,June.Nociviliancould—"

"Theairportpolicewereofthesameopinion,"theblondegirlsaid."Buttherewereallthosesuitcases
neatlycutopen,nottomentionthetruckitself.Aftertalkingincircleswithmeforawhile,theyallgave
upandturnedmeloose.HereIam."Shesmiled,spreadherhandswideapart.

Acesteepledhisfingers."Iimaginetheyfoundnotraceoftheladwiththelasergun?Nowitnesses?"

"Theydidn't,"saidthegirl,"andIdidn't.Averyneatandcleanjob,exceptitfailed."

"Didit?"saidProf.

Acelookedoverathim."Meaning?"

"I'mcommencingtowonderifourgaggleofassassinsreallywanttokillus.Maybetheyjustwantto
incapacitateus,orsimplyscareus."

"Aw,nobodycanscaretheChallengersoftheUnknown."Rockysmackedhispalmwithhisfist.
"Everybodyknowsthat."

"Noteverybody,"saidRed,"orwe'dbeoutofbusiness."

Hentoffclearedhisthroat."Supposeweputalltheseattempts,andallspeculationsastoprobable
motives,onthebackburner.I'mduebackinWashingtonassoonasIcangetthere.I'dliketofillyouin
ontheassignmentNEAhasforyou."

"Fillaway,"invitedRed.

Afteranotherthroatclearing,theyouthfulNationalEspionageagentbegan."You'llunderstandthatthe
UnitedStatesisanxioustoseePetroSursucceedinitsdevelopmentoftheoilresourcesofEreguay,"he
said."AdependablesourceofoiltherewillcontributetomakinguslessdependentontheArab
countries.Now,youmaynotagreewithsomeofthepoliticalstandsofPetroSuranditsparentcompany,
yetIbelieveyou'llagreethatPetroSur'sactivitiesinLatinAmericaarevitallyimportanttothe
continuedwell-beingofourownnation."

"Hear,hear,"saidProf.

"Afewmonthsago,"Hentoffcontinued,"someverystrangethingsstartedhappeningnearoneofthe
PetroSurexperimentalfields,inthevicinityofLakeSombra.Nodoubtyouarefamiliarwiththe
legendssurroundingthisparticularbodyofwater."

"Weknowaboutthesupposedmonster,"Acetoldhim."We'veheardthestoriesofhisrisingagain."

Hentoffsaid,"Therehavebeenseveralkillings,eachofwhichappearstobetheworkof...ofsomething
...somethingunearthly."

"Appears?"putinRed."Youboysthinkit'spossiblethekillingshavebeentrickeduptolooklikethe
workofsomekindofcreature?"

"I'vebroughtalongalltheactualautopsyreportsandphotosofthevictims.Personally,andthisopinion
isbackedbywhatourownNEAlabpeoplehavedecided,Ifavorthetheorywe'reindeeddealingwitha
veryreal...well,amonster."

"Youmean,"askedProf,"astraitlacedoutfitliketheNationalEspionageAgencybelievesacreature
calledZarpahasbeendwellinginthatlakeforuntoldcenturies?Thathepopsupeverynowandagain,
ripsupafewhaplesspassersbyandthengoesbacktosleepinthedeep?"

Hentoffsmiled."Surely,Prof,afteralltheoddandbizarreadventuresyoufourhavehad,youcan'tstill
beaskeptic."

"Sure,I'maneternalskeptic,"Profreplied."Therealchallengeinanyjobofoursistogetatthetruth.
Maybewe'llfindamonsterdownthereinthewildsofEreguay;maybewe'llfindaladinafunnysuit."

"Ahum,"saidJune."Isn'tanybodygoingtocorrectAlex?Hesaidfourofus.Countingme,it'sfive."

"There'sanotherpoint,"saidAce,"Whydoweneedacoverstory,thisbusinessaboutJunedoingan
articleforNewsmag?'

Hentoffpursedhislipsforafewseconds."AtthemomentEreguayisenjoying,underPresidentChanza,
arelativelyopenanddemocraticgovernment,"hesaidslowlyandcarefully."Thepoliticalsituationin
Ereguayis,however,veryvolatile.Therefore,wedeemitnecessarytohaveyouworkabitmore
covertlythanyousometimesdo."

"Darn,"saidRed,"we'llhavetoleavethenoise-makersandpartyhornsathome."

Hentoffresumed:"We'rearrangingprivatelodgingsforyouinSanJames,thecapital.We'dlikeyouto
arrivetherenolaterthantomorrowevening.BythattimeHoldenwillhavebriefedoneofouragents
there,andthemanwillworkwithyou."

"Aw,"complainedRocky,"wedon'tneednohelp.""Letmestressagainyoumustgocarefully,keepa
lowprofile,"saidHentoff."Ourmanwillmakethenecessaryarrangementstogiveyourcoverstory
plausibilityandsetupthenecessarytransportationandpermits."

"Relax,Rocky,"saidProf."It'llbeniftytohavean

extrasomebodytoputbetweenusandthenextassassin.

Therewasn'tanotheraircraftlikeitinanyhemisphere.Asilvery,wing-shapejet,itcameknifing
throughtheclearafternoonskyovertheEreguayancapital.Zoomingoveracitywhichwasamixof
high-riseglassandmetal,ancientcathedrals,redtileroofs,broadstreetsandtwistinglanes.

AceMorgan,who'ddesignedtheship,wasatthecontrolsandincommunicationwiththeSanJames
airport.

JuneRobbinstouchedherfingertipstotheviewportbesideherseat."What'sallthatfringingthecity?"

"You'renotsupposedtonotice,"saidProf."Theycallthatthebarrio

"UpintheStates,duringtheDepression,"amplifiedRed,"theywerecalledshantytownsand
Hoovervilles.Youknow,makeshifttownsbuiltontheedgesofthebigcities.Lotsofjobless,homeless
peopleinAmericainthosedistantdays."

"CitizensnowflocktoSanJamesfromalloverEreguay,"saidProf."Tiredoftheagriculturallife,
lookingforabetterdealandmaybealittleluckinanurbansetting.Well,citieshavealwaysbeena
magnet.TroubleisEreguay'seconomyisn'tquiteingoodenoughshapetosupportitspoor.Sothey
throwtogetherashackandwait."

"Waitforwhat?"askedRocky.

"Ah,there'stherub,"saidRed.

Profsaid,"Wecanignorethebarriothistrip,June.It'sgotnothingtodowithourmission."

"Lookathowmuchgroundthoseterribleshacksandhutscover,"persistedJune."Theremustbe

thousandsofpeoplelivingthere,ortryingtolive.Peoplesick,starving."

"Hey,you'resupposedtobeworkingforNewsmag,"Redremindedher."Newsmagnewspersonsdon't
havehearts.Don'tblowourcoverbygettingsentimental,kid."

"Red,sometimesIthinkyou—"

"Wehavearrived,"announcedAce.

"Kee-rist,"rumbledRocky,"talkaboutyoursmoothlandings."

"Shehandlesverywell,doesn'tshe?"saidAce,grinningproudly.

"Thereisachapoutthereonthefieldwithahomespungrinandanattachecase."Redwasunbuclding
hissafetygear,gazingoutthedoorport."Heisnowtrottingtowardourship.Bethe'sHentoff'sboy."

Standingoverthecontrolpanel,Aceflippedatoggle.Thedoorwhooshedopen."Checkhimout,"he
said.

Redposedcasuallyinthehatchway."Afternoon,"hesaidamiablyoutatthelargeyoungmanwhowas
hurryingtowardtheirship.

"I'mDennyYewell,"thebroad-facedyoungmancalled.

"Thatmustbeagreatsourceofcomforttoyou."

"You'vegottobeRedRyan."

"Goingtohavetostartwearingahat."Redplacedafootonthetoprungofthedisembarkingstairs.
"Hentoffmentionedyourname,Yewell.Gotanylittlespecialphrasestopasson."

Yewellhaltedafewfeetfromtheship,blinkingupatRed."Phrases?Oh,youmeanyouwanttogo
throughallthatcloak-and-daggerroutine."Helaughed,scratchedathisclose-croppedblondhair."I
keepforgettinghowgunghoHentoffis."

"Us,too,"saidProf,who'djoinedhisChallengerteammateonthestairs."Wefindidentifyingphrases
areabighelpinsortingthegoodguysoutfromthebadguys."

"Oncethatisestablished,"addedRed,"weknowwhomtoshootandwhomnottoshoot."

"Okay,okay."Yewellblushed,swallowed."I'msupposedtosay...'OCaptain!myCaptain!ourfearful
tripisdone.'Thenyourespondwith..."

"'Theshiphasweatheredeveryrack,theprizewesoughtiswon,'"suppliedRed.

Noddingwithsatisfaction,Yewellasked,"CanIcomeclosernow?"

"Youknowtherightlines,youmustbeokay."Profsidesteppeddownthemetalladder,heldouthishand
totheAmericanagent.

Itwasadry,warmdayinthecapitalcity.

Aftershakinghandsvigorously,Yewellsaid,"Iwasabletorentaverynicehouseforyouinanice
sectionofSanJames.You'renotsuperstitious,Ihope?"

"Why?"askedRed,joiningthemonthefield.

"Oh,thedefenseministerfromacoupleregimesbackwasmurderedinthehouse,"theagentsaid."That
wasovertwoyearsagoanditwasaveryneatkilling,knife-in-the-backsortofthing.Therearen'tany
bulletholesintheplasteroranything.Yetsomepeoplerefuseto—"

"Notus,"Redassuredhim."Themorehauntedahouseis,thebetterwelikeit.Doesthedefense
ministerroamthehallsatmidnightrattlinghischains?"

"Idon'tthinkheeverhadanychains,"saidYewell."Well,I'mcertainyoupeoplewilllikethehouse.It
reallyisanicehouse.Soonasyou'rereadyI'lldriveyouoverto—"

"We'llfollowyou,"saidRed."Webroughtourownvehicle."

AhatchinthecargoendoftheChallengershipwasslidingopen.Arampswungdownand,withRocky
atthewheel,asmallvancamerollingout.Rockygrinnedatthem,beepedthehorntwice.

"Equipment."Proftiltedathumbattheemergingvan.

"Oh,right,right."Theyoungmanbeganfriskinghimself."Iwasalertedaboutthat;gotyourtemporary
licenseandinsurancecertificateheresomeplace.Yes,herewego."HehandedRedawadofpapers.
"Youbeingspecialists,Iimagineyoucarrya...Hi,I'mDennyYewell."

Junehadcomedownoutoftheship.SheshookthehandtheAmericanagentoffered."Pleasedtomeet
you."

"I'verentedyou,asIwastellingtheguys,averynicehousetostayin."

"Inaniceneighborhood,"saidProf.

"That'snice."Thegirlwasturningherprettyheadfromsidetoside,watchful.

Therewerenootherpeopleorplanesinthissectionoftheairfield.

"Calmyourself,Juney,"saidRed."Theywon'ttrythesamestunttwice."

"Soyousay,"shesaid."Butmaybethey'rethekindwhobelieveintryinguntiltheysucceed."

Theyweren'texpectingthepresident.

Thewalled-ingardenofthelargehousetheywerestayinginwasthickwithbougainvilleaand
geraniums;therewereexplosionsofredblossomsallaround.Duskwasfillingupthegardenandthe
slantingstreetbeyondthegardenwall;thewrought-ironlampshangingfromthepinkandwhitehouse
wallswereglowingon.

Rockytookabiteoutofacucumber."Tooquiet,"heobserved.Hewasstandingbesidealarge,oval
fishpond,absentlywatchingthemulticoloredfishwithinit.

"Nodoubt,"saidProf,stretchedoutinawickerchairandwatchingthestarscommencingtoappearhigh
above,"we'reexperiencingtheproverbialcalmbeforethestorm."

"Right,"putinRedfromhisperchonawoodenbenchsurroundedbybrightredblossoms."Waittillwe
hitLakeSombraandyouandthatancientmonstermeetfacetoface,Rocksie."

Scratchingathishead,Rockysaid,"Aw,Igotahunchthereain'tnomonsterinthatpuddleatall.
There'ssomethingelseafoot."

"Couldbe,"Redagreed."Ourthrifty,loyal,reverentandbraveNEAagent,youngMasterYewell,sure
hintedasmuch."

Rockysurveyedthedarkeninggarden."Nicejointhefixedusupwith.Yougottogivehimthat."

"He'llprobablygointothereal-estatelinewhenhisgovernmentdaysareover,"saidProf.

"Carsstopping."Redjoggedacrossthegardenand,aidedbyaconvenientlyplacedbirdbath,boosted
himselfuptopeeroverthetopoftheseven-footwall."Official-lookingbunch,longblackcars,atrioof
those,andeverybodyinasinceredarksuit."

Profdidn'tmove."Probablyafuneralintheneighborhood."

"Hopenot,sincethey'recominghere,"Redsaid."Marchingrightuptoourfrontdoor,ringingthe
chimes.Theheavyguythey'reclusteredaroundlooksaheckofalotlikePresidentChanza."

Profswungoffhischair."PresidentChanzaofthisverycountry?"

"ThatPresidentChanza,yeah."

"Kee-rist,"remarkedRocky."Why'sthepresofEreguaydroppinginonus?"

"Let's,"suggestedRedwhiledroppingfromhisviewpoint,"goinsideandfindout."

Threelargemenmettheminthemaincorridorofthehouse."Onemoment,porfavor,"saidthelargest
one,makingapolite,stop-right-theregesture.

Hisassociateswereconsultingapacketofpapersandphotos."Estabien."Theypassedsomepicturesto
thelargest.

Henodded."YouseemtobeRedRyan,RockyDavisandProfHaley."

"Seemtobeandare,"Profassuredhim."Readingfromlefttoright.Whomightyouladsbe?"

"Wearepartofthepresident'ssecuritydetail,sefior.MynameisDelRio.HisExcellencywouldliketo
talkwithyoufourassoonasthelivingroomhasbeengoneover."

"Goneover?"saidRed.

DelRiosmiled,histhickmustacheturningupattheedges."Forlisteningdevices,bombsandrelated
devices,senor."

"Couldn'tbeanythinglikethathere,"saidRocky."Imeanthisjointwaspickedoutforusby..."He
trailedoffwhenhenoticedanothersecuritymancomingoutofthelivingroomwithasmalldiscresting
inhisoutheldhand.

"Inthelampbase,"hesaidtoDelRio.

"Si,anobviousplace."

"Kee-rist,"saidRocky,growling."Somejerkplantedabugonusandwedidn'teventumble.Stupid."

"Havetoagreewithyou,oldman,"saidProfwitharuefulshakeofhishead."Weshouldhavefound
thatdingusourselves."

"Weallofusnodnowandagain,"saidDelRio."Ifoneiscarelesstoooften...thenwemayhaveno
furtheropportunityofmakingmistakes."

Redtookthediscfromthemanwho'dfoundit."OneofthoseJapanesebabies.Veryefficient."He
handeditback.

"Let'sgointhereandseewhatelsewecanfind,"invitedProf."Nousetheseladshavingallthefun."

ThethreeChallengerswentstridingdownthelonghallwayandintothelivingroom.Twoothersecurity
menweresearchingit.

PresidentChanzawasamiddle-sizedman,abitplump,andaboutfifty-five.Hehadwavyhair,athin
mustache.Withhishandsbehindhisback,hestoodpatientlyinthecenteroftheroom."Ah,good
evening,gentlemen,"hesaid."Ihope,asIwasexplainingtoMr.Morgan,youdon'tmindmyintruding
onyourprivacy.""Notabit,"saidProf."It'syourcountry,afterall."

Rockyscannedtheroom."What'dtheydowithJune?"

"Thepresident,"saidAcefromhisarmchair,"hastheOldWorldnotionwomendon'tbelongat
meetings."

Chanzasaid,"WearenotasenlightenedinEreguayasyouareintheUnitedStates.Iappreciateyour
indulgingofmyprejudices."

"Ain'tnothingwrongwithJuney,"RockytoldthepresidentofEreguay,hisbigfingerscontractinginto
hugefists.

"Averyattractiveyoungwoman,"smiledChanza."ButIfeelthebusinessofpolitics,andthepolitical
intriguewhichgoeswithit,isbusinessformenonly."

"Letitride,Rock,"advisedAce.

WhileRockywasdefendingJune'shonor,RedandProfhadjoinedinthesweepoftheirlivingroom.

"WeusedtohaveEasteregghuntslikethisatmygreat-aunt'swhenIwasaboy,"saidRed.

"Sodidwe,"saidProf."Ineverfoundasingleegg,thoughIonceturnedupafifthofbourbonmygreat-
unclehadstashedaway."

Rockydroppeddownonasofa,causingittothump."ThemtwoareawholelotdopierthanJune,"he
saidtowardAce."Howcometheygettocometothisparty?"

"Notaparty,"saidtheChallengerleader."Relax."

"Kee-rist,"Rockycommented.

Severalmomentspassed,andatlastthesecuritymenandthetwoChallengersagreedtherewereno
moresurprisesintheroom.Afterpromisingtocheckouttherestofthehouse,thesecuritymen
withdrew,closingtheheavydoors.

PresidentChanzaseatedhimselfinastraight-back

chair."LetmebeginbyinformingyouthatIknowwhatyourrealreasonforvisitingmycountryis,"he
said,smilingcarefullyaroundatthem."Thatis,Iamawareyouarenotheresimplytoaidtheattractive
MissRobbinsinpreparingamagazinestoryaboutoneofourfabledEreguayancreatures."

"Wouldn'tcaretotellushowyoucamebythatinformation?"saidAce.

Chanzasmiledmorebroadly."Ihavewaysoflearningtilings,"hesaid.

"Wereallyaregoingtotrackdownyourdamnmonster,"saidRocky."Thatpart'snotbull."

Acesaid,"Hushup,Rock."

"ItismybeliefthereismoregoingonintheLakeSombraregionthantherumoredreappearanceof
Zarpa,"saidthepresident."Ihavelongfollowedyourcareers,gentlemen.WhenIwasaprofessorat
SanJamesUniversity,longbeforemydreamofhelpingmycountryhadbeguntocometrue,Ifollowed
theaccountsofyouradventures.YouChallengersoftheUnknownhavedealtwithmanystrangethings,
havealwaystriumphed.Whatisequallyimportant,youhaveremainedbothmodestandhonest.Thisis
notalwaysthecasewiththosewhoseexploitsthrustthemintocelebrity."

"It'spartofourdeal,"saidAce."Weallfigurewe'relivingonborrowedtime.We'vegottoputthattime
tothebestuse.Allofit'sprettysimple."

"Ihave,asyou'venoticed,averythoroughsecuritydetailandarelativelyloyalpoliceforce,"continued
PresidentChanza."Themilitary...atthepresenttimetheypretendtobemoreorlessonmyside.We
shallsee."Heleaned,pressedhishandsonhisknees,."Certainthingsaredifficulttofollowup,either
becauseIcannotsparethemenorbecauseIcannotcompletelytrustthoseIcanspare.Therefore,when
IheardofyourarrivalIwasdelighted.Tomeyouareagodsend."

"That'snotwhosentRocky,"murmuredRed.

"Youhaveajobyou'dlikeustohandle?"Aceaskedthepresident.

"Ido,"heanswered."Atfirstglanceitmaynotseemtobeanythinginyourline,yetIamconvinced
thereisadark,amysterioussidetothematter.Ifitisnotsupernatural,itisatleastunnatural."

"Details?"invitedAce.

"ThereisamanIwouldlikeyoutolocateandtalkto,"saidChanza."HehasinformationwhichIam
informedheisanxioustounburdenhimselfof.Werethingsinmycountrydifferent,Iwouldnotimpose
onyou."

"Youthink,"askedProf,"thischapcantellussomethingthatmaytieinwithourmission?"

"Perhaps,"saidthepresident."LetmesimplysayIbelievewhatyoumaylearnfromhimisimportantto
us.Imeantomycountryandyours.Willyoudothisthingforme?"

Acesteepledhisfingers,eyedthecrystalchandelierabovehishead."What'shisname?Wheredowe
startlookingforhim?"

"HecallshimselfEstebanSatara;hesupposedlydwellsinthebarrio.Doyouknowaboutthat
unfortunatesectionofSanJames?"

"Weknow,"saidProf.

Apatchworkcity,builtofleftovers.Shacks,shanties,huts.Wallsmadeofscraplumber,rustytincans
poundedflat,chunksofshippingcrates,bitsofdiscardedautomobiles.Heldtogetherwithtwistednails,
barbedwire,frayedtwine.Adisconnectedbathtubwasleaningagainstahutwithwallsconstructed
fromhammered-outoildrums;anabandonedsinklaywithitspipespointingskywardlikethelegsofa

deadanimal.Dirtywaterwentsluggingalongdeeprutsintheweedyground,collectedinlopsided
pools.Hollow-eyedchildren,raggedandcrustedwithdirt,stoodwithstick-thinarmsfolded.Toothless
menwaitedindoorlessdoorways,oldwomenofthirtyweresleepwalkingintothechoresofthe
commencingday.

TherewasstillathinmisthangingoverthevastbarriosectorwhenRedandRockyarrivedinmid-
morning.Afewgauntdogsbarkedafewtimes,butsoonfellsilent.

"Kee-rist,"observedRocky,fistsinpockets,"whatawaytolive.""Notonehealthfoodstore,"saidRed.

"Aw,don'tbesodamnflipabouteverything.Thisisserious."

"IfIbrokedownandcried,woulditallgoaway?Wouldapartmenthousesbloomoutofthegarbage?"

"Naw,butImean—"

"Peoplecareindifferentways,Rocko."Redhaltedinalanethattwistedbetweenshacks.Aone-armed
manwassittinginthedustinfrontofahutbuiltmostlyofcardboardcartons.ThenamesofAmerican
supermarketproductsstillglowedfaintlyonthewalls."We'relooking,"saidRedinSpanish,"forPaco
Martinez."

Thesittingman'seyesstayedblank.

Redsquattedbesidehim."Pacoisexpectingus,"hesaid."I'mgoingtodobusinesswithhim."

"Noaffairofmine,"saidtheman.

"Pacotellsmeeveryoneinthebarrioishisfriend.ThatIhavebuttoaskandI'llbeguidedtohim."

"ImaybePaco'sfriend,butI'mnotyours."Heheldouthisonlyhand,palmup.

RedgavehimanAmericandollar."Where'sPaco?"

Forafewsecondstheman'seyesbrightened.Afterheslippedthebillunderhisshaggyponcho,hisface
wasdeadagain."Straightaheadforahalfmile,you'llseeapackingboxwhichonceheldapiano."

"Pacolivesnearthat?"

"Pacolivesinthat."

Redstraightenedup,signaledtoRockyandtheycontinuedontheirwaythroughtheshacktown.

"Awild-goosechase,"saidRocky."Imean,relyingonsomestiffyoumeetinabarlastnight."

"Don'tknockmyexpertise,Rock.InthedaysbeforeIjoinedtheChallengers,Ididagreatdealof
researchinthesaloonsandbistrosoftheworld,"Redtoldhim.

"IassureyouIknowhowtofindthekindofbarwhereaguylikePacoMartinezhangsout.Inanybig
citytherearebarslikethatone,andguyslikehim."

"Conjobartists."

"Nope,guyswhomakeittheirbusinesstoknowallkindsofgossipandscuttiebutt.ThisPacoisasort
ofwalkingalmanacoftheundergroundandfringesectionsofsociety.IfanybodycanlocatethisSatara
thepresidenttippedusto,it'llbePaco."

"Astoolpigeon;that'sevenworsethan,abuncoartist."

"Givememoney."

"Huh?"Rockygazedaround,thendown.

Asmall,stillrelativelychubbylittlegirlofsixwaswalkingbesidehim."Money.Likeyougive
Romero."

Rockystooped,saying,"You'reacutelittlesquirtDon'tyouknowitain'tpolitetoaskfordough?"

"Money,"repeatedthelittlegirl.

"Sure,okay."Rocky'senormousfistemergedfromhispocket.Hedroppedseveralcoinsintothedirt-
smearedlittlehand."That'slocaldough;gotsomethismorningatabank."

Thelittlefingerssnappedoverthemoney;thechildscootedaway.

"Somebodyoughttofixthingssokidsdon'thavetobeg,"saidRocky."Kee-rist,shedidn'tevenhaveno
shoes."

Rednoddedatashackontheirright."Thismustbetheplace."_

Apianocratewasthebasisofthehut.Ithadbeenexpandedbytheadditionofsheetsofwarped
plywood.Fromoutofthestructuresteppedasmallmaninaspotlesswhitesuit.Hewasfixingared
carnationtohislapel."Goodmorning,senor,"hesaidtoRed.

"Morning.Anyluck?"

"Ialwaysgetmyman,"repliedPaco."IsawapolicemaninaUnitedStatesfilmsaythatonce.Hewore
aredcoatandastrangehat."

"SataraislivinginthebarrioF'

"Onlyscantminutesaway,"theEreguayansaid."Ifyouwillproduce,anddiscreetlypassovertome,
theremainderofmyfee,I'llleadyoutohimatonce."

Redgrinnedathim."Yourwholeandentirefeewaspaidtoyoulastnight,Paco."

"Ah,no,senor.Apparentlyyoumisunderstood.Thatwasmyhiringfeemerely,"explainedPaco."Today
youmustreimbursemeformyactuallabors,whichwillcometotwentydollarsAmerican.ShallIdraw
youupanitemizedbill?"

"Notnecessary."Redslippedhimtwotens."Nowleadon."

"Stickupartist,"mutteredRockyastheymovedfartherintothevast,sprawlingshacktownwhich
borderedthecityofSanJames.

"Oursubjectisaveryinterestingman,"saidPaco."Well-educated,ifIamanyjudge,andwith
considerablemoreexperienceinthegreatworldthantheaverageresidentofthismiserableslum.I
wouldventurehe'sfallenfromsomehigherstationinlife."

"Youdon'tknowanythingabouthisbackground?"askedRed.

"LittlebeyondwhatIhavesurmised.Heisalmostcertainlyauniversityman.ForanadditionalfeeI
willgladly—"

"We'lltalktohimfirst."

"Verywell,"agreedPaco."Weshalldothatinanothermoment,forthereistheshackinwhichSatara
resides."

Thehutwasbuiltmostlyofscrapwood,witharoofmadeofhalvedoildrums.

"Good,I'dlike—"

Boom!

Kaboom!

"Flatout,Rocky!"

"I'maheadofyou!"

Theshackwascomingapart.Theroofrosestraightup,thewallsflewoutsideways.Therehadbeena
yellowflashandnowtherewasanabundanceofgrittygraysmoke.ThefragmentsofSatara'sshack
cametumblingdownagain,smokewentswirlingup,thetwistedheapofwreckagestartedburning.

Shouting,screaming,criesofsurpriseandfear.

"Goeasy,buddy,"Rockycautioned,gettingtohisfeetanddustinghisbulkoff.

Redsprintedahead."Satara?"hecalled.

Ablackshapewascrawlingoutoftheburningscraps.Ablackshapehaloedwithflame.

Redpulledtheburningmanclear,whippedoffhisownjackettosmothertheflames.

Theman'sskinwasblistered,cracked.Hiseyebrowswerenowonlysmearsofsoot,hishairscattered
tuftsofcrinklingblack."Hisname...newname,"hesaidinacroakofavoice,"...newname...
Escabar...Escabar...inTierraSeca...Fortaleza...Escabarknows..."Hestopped.Stopped
talking,stoppedliving.

Redroseawayfromthedeadman,afterspreadinghisjacketoverthefaceandtorso.

"WasthatpoorguySatara?"askedRocky.

Pacoshivered."Idon'tliketoseepeopledie.It'sveryunpleasant.Horrible,terrible...Whatwasityou
askedme,senor?'

"IsthatSatara?"

"Verydifficulttotell,he'ssohorribly...No,Idon'twanttodwellonthis.Ishallreturntomyhome."

Heturnedaway,wascaughtbyRocky."Well,yes,IbelieveitisSatara,fromwhatI'veseenofhim."

Severalofthenearbyresidentshadcomerunningwithwater,inbucketsanddippers.Thefirewasgone.
Anoldwomaninablackshawlwasstandingclosetothedeadman,tickingblackrosarybeadsthrough
gnarledfingers.

RedcircledtheblackremainsofSatara'shut."Nothingleftinthere,"hesaidtotheapproachingRocky.
"Nobodyelsewaswithhim.Whenitcoolsoffabit,we'lllookfortheremainsofwhateveritwas
causedtheexplosion."

"Willthelocalcopslikeusdoingthat?"

"Idoubt,"saidRed,"theydomuchinvestigatinghereabouts."

"Thiswholemesskeepsgettingspookier,"observedRocky."Imean,we'recomingtoseethispoor
bastardandheupsandhasanaccident,too."

"Morethoroughaccidentthanours,"saidRed."Theydidn'twanthimtotalktous."

"Nobodyknewwewasheadinghere,exceptthepresidentand..."Hespun,noticingPacowasno
longerthere.

"We'lltalktoPacoagainforsure,"saidRed."Isupposeit'spossiblehesetthisup,ortippedsomeone."

"Youdon'tsoundlikeyoubelievethat."

"Idon't,"admittedRed.

Rockyglancedoverattheblackenedbody."Hewasmumblingsomethingtoyou.Didn'tmakeany
sense,didit?"

"Butitdid,"answeredRed.

Verylittlesunlightcouldgetintotheclutteredoffice.Thickanddustydrapesmaskedthehigh,narrow
windows.Stacks,moundsandtowersofoldbooksblockedmostofthelightwhichtriedtogetinto
ProfessorProlijos'officethroughtheslitsbetweendrapes.Thesmalloldman,somewhatdustyhimself,
moreorlesssatinacarvedwoodenchairbesidehiscluttereddesk.Theoldprofessorfidgeted,tapped
hisfeet,rubbedathisnearlybaldhead,snappedhisfingers,stoodandabruptlysatdowninapersonal
sequenceJuneRob-binshadnotquiteyetfiguredout."...afascinatingsubjectyou'vechosenfor
yourself,youngwoman,"Prolijoswassaying.

"Newsmagagreeswithyou."Theblondegirl,wearingasky-bluepantsuit,wassittingintheonlyother
chairintheprofessor'suniversityoffice,nearlywalledinbybooks.

Prolijosstood,slappedathisskull,chuckled,satdown,pickeduphisfountainpen,uncappedit,capped
it,droppeditonatumbleofunopenedletters,

tappedhisfeetandsaid,"Oh,Newsmag.Withallduerespect,andIdoadmiretheaggressivejournalism
ofthatparticularperiodical,Isincerelybelieve,ifyou'llforgivemysayingso,thatthesubjectofthe
monstruoofLakeSombraneedsamorethoroughtreatmentthansuchamagazinecanprovide."

"Well,thisisprobablygoingtobeatwo-partarticle,professor."-

Chuckling,smoothingdownhissparsehair,linkingfivepaperclips,standingup,sittingdown,
ProfessorProlijossaid,"TodealadequatelywiththelegendofZarpaonemustdistillthespeculations
andresearchesofcenturies."

"Iwashoping,"saidJunewithasmileatthetwitchyoldhistorian,"youcoulddoabitofthatdistilling
forme.SincetheloreofZarpaisyourspecialty."

"Iam,withoutanydoubt,theleadingZarpascholarintheworld,"admittedtheoldprofessor,clippinga
fewofhisfingernailswithhisdeskscissors."YoureadSpanish?"

"Fairlywell."

"Bueno.I'llgiveyouacopy,suitablyinscribedshouldyousowish,ofmybookonthesubject.
Publishedin1926and,suchisthestupidityofthepublishingworld,longoutofprintandshamefully
neglected.Istillhavethreehundredandeightsparecopiesstoredaroundthisofficesomewhere."He
rose,walkedtowardawallofbooks,cameback,satdown,pattedhisknees.

"Thatwouldbewonderful,"saidJune."Canyoutellme,beforeIdipintoyourbook,somethingofthe
historyofthecreature?"

"Ofcourse,ofcourse."Prolijoswipedhisnose,tuggedathisear,scratchedhiselbow."Youmustrealize
Idon'tatallagreewithDr.Mandellastotheoriginsofthemonstruo.Igrant,mindyou,Zarpawasonce
probablyworshipedbytheIncas,asthefindingsofReisbersonstronglyindicate.Thekeyissue,Miss
Robbins,andthepointwhichhascausedmetofalloutwithmorethanoneofmyesteemedcolleagues,
isthis."Hestood,dugoneshoetipacrossthepatternoftheancientrug,noddingseveraltimes."The
pointis,wheredidoldZarpacomefrom.Eh?"

"Yourtheoryis...

?'

ProfessorProlijospointedupward."There."

June'sheadtickedback;shestaredatthespider-webbedhanginglampintheceiling."Where?"

Theoldmansat,hisvoicewentlow."Heisnotsomeleftoverfromanearlierepoch,thismonstruoof
ours.Heisnot,furthermore,athrowback.No,indeed,notatall."

"ThenwheredidZarpacomefrom?"

"Theybroughthimwiththem,"explainedtheoldman."Acrossthatvastgulf.Hewas,atleastI'm
leaningratherstronglytowardthenotion,theirgod.Agod,however,incarnate,andonewithan
incrediblelifespan."Prolijosstoodup,paced,zigzaggedaroundstacksofbookswithbookmarks
stickingoutlikeyellowtongues."Youfollowmydrift,youngwoman?"

"YouseemtobeimplyingZaipaisunearthly,"saidthegirl,"thathecametoearthfromanotherplanet."

"Exactly,exactly."Hecircledhischairtwice,satdown."Theybroughthimwiththem."

"I'mnotclearwhotheyare."

"TherehasneverbeenanyagreementastotheoriginoftheIncas,"saidProfessorProlijos."A
magnificentcivilization,highlyadvanced.Itspringsup,suddenlyandinexplicably,atleasttomyway
ofthinking.ThebranchoftheIncacivilizationwhichflourishedinEreguayclaimedtohavecome
originallyfromtheareaaroundLakeSombra.Thereissomearchaeologicalevidencetosubstantiate
this."Hegotup,tappedhisleftfootontherug,scratchedhisleftside."TheEreguayanIncalegends,
thosewhichhavesurvivedforus,saytheyweresentherebytheSunGod.Sent,yes.Sentfromanother
planet,landednearthelakeofshadows."

Junesaid,"ButtheIncacivilizationwasalreadygoingstrongwhentheSpanishconquistadoresreached
SouthAmericainthesixteenthcentury.YoubelieveZarpawasalreadyinresidenceinLakeSombraby
then?"

"Notmerelybelieve,youngwoman,know,"saidProlijos."BythetimePizarroandtherestreachedour
land,Zarpahadbeenhereforuntoldcenturies."

"Inthewaterallthattime?"Juneshookherblondehead."Ican'tseewhynoonehaseverbeenableto
locatehim,then."

"LakeSombraisverylargeandverydeep,"saidProlijos."Itliesinwhatisnowaremoteanddifficult
areatoreach."Heseatedhimself,pickedupafatbook,blewthedustfromitspebbledcover,openedit,
shutit,droppedittothefloor."AndyouarewrongwhenyousaynooneeverfoundZarpainthelakeof
shadows."

"I'veneverheardof—"

"In1923theEnglishmanEmlynWarburton,oftheBarchesterGeographicInstitute,ledagroupintothe
jungle.Hewasable,usingdivinggearofhisowndesign,tolocatethecreature."Theprofessortapped
bothfeetonthefloor."Yousee,itwasWarburton'stheory,onewhichheandIagreedon,thatZarpa
spendsmuchofhistimedormant.Inastatesomewhatakintothehibernationofsomeanimalsoreven
thecryptobiosisoflowerformsoflife.Onlyforlongerperiods;yes,considerablylonger."

"IfyourfriendWarburtontrailedZarpatohisunderwaterlair,whythen—•"

"PoorWarburtonawakenedthemonstruo,"explainedtheprofessor."Itdestroyedhim,returnedtolife
andsurfaced.AllnineoftheothersinWarburton'sparty,includinghislovely,gifteddaughter,weretorn
tobitsbyZarpa.AtonetimeIhadhopedthegirlandI..Hesighed,thrustaknuckleintothecornerof
hiseye.

"HoW,"Juneaskedhim,"doyouknowallthis?"

"Iventuredintothejungletofindthem,"repliedtheoldman.Hisfidgetinghadceased;hesatinhis
chairwithhishandspalmsupwardinhislap."Whenshe...whenthepartydidnotreturnaftera
reasonabletime,Iorganizedagroupandwentinsearch.Toolateto...thatishowIknow.Iwasableto
deducewhatmusthavehappenedfromwhatIfoundtherenearthatdreadfullake."

"Isee,"saidJune.

Rightdownoutofthetrees.

Thehuskymandroppedandlanded,flat-footed,directlyinfrontofJune.

Thistree-linedpathledfromthebackofProfessorProlijos'officebuildingtotheSanJamesUniversity
parkinglotwhereJunehadleftherborrowedcar.Therewerenootherpeopleonthisstretchofpath.

OnlyJuneandthebigman.Andthesecondman,whohadsteppedoutfrombehindascreenofhedge.

"Well,gents,you'vesucceededinmakingmefeelprettymuchlikeLittleRedRidingHood,"thegirl
toldthepairinacalmvoice."WhatcanIdoforyou?"

Theonefromthetreebranchesonlygrunted.Fromapocketinhissportcoatheextractedahunting
knife.Hestalkedtowardthegirl.

Thesecondheavywascomingatherfromthesideand,asyet,showingnoweapon.

"Giveyouachoice,"saidJunewhileshe,carefully,placedherlargecanvaspurseonthegravel."Go
awayrightnowandwe'llforgetthewholething.Okay?"

Theybothmovedclosertoher.

"TheotherhalfofthechoiceisyoutryanythingfunnyandI'lldeckyouboth,"thegirlwarned.

Thiscausedtheknife-carryingonetolaugh.

"Okay,"saidJune,"somuchforthepeacefulnegotiations."Beforethesentencewasfinished,she'd
divedstraightintothehuskymanwiththehuntingknife.

Herheadrammedhimhardsomewhereabovethegroinandbelowtheribcage.Theforce;was
sufficienttocausehimtoemitanoofingbellowssound.Hewouldhaveslashedatthegirl'sslimback,
butfoundhisknifehandcaughtinanimpressivegrip.

Junestraightened,leveredthebigmanwithhisarm,senthimgallopingsidewaysawayfromher.

Shedidn'tfollowhim.Insteadshegaveasuddendip,tackledtheotherassailantaroundtheknees.This
off-balancedhimbeforehecouldutilizetheblackjackhe'dproduced.

Whilehewasspreadingoutonhisback,Junesteppedonhim.Onefootonhisthroat,oneonthewrist
ofthehandwhichheldthesap.Thepainfromhishandmadehimwanttoshout;thepressureonhis
windpipepreventedthat.

"Oops."Juneexecutedaswiftsomersaultoffandaway.

Theknifeman'sattempttograbherfrombehindcametonaught;heendedupstabbingairandkicking
hisfallenpartnersstomach.

Junereturnedwhilehewasstillwobbling.Shetwistedhisarmbehindhim,shoved.Hewenthopping
andskippingstraightintothewide,unyieldingtrunkofthenearestdecorativetree.

Hispartnerwastryingtogoaway,onhandsandknees.

Junebootedhiminthetailbone,and,whenthemanstiffenedoutandfellfiat,shedealthiman
impressiveseriesofsidehandchopstotheneck.

Withashort,somewhatsurprisedgroan,hedroppedintounconsciousness.

Theothermanwasalsoout,asaresultofhissuddencontactwiththetree.

Verydeftly,andrapidly,thegirl,afterpushingherblondehairbackintoplace,friskedbothofthemen.
Neithercarriedanyidentificationatall.

Tongueincheek,shegatheredupherpursewiththeautographedcopyofProlijos'1926bookinit.She

studiedthetwosprawledmen."Mostlikelyhiredgoons,"shedecided."Notworthquestioning,andI
don'thavethatmuchtimetowasteanyhow.Okay,soleavethemhereforthetrashcollector."

Withafinalbrushatherhair,shewentstrollingawayfromthere.

Thewallswungopenwithacreak."Yououghttooilthedarnthing,"saidDennyYewell.Hepushedthe
bookcasebackintoplaceandcrossedtoaleatherarmchair."Notmyideaofefficiency."

GeneralCuerpowasbehindhisdesk,inuniform.Hepickedupaskinnyblackcigarfromthehumidor
andplaceditbetweenhishps."Soonyou'llbeabletovisitmebywayofthefrontdoor,"hesaidashelit
thecigarwithhisgoldlighter.

"Hey,don'tgorushingthecoup,"cautionedtheAmericanagent."Lotsofthingshavetobetakencareof
yet."

"IfancyIknowhowtomanageanoperationofthissort."

"I'mbettingyoucan,too.I'vegotastakeinthis,though,andifyouscrewitupIcouldendupina
dungeonsomeplace."

Thegeneral'sthinsmilewasblurredbygraysmoke."Wedon'tintendtofail,"hesaid."Youforget,by
theway,thatPresidentChanzahaseliminatedthedungeonspreviousregimesinEreguayfoundso
useful."

"Okay,somuchforchitchat.Didyouactonmytip?"

"Haven'tyouheardthenewsyet?Iwouldhavethoughtyourintelligence-gatheringresourceswere
betterthanthat."

"YoutookcareofSatara,then?"

"Heandhisplaceofresidenceinthebarrioarenomore,"Cuerpoinformedhim."Thetimingofmy
agentscouldhavebeenabitbetter;inthatcasewewouldhavegottenridoftwoofyourChallenger
friendsaswell."

"They'rehardtokill,"saidYewell.

Cuerpowatchedhiscigarsmokegospiralinguptowardthebeamedceiling."Weseemtohavesafely
cutoffthepossibilityoftheireverfindingEscabar,"hesaid."YetIfeelwe'dbestmakecompletely
sure."

"I'mseeingthemtonightagain.IftheyhaveanyideawhoorwhereEscabaris,I'llletyouknow."

"ThesimplerplanistogetridofEscabar;thatwaynoonecantalktohim,ever."

TheyoungAmericanraisedhiseyebrowsveryslightly."Killhim,huh?"

"That'sthemostefficientwayofhandlingthis."

"Hedidalotforyouboys,"saidYewell."FromwhatIgather.Workingoutthebasic—"

"ThenatureofEscabar'scontributionisfamiliartome,"cutinthegeneral."Isthisatouchofyourwell-
knownAmericansentimentalitysurfacing?"

Yewellshookhishead."Killhim,"hesaid."Idon'towetheguyanything."

"We'llwait,"Cuerposaid,"untilyoufindoutiftheseChallengersareawareofhisexistence."

"Who'sbeingsentimentalnow?"

Tappingashesintoaheavybrassashtray,thegeneralsaid,"I'dlikeabitmorebackgroundonthe
ChallengersoftheUnknown.Theaweinwhichsomeofyouholdthemintriguesme."

"They'veaprettyimpressiverecord,"saidtheNationalEspionageagent."They'veputthewhammyon
someveryroughcustomers.Notonlyyourrun-of-the-millbadguys,butallsortsofsupernatural
threats,too."

"Sotheirpublicitystates."

"Look,General,I'velongsincecheckedallthisout,"Yewellsaid."TheChallengersoftheUnknown
haveearnedtheirreputation.Ishouldthinkbynowyou'dhavelearnedit'sunwisetounderestimateyour
enemies.BackinWorldWarTwowhen—"

"YouforgetIhavenoassociationwiththeSecondWorldWar,"saidCueipo."Iammuchtooyoungto
haveparticipatedinthatencounter,andmynativecountryofEreguayremainedneutral."

"Oh,yeah,that'sright.Sorry."Yewellgrinned,almostwinking.Hesettledmorecomfortableintohis
armchair."AstotheChallengers.SeveralyearsbacktherewasaTVshowintheUnitedStatesthat
honoredpeoplewhowereconsideredheroesinvariousfields.Asemidocumentaryshow,whichwas
verypopularatthetime.Anyway,foroneparticularbroadcastfourmenwereinvitedtoflyoutto
Hollywood.Asthingsturnedout,allfourwentbythesameplane,ajetprovidedbythenetwork.Those
fourwereRockyDavis,whowasachampionshipwrestler;ProfHaley,ascientistwithaspecialtyin
underwaterexploration;RedRyan,acircusacrobat;andAceMorgan,averycapableelectronics
engineerandajetpilot.Hewasflyingthatveryjet,matteroffact.BeforetheyeverreachedtheWest
Coast,theplaneranintoaterrificelectricalstorm.Itcrashed.Thecrash,andI'veseenphotosofthe
wreckage,wasabadone.Thekindofasmashupwhereusuallynobodywalksaway.Butthosefour
fellowsdidwalkaway,notoneofthemseriouslyhurt.Somethinghappenedtothemwhentheyfound
themselvesalivewhentheyshouldhavebeendead.Inawayitwaslikebeingbomalloveragain.They
agreedtostartfreshfromthatmoment,forgetthevarioushang-upsandproblemswhichmighthave
beentroublingthemuptillthemomenttheyboardedthatjet.Theydecidedthat,sincetheywereliving
onborrowedtime,they'dusethattimewell.SotheybecametheChallengersoftheUnknown."

"Trulyinspirational,"observedCuerpowithafaintsneer.Hegroundouthiscigarintheheavyashtray.

"There'snothing,however,inyouraccounttoindicateanyoneofthemisasuperhumanorinanyway
invulnerable.Theywereluckyincheatingdeathonce;theirluckmaynothold."

"Peoplehavetriedtokillthem,"saidYewell,"manytimes."

"Thenwecanassumetheirdeathsareverymuchoverdue,"GeneralCuerposaid."Somethingwillbe
doneaboutthat."

Rockyscowledatthemenu."Don'tseewhythisjointgotfivestarsindietravelguide,"hesaid.

"Onlyfour,"correctedRed.

"Carnehere,carnethere.Ain'ttheyneverheardofvegetariansdownhere?"

"Havethesalad."

"Whatkindoflunchisthat?"Rockytossedthemenudownbesidehisplacesetting.

ItwaspastthetraditionallunchhourinSanJames;thesmall,dimlitrestaurantwasnearlyempty.The
floorwasofmosaictile,thewallsastarkwhitestucco.Thedoorwascrustedwithwrought-iron
designs.

ProfHaleypusheditopen,cameinfromthesunlightandovertothetable."Ihearthisplacegetsafive-
starratinginthetravelguide,"hesaid,takingthefinalchairatthetable.

"Four,"gruntedRocky.

Profglancedfromonetotheother."Youchapslookasthoughyouwerestandingtooclosetoan
explosion.Whathappened?"

"Wewerestandingtooclosetoanexplosion,"repliedRed."Ithoughtwe'dgottenourselvesrelatively
presentable."

"Totheuntrainedeye,perhaps,"saidProf.Hewasstudyinghismenu."Ah,carneconfango.Haven't
hadthatsinceourvisittoPerulastyear."

Rockysnorted."Idon'tseehowaguywithanIQlikeyouclaimcankeeponeatingmeat."

"It'smyonevice.DidthisexplosionofyourshavesomethingtodowithyourcallonSenorSatara?"

"SenorSatarawastheexplosion,"saidRed."Somebodyblewuphisshackinthebarrio.Wedugaround
intheruinsandallwefoundoutisthatourmadbombersareintoplasticexplosives."

"Itakeitthepoorfellowwasinhisshackatthetime,"saidProf."Meaningyoureachedhimtoolate."

"Hewasabletotellmeafewthingsbeforehedied."

"Lotofcrypticstuff,"saidRocky,"aboutthingslikeTierraSecaandFortaleza."

"Doessoundsomewhatobscure."

Redsaid,"WhenIwaswithNordlingBrothersInternationalCircus,weplayedalloverLatinAmerica
oneseason.TierraSecaiswhattheycalltheareaalongthecoastofEreguay.Desertcountry,even
thoughittouchesthePacificOcean."

Rockysaid,"ThedyingguywasalsotalkingaboutsomebodynamedEscabar.YoufigureEscabarisin
thatdesertsomewhere?"

"I'mbettingthatwe'llfindtheguywhocallshimselfEscabarsomewherearoundtheFortaleza,"said
Red."That'sanoldcastleinoneofthemanydesolatespotsintheTie

IT

aSeca."

Profnodded."Escabarmustbeimportant.OtherwisenoonewouldhavekilledSataratokeephimfrom
talkingaboutthechap."

"Kee-rist.Thatdon'tfollow,Prof.ForallweknowEscabarisSatara'slaundrymanandtheguywas
babblingnothingbutnonsense."

"TheTierraSecadesertistwohundredmilesfromhere,"Redtoldhim."Longwaytosendyourdirty
linen."

"Aw,youknowwhatI'mgettingat.Soundslikeawild-goosechase."

"Idon'tagree,"assertedRed."I'mgoingtosuggesttoAcethatwesplituponthisone.Prof,youand
AceandJunegoaheadintothejungletotrackdownZarpa.RockyandIcan—"

"Holdyourhorses,youroad-showHowdyDoody,"boomedRocky."WhosaysI'mgoingtojoinyouon
thissnipehunt?"

"ProfandAcehavetogointothewilds,especiallyProfsinceunderwaterfoolingaroundishis
specialty,"saidRed."I'dprefernottogoupagainstEscabaralone;henceyoutagalong."

"Likeabodyguard."Rocky'sforeheadwasdevotedtoenormousfurrowing."Itellyou,buddy,Iain't
abouttoletlittleJuneytraipseoffintotheboonieswithProf."

"Rocko,thatlasscanfelltreeswithonechopofthehand,tieknotsinthetailsofjaguars,"outlinedProf,
"breakthebonesof—"

"Quittherazz,"saidRocky."Idon't—"

"Whatdidyoufindoutwhileweweredodgingtheburstingbombs?"RedquicklyaskedProf.

"Ihaveafewcontactshereinthecapital,builtuplargelythroughmyunderwaterfoolingaround."

"Weknow,weknow,"saidRocky."Enoughshell,gettothenutinside."

"Anaptmetaphor,"saidProf,"especiallycomingfromonewithabrainthesizeoftheaforementioned
peanut.Okay,fromwhatIcangather,Chanzahasagoodrep.Soheprobablywasonthesquarewith
whathetolduslastnight;isn'ttryingtofoulusuporleadusintoasnare.Hisviewofthepolitical
situationinEreguayisamiteoptimistic.Thereisastrongpossibilitythemilitaryisplottingtodrop
him.Oneofthebighonchosinthearmy,andprobablythechiefplotteragainstChanza,isaladnameof
GeneralFranciscoCuerpo."

Redstrokedhischin."Whataboutourpal,Zarpathelakemonster?Anyinformationabouthim?"

Profsaid,"Myfriendsinformmehedoesn'texist.It'sallalotofsuperstitiousrumor."

"Ifso,"askedRed,"who'sclawingthosepeopletodeath?"

"You'veputyourfingeronthenuboftheproblem,"saidProf.

"MayIhaveyourorders?"inquiredthewaiterwho'darrivedbesidetheirtable.

Eyesonhisfoldedfists,Rockysaid,"I'llhavethesalad."

TheyleftthePanAmericanHighwayatafewminutesaftereleveninthemorning.Theambushdidn't
occuruntilnearlyanhourlater.

ThefartheralongtheChallengervanrolledontheweavingsideroad,thegreenereverythinggot.Jungle
roseupallaround,ahundreddifferentkindsoftreesandplants,ahundredshadesofgreen.Dottedwith
intenselyredflowersandleapingsplashesofgoldandorangewhichturnedouttobeparrots.Monkeys
therewere,too,flickeringthroughthehighbranches.

InthepassengersectionofthevanProfwasslouchedinaseat,pouringhimselfacupoficedteafroma
silverthermos."Imightaswellconfess,June,"hewassayingtotheprettyblondebesidehim.

"WeonlyhearconfessionsonSaturdayafternoonsfromtwotofour."Hereyeswereontheunfolding
Ereguayanjungleoutside.

"Nonetheless,"continuedProf,"IwantyoutoknowIarrangedthiswholetrip,sawtoitRedandRocky
got

sentelsewhere,fortheexpresspurposeofbeingalonewithyouinthewilderness."

"WhataboutAce?"ShenoddedtowardMorgan,whowasdrivingthevehicle.

"Frankly,Ianticipated,"saidProfafterasipoftea,"thisvanbeingmoregadgetriddenthanitis.
FiguredAcehaddesignedittodriveitself,andthathe'dstayinSanJamesdevotinghimselftoaseries
ofsiestas."

"I'dhatetohavetotryyouformutiny,"saidAce.

"Sorry,chief,didn'tknowyouwereawake."Profrestedhiscuponhisupthrustknee.Thethreeofthem
werenowwearingtheirfamiliarChallengeruniforms,royalpurplejumpsuitswiththesymbolic
hourglassemblazonedacrossthechest."WhatIhaveinmind,June,issomethinginthewayofatree
houseforyouandme.Asamatteroffact,Iwasoptimisticenoughtohavethemgoaheadandbuild
one.Hadthedevil'sowntimefurnishingit.Wegotthebathtubaloftintothetreeswithrelativeease,but
darnedifthegrandpianodidn'tsnagon—"

"Canwe,"requestedJune,turningtowardhim,"beseriousforabriefspell?"

"Ah,howironiclifeis,"saidProf."Iproposearborealblisstothegirlofmydreamsandshetakesitasa
joke.IwonderifHennyYoungmanhasthesame—"

"Prof,"saidthegirl,"I'vebeenthinkingalotaboutwhat'shappenedtoussofar."

"SohaveI."Hestraightenedupinhischair.

"Well,it'squiteobvioussomebodyhasbeenabletoanticipatemostofourmoves,"shecontinued.
"Theyknewwhereweweregoingtobestaying,theyknewI'dbecallingonProfessorProlijos."

"Theyprobablyevenknowwe'reonthisjaunttobeautiful,picturesqueLakeSombra,"addedProf.

"Thereareonlysomanypeoplewhocouldhaveknownallthisstuff,"Junesaid."Maybeit'stooobvir
ous,butIcan'thelpspeculatingaboutourterriblyclean-cutNationalEspionageagent,DennyYewell.
Couldhebetheone?"

"Itisanawfullyobviouspossibility,"saidProf.

Acesaid,"Occam'sRazor."

"TheonewegavehimlastChristmas?"saidProf.

"Iwasreferringtothescientificdictumaboutnotoverlookingthemostobviousanswer,"Acesaidfrom
thedriver'sseatofthevan.

"Youthink,"askedJune,"Yewellcouldbeaturncoat,adoubleagent?"

"Neverwisetotrustanyonecompletely,"saidAce."Whichiswhywe'reheadingforthelakeona
differentroutethantheoneYewellsuggested."

Profsaid,"Beneaththatforthrightexteriorofyours,Ace,residesaverydevioussoul."Heslouched
again,triedmoretea."Obviouslyachapwouldhavetobeessentiallycraftyanddevioustoconcoctthis
van.Soseeminglyinnocent,atypicaltouristconveyanceontheoutside,withinaveritablepuzzleboxof
gadgetiy,gimmickry,weaponryandseveralothertrickythingsendinginy."

Junehadbeenfollowingtheprogressofaslightlyorangemonkeythroughthefar-upbranches."You're
aboutthemostdeviousthingwehaveinthisvanrightnow,Prof."

"Me?Old,open-facedProfHaley?Why—"

"Whoa."Acehitthebrakes."Hadn'texpectedthis."

Completelyblockingthenarrowroadwaysometwentyyardsaheadwereseveralfelledtrees,the
interlockedtrunksforming,aneffectiveblockade.

Profwasoutofhisseat."That'snoaccidentofnature."

"Neither,"saidJune,lookingbackoverhershoulder,"isthatbigblacktruckwhichispullingupbehind
us."

Themanintherumpledgraysuittookyetanotherlookaround.Butterflies,largeblackones,circledthe
spotwherehestood.Thesunmadetwistystripesacrossthemossygroundandthegreenjungle.The
man,heseemedtobeaboutforty,ranhistongueoverhislips.Hetookyetanotherlookaround.Noone
near,nothingunusualanywhere.

Verycarefully,tuggingathispantlegs,hekneltontheground.Beforehereachedintothewrinkledside
pocketofhiscoat,herubbedafreckledhandoverhisface,feelingatthecomersofhismouthandthe
edgesofhispaleblueeyes.Thenhebroughtoutthesmallsilverrod,locatedthespotbeneaththe
familiartwistofvine.Hetouchedrodtospot.Tensecondspassed,thentwenty.

Withabsolutelynosound,asectionoftheearthswungup.Theopeningwasaboutaswideasagrave,
thoughnotaslong.Gonsalves,ashecalledhimself,alwaysthoughtofagravewhenhesteppeddown
intotheopening.

AmetalladdertookGonsalvesdownintodarkness.Whenhisfeettouchedthemetallicflooring,the
panelshutabovehim.Hewasinblacknessfornearlyaminute,feelingcoldanddampnessallaround
him.Alightcameon,another,andanother.Thecorridor,whichslanteddowndeeperunderground,was
nowilluminated.

Gonsalvesdescended.

Hewent,seeingnoone,deeperanddeeperdown."Somedaysoon,"hewhisperedtohimself,"they'llput
youundergroundforsure.Buryyou,shovelthedirtonyou.Jesus,Ican'tfacethat,eventhinkaboutit.
Dying,rottingaway.It'sgottokeepworking."

"What'sthat,Gonsalves?"

Hegaveastart.Hehadn'theardthedooropen,hadn'tbeenawareofShusterstandingtherewatching
himuntilthemanspoke."What?Oh,nothing,"saidGonsalves."Musthavebeenthinkingaloud."

"Comein."Shustersteppedback,beckoning.

"Imightaswelltellyouimmediately,"saidGonsalvesashecrossedthethresholdoftheoffice,"thatI'm
veryconcerned.I'mworried."

Shustertookhisplacebehindametaldesk,glancingupatthemonitorscreenswhichhadwarnedhimof
theotherman'sarrival."I'mworriedaboutthisallegedmonstermyself,"hesaid,invitingGonsalvesto
sitinthechairwhichfacedhisdesk."Youcanrestassuredthesituationwillbetakencareof.I'vejust
sent,despitetheseemingindifferenceofGeneralCuerpo,afewveryefficientmenintothesurrounding
jungletotrackdownthisZarpa,whateveritis."

Wavinghishandnegatively,Gonsalvessaid,"Oldwives'talesaren'tanyconcernofmine,"hesaid."I'm
worriedaboutmyself.Lookatme."

Shusterobliged."Andso?"

"Don'ttellmeyoucan'tseeit?"

"Youdoappearabitseedy,atouchundertheweather.Thereissupposedtobeanewstrainofinfluenza
botheringEreguay,perhaps—"

"I'mnotill."Gonsalvespressedthefingertipsofhisfreckledrighthandintohischeek."Don'ttellme,
HerrBekker,you—"

"Don'tcallmethat.IamLeonShuster."

"Yes,yes.I'msorry.It'sonly...don'tyoucomprehendwhatI'mtellingyou?I'm...I'maging!"

Smiling,Shustershookhishead."Rubbish,"hesaid.

"Yes,butit'strue.Therearelinesinmyface,andmybodyisgrowingmoreslackeachday."Heheldup
bothhands."Youcan'tdenythesespots.Agespots,thekindyouseeonthehandsoftheoldmenwho
sitintheparkandplaychess.Notwhatoneexpectsinamanwhoissupposedtobeforty."

Shustermovedapenfromhisblottertohisbaredesk,rolledit.afewtimesbeneathhisfinger."Youare,
inpointoffact,averyoldman,"hesaidatlast."TheProcesscannothideeverytraceofyourtrueage."

"ExactlywhatI'mtryingtotellyou."Hisshouldershunched."IwasanoldmanwhenIcameoverhere
morethanthirtyyearsago,unlikeyou,Herr...excuseme.WhenIfledBerlininforty-fourIwasfifty-
twoyearsold.Doyourealizehowoldthatmakesme?"

"I'mcapableofsimplearithmetic,Gonsalves."

"Myageiscatchingupwithme.TheProcessislosing,timeiswinning.Soon,verysoon,I'lllooklike
theoldmanIactuallyam.Worse,I'llbeold,ancient.Insideme,everythingwillturnoldandrot.I'llbe
inmygravesoon."

"Whenthisfacilitywasbuiltthreedecadesagoandafter...we'llcallhimEscabarashedoeshimself...

afterEscabarperfectedtheProcess,hepromisedusallwewouldneverage.Thatnonewho'dbeenloyal
totheReichwouldgrowold.Wewouldcometolooklikevigorousmenintheirmiddleyears,would
remainthatwayindefinitely.Andsomeday,someday,wewouldmoveagaintocontrolthe—"

"Irememberallthepromisesmade,"cutintheimpatientGonsalves."AndIknowwhatGeneralCuerpo
planstodohereinEreguay."

"CuerpoandIdependontheProcess,too,"Shusterreminded."Ifwedidn'thavetheperiodictreatments
here,we'dprobablybelongdead.Inasensewe'redeadmen,livingbeyondourtime."Hepaused,
smiledfaintly."MuchliketheseintrudingChallengersoftheUnknown."

"Thirtyyearsandmore,"saidGonsalves,payinglittleattentiontowhattheothermanhadbeensaying.

"They'vebeengoodyears,forthemostpart,haven'tthey?You'velivedverywell,comfortably,onthe
variousinvestmentsyouwereabletomakeinEreguaywhentheThirdReichwasstillinpower."

"Goodyears?Yes,Isupposeso,"admittedGonsalves."Theonlyproblemhasbeenhavingtomoveon
occasionally,changingmyname,whentoomanyoutsidersbegantowonderwhyIneverage.Now,
however,I—"

"I'llconfidesomethinginyou.Severalofourbrotherssuffermoodsofdepressionimmediatelypriorto
returningherefortheirperiodictreatments."

"Really?Dotheyallbelieve,asIfirmlydo,thatthistimeEscabar'sProcesswon'twork,won'ttake
hold?Dotheydreamofgravewormsburrowingintotheirfleshand—"

"Enoughofthis."Shusterheldupahand."Whenyouleaveherenextweek,you'llfeelasyoungas
ever."

"Ifthereisanextweek,"saidGonsalyes."Ifthislakecreaturedoesn'tdestroyus,iftheseChallengers
don'tfindusanddestroyourwhole—"

"TheChallengersknownothingaboutus,norwilltheylearnasinglething."

"Theirreputationsuggestsotherwise."

"Atthisverymoment,"Shustertoldhimwithaglanceathiswristwatch,"threeofthesemuch-touted
Challengersarebeingdestroyed.Theremainingmembersoftheorganizationwillveryshortlysuffera
similarfate."

Gonsalveseyedthemanontheothersideofthemetaldesk.""You'reusuallymorepessimisticthan
this,"hesaid."Areyouperhapshidingyourowndoubtsandfearswithbravetalk?"

"No,"liedShuster.

n

Thebeamofintenselightslicedthetreetrunkinhalf.

"Impressive,"saidProf,whowasleaningoverthevan'scontrolpanelandwatchingthejungleroad
ahead.

Thethinbeamoflightmaterializedagain;onemorefelledtreewasslicedswiftlyinhalf.

"I'mwillingtobet,"saidJune,"thisisn'ttheAutomobileClubcomingtohelpushandlethatroadblock."

"Theywanttodemonstratetheirweaponstous,"saidAce."Scareusalittle."

"They'resucceeding."Profcheckedtherearviewport."Noactionfromthebigblacktruckasyet."

Agreatthumpingcamefromupaheadofthem.Anotherloghadbeencutbythelightbeamandthe
wholeblockadehadgonerollingandtumbling.Amanwasvisiblenow,makinghiswayacrossthespill
oflogs.Small,aboutforty,withastrange-lookingriflecradledinhisarms.

Threeothermen,larger,climbedafterhimthroughthepathhe'dclearedinthehugefallentrees.

Aceasked,"Ourturnnow,doyouthink?"

"Onlysporting,"saidProf."Theyshowustheirs,weshowthemours."

"Right."Aceflippedatoggleonthecontrolpanel.

Averyslightclickingsoundedfromthevanroof,followedbyafaintwhirring.

Thesmallmanintheleadoftheapproachinggroupsenseditfirst,swunghisrifleupintofiring
position.

ButAcehadlongsinceactivatedthesonicweaponwhichwasmountedundertheconcealingpanelon
theroof.Aquiethumwasallthatindicateditsoperation.

Themanwiththelaserriflejerked;likeajumpingjackwhosestringissuddenlypulled,hisrifleflipped
outofhisgrasp.Hehimselfstiffened,swayedandfellover.

"Worksprettygoodinthefield,too,"saidAcewithasmileofsatisfaction.

"Gladtohearit."Profrantotherearoftheirvehicle.Threemenhademergedfromtheblacktruck
whichwasblockingtheirretreat.Theywereluggingwhatappearedtobethelatestthinginantitank
guns."Athreattoourbackside,chief."

Acewasconcentratingonusingthesonicstuncan-non,aninventionofhisown,onthefront-end
attackers."Morelasers?"

"Heavierstuff."Profopenedthepanelwhichcoveredthevan'sreardefensecontrolpanel."We'lltrya
numbersixontheseladsforastarter."Hedepressedabuttonwithhisforefinger,thengrabbeda
directionswitchandaimedtheweaponwhichhadsproutedoutofthevan'sleftrearfender.

"Huff,"saidtheweaponasitlaunchedaminiaturizedmissile.

Themissilesought,andquicklyfound,theantitankgunwhichwasbeingsetup.

Thegunglowedanunearthlyblueforfivesecondsbeforeitmeltedlikeachocolatetoyinthesun.

"Iknowit'svain,"saidProf,"butIdofeelelatedwhenIviewsuchstartledexpressionsonthosechaps'
faces."

"Yougottheset,"JunewassayingtoAce,"they'realldown."

"Appearsso,"heacknowledged."Let'sbesuretherearen'tanymorecomingoutofthewoods."

"Don'tIgetanycreditforthedeftwayI...oops!Holdon."Profpressedanotherpanelbutton."Hold
ontight,gang."

Themenfromtheblacktruckhadclimbedbackintoit,andtheywerebarrelingstraightforthebackof
theChallengervan.

Thevanwasn'ttherewhentheyarrived.

Ithadrisenstraightupintotheair,washoveringsomethirtyfeetabovethejungletrail.

Prof,meantime,hadflattenedoutonhisstomachtoobservethegroundactionthroughaspyholeinthe
van'sflooring."Unfortunate,unfortunate,"saidProf."Theyranoveracouple,atleast,oftheirfallen
comradesbeforethebrakestookhold."Heputhishandsoverhisears."Andthentheygosmackinto
what'sleftoftheroadblock.Isn'tgoingtohelpthenfrontendatall."

"I'mgladI'mnottheirinsuranceagent,"remarkedJune."Imaginefillingoutanaccidentreportonall
this."

Profwasbackatthecontrols."I'llloweraway,ifit'sokaybyyou,Ace?"

"Yeah,okay,"saidMorgan."Igotagoodlookatthesurroundingcountryside;thoseladsinthetruckare
theonlyonesleftofthesurpriseparty."

Profbroughtthevan,whichhadbeendesignedby

AcetoconvertinstantlyintoaHovercraft,downtothejungleroaddirectlybehindthedisabledblack
truck.Takingupafoot-longlengthofmetalrodfromashelfbeneaththerearcontrolpanel,heopened
thevan'sbackdoors.

Birdswerecallingagain;aclusterofupsetandexcitedmonkeyswerechatteringhighabovethetrail.
Headtuckedin,Profranforthecabofthelargetruck.

Adoorflappedopen,amanthrewhimselfoutatProf,crying,"Devil!"inGerman.

"You'reanother,"respondedProfinthesamelanguage.

Themanhadhimaroundthewaist,wasexertingconsiderablepressure.

Profsaid,"Haven'ttimeforafairfight,meinHerr."Hemanagedtotapthemanontheskullwithmetal
rodhe'dbrought.

Therewasasizzling,themanwentlimpandsliddownProfto.slumpunconsciousintothefoliage
besidetheroad.

Theothertwomenhadapparentlybeenknockedcoldinthecrash.

Nevertheless,Profreachedintothecabtogiveeachawhackwiththestunrod.Thiswasaninventionof
hisown,utilizingadifferentprinciplethanAce'sstun-cannon.Itwas,hefelt,equallyeffective.The
onlyflawwasyouhadtogetdamnclosetouseit.

"Impetuous,"saidAcebehindhim.

"It'sthefabledHaleyhotblood,chief."Heslippedtherodintothewidewhitebeltofhisroyalpurple
Challengerjumpsuit."Thenexttimewe'reambushedbyabandofcrazedTeutonictypes,I'llstriveto
exhibitmorecaution."

Acewassearchingthemanwho'dfallenbythewayside."Teutonic?"

"ThatladmadeasnideremarkintheGermantongue."

"LotsofpeoplespeakGermaninEreguay."

"Andhe'soneofthem,"saidProf."Mightmeannothing,couldbepartofaneo-Naziplot."

"Why,"inquiredJuneasshejoinedthem,"didtheyambushus?"

"Averyinterestingquestion,boysandgirls,"saidProf."AfreePopsicletoanyonewhocananswerit."

"Theywantedtokillus,"saidtheblondegirl,impatient."Iknowthat,andit'snotwhatImean.WhatI
meanis,whydon'tthesepeoplewaiitustofindthemonster?"

"Couldbeabunchofnatureloverswhoconsiderlakemonstersanendangeredspecies,"saidProf."Orit
couldbethere'ssomethingelseinthesepartsnobodywantsustostumbleonto,lass."

Acestood."Noidentificationpapers,"hesaid,noddingattheunconsciousman."Butthisissortof

interesting."Hebentandrolledupthesleeveoftheman'sshirt.Inthehollowoftherightarmwasa
smalltattoodepictingatwo-headedeagle."That'stheidentifyingmarkofallthemembersofthe
Achtzig,anelitegroupwithintheSS."

"TheSchutzstaffel?Butthisladcan'tbemucholderthanthirty-five,"Profpointedout."Iknowthings
gotroughinNaziGermanytowardtheendofWorldWarTwo,buttheyweren'trecruitingfour-year-
oldsintotheStormTroopers."

"He'sprobably,"saidJune,"simplyaHitlerbulf;hadhimselfdecoratedthelasttimehewasinSan
James."

Acefrowned,rubbingatthefadedtattoo."Thistattoolooksold,morethanfortyyearsold."

"Youdon'toftenfindpeoplewhoseskinisolderthantheyare,"observedProf."Ilearnedthatfroma
mail-orderbiologycourseIoncetook."

Shrugging,Acesaid,"Let'slookovertherestofthegang.Afterthatwecanasksomequestions.""And,
hopefully,getsomeanswers,"saidJune.

Nothing.

Avast,hotemptiness.Flatanddry,allthecountrysidethecolorofweatheredbrownstone.Andahaze
everywhere,athinyellowhazehangingoverthehot,flatTierraSecadesert,makingthedecliningsuna
blurred,glaringdisc.

"There'sasignoflifefinally."Rockyletgothesteeringwheeloftheirclosedjeeptopointatthehazy,
late-afternoonsky."Somekindofbirdsflyingaroundoverthere."

"Vultures,"saidRedafteraglanceatthedistant,circlingsilhouettes.

Thebigex-wrestlersnorted."Itfigures,"hesaid."Thisisthedeadest,dulleststretchofcountryI'veever
beenin."

"YoushouldtryGlendale,California,onaSunday."BothmenwerewearingtheirChallengeruniforms.
Redstrokedthehourglassemblemonhischestwithhisthumbseveraltimesbeforecheckingagainthe
ordnancemapspreadacrosshisknees."Thingsmay

livenupwhenwereachtheFortalezaarea,"heremarked."Weshouldbetherebeforenightfall."

"Can'tfigurewhythisEscabarguy,whoeverthehellheis,wouldwanttoliveouthere.Thisdesert
makestheboondockslooklikeTimesSquareonNewYear'sEve."

"Cheerup,Rocko,we..."AfrowntouchedRed'sface."Slowupaminute."Hewasstaringtohisright,
eyesnarrowing.

"Youspotsomething?"

"Can'tbesure."Hereachedbehindhisseatforapairofbinoculars.

Rockyhadletuponthegaspedal,waslookinginthesamedirectionashisChallengerpartner.
"Somethingmovingoverthatway,"hedecided."Unlessit'soneofthemmirages."

"Miragesdon'tusuallyhavewheels."Redhadtheglassestohiseyes.

Rockystoppedthejeep,"Ain'tnoroadoutthere."

"SoInotice.Whateverthatthingis,it'scomingstraightacrossthedesertatus."

"Atus?"Rockyscowled."Thenmaybeweoughtn'ttositonourduffswaitingforit."

"Thisisodd,"saidRed."It'ssomekindoftruck,but..."

"What'ssooddaboutatruck?"

Redloweredthebinoculars."Theredoesn'tseemtobeanybodydrivingit,"hesaid.

ThenamehewasusingwasGallegherandhewouldsoonbedead.

Notdeadonpaper,ascertainintelligenceagenciesinEuropeandelsewherehadhim,butdeadinfact.A
tallman,deeplytanned,notquitefortyinappearance.

Heworekhakiclothes,heavyhikingbootsandhisbeltheldbothapistolandahuntingknife.A
powerfulhuntingriflewasslungacrosshisback.

TherewerethreeothermenwithGallegher.Allmovingclosertodeath,noneawareofit.

Amuddygreenglowwasspillingthroughthejungleasthedaywaned.

Gallegherhadhuntedalmosteverykindofgame.He'dhuntedmen,too,alongtimeagowhenhe'dhad
adifferentname.Nowhewassearchingforthismonsterwhichwassupposedtohauntthejungle.

HeagreedwithGeneralCueipo.Itwasmostlikelyalotofnonsense.Shuster,andmanyoftheotherson
thestaffoftheundergroundfacility,worriedtoomuch.Hehelduphishand,histhreecompanions
halted.

Gallegherstoodsniffingatthetwilightair."Overthisway,"hetoldtheothers."Followme;go
carefully."OuthereinthewildshecouldspeakGerman.

"Whatisit?"askedoneoftheothers.

"Somethingdead."Gallegherworkedhiswaythroughtheunderbrush,betweentheimmensetreesand
intothenewclearingthefallinghelicopterhadtornoutofthejungle."Yes,amanitwas."

BehindhimOrtega,who'dgotalookattheremains,wasretching."Awful,awful,"hegagged.

Thebodywasnolongerasingleentity.OneofthehandsGalleghercouldn'tlocateatall.Thetorsoand
headwere,moreorless,together.

"Whathappenedtohim?"askedanotherofthemen,notcomingcloser.

"Animalgothim,"saidGallegher."Clawedhimtopieces."

"Hisinsides,"murmuredOrtega,"hisinsidesare..."

Gallegherscrapedhisforefingeralongoneofthedeadman'slegs.Atwistofslimygreenmaterialcame
offtheshreddedclothofthepantleg."Lakeplant,"hesaid,holdinghisfingerouttowardtheothers.

Ortegawasretchingagain,theothertwomentryingtoavoidhimwithoutsteppinganyclosertothetorn
body.

"PetroSur."Galleghernoticedtheoilcompanynamepaintedonthesideofthemangledhelicopter."One
oftheirtroubleshootersranintomorethanhecouldhandle."

"There'snoanimal,"saidOrtega,panting,"there'snoanimalinthesejunglesdoesthattoaman."

"Perhapsitdidcomefromthelake."Gallegherslidhisthumbovertheshredofgreenwaterplant.He
circledthetorsoanditsimpossiblytwistedneck,scrutinizingtheground."Yes,herearesome
interestingfootprints."

"Night'salmostuponus,"saidOrtega."Let'sgetbacktoourtruck."

"Nothumanfootprints,"saidGallegher."No,theseappeartohavebeenmadebythefeetofalarge,a
verylarge,reptile."

"Plentyoftimetomorrow,"urgedOrtega."Weoughttoleaveherenow,rightnow,beforedarkness
catchesus.

"Thepatternoftheseprintsindicatesthecreaturewalkedupright,ontwoofitsfeet."Gallegher
detachedaflashlightfromhisbelt,clickediton."We'llfollowhistrail."

Theothertwomenproducedflashlights.

Ortega,afterwipingathissweatingforeheadwiththebackofhishand,didlikewise."Allright,solong
aswegetawayfromthisparticularspot,"hesaid."Thesmellof...It'sawful."

Gallegherlaughed."Alltheseyearsofindolenceinawarmclimatehavesoftenedyou,Ortega,"he
observedashebegantofollowthetracksonthejunglefloor."Youdidn'tusedtobesofearful."

"I'mold,"admittedOrtega."Tooold,inside.NomoredoIhavethestomachforthiskindofthing."

Thelakewasturningblackwhentheyreachedit.Incrediblywide,itsfarthershoreswerelostinthe
dusk.Onthisside,treesandamultitudeofplantsgrewnearlytoitsedge;someintricatelytwistingroots
extendedoutintotheblackwatersofLakeSombra.Swirlsofpalemistwererisingfromthedarkening
surface.

"Ifwe'retobelievetheevidenceoftheseveryoddfootprints,"saidGallegher,thebeamofhislight
shiningonthemushyground,"ourreptilereturnedtothelakehereafterdestroyingtheoilman."

Ortegasaid,"Thenthestoriesaretrue."

"Allwe'vedeterminedisthatsomesortoflargereptilecameherefromthesiteofthewreckedplane,"
saidGallegher."Wehaven'tyetproved—"

"What?"Ortegawasstaringatthejunglebehindthem.Thedaylighthadabruptlygone.Therewereonly
stripesofdarknessbetweenthetrees.

Gallegheraskedhim,"Nowwhat'salarmingyou?"

"Iheard...yes,listen!"

Thebeamsofallfourflashlightsturnedtowardthejungle,crisscrossing.

Therewasacracklingandathumpingcomingatthem.

Ortegatuggedhis.38revolveroutofitsholster."It'scomingtogetus,it'scomingtogetus."Thecircle
oflightfromhisflashwasdancingfromsidetoside.

"Calmdown,damnit,"orderedGallegher.Heproppedhislightontheground,unsnappedhisrifleand
settledthebuttagainsthisshoulder.Hesightedthroughthenightscope,thenexclaimed,"GoodCluist!"

Galleghersawitbeforeanyoftheothers.

Anotherminutewentbybeforetheflashlightscaughtit.

Aman,butnotaman.Thebodywasroughlyhu-manoid,agreenscalyskincoveringit.Green,streaked
withslashesofpastyyellow.Ropyveinsranalongthecreature'ssides,twistedacrossthewide,
powerfulchest.Thehandswereyellowish,eachscalyfingertippedwithaviciousblackclaw.Thehead
wasnothumanatall;itwastheheadofahugereptile.Someimpossiblylargelizardperhaps,witha
quiveringpouchofskinatthejawandgreatpoppingeyes.Themouthcuthalfwayaroundthehead;
whenitopenedthereweresharp,twistedteethshowing.Ithadbeenoutofthewaterforatime;there
weredry,blackeningpatchesblotchingitshugebody.Walkinglikeaman,movingrapidlytowardthem,
itwasnearlysevenfeethigh.

"Killit,shootit,"screamedOrtega,usinghisownrevolver.

Gallegherplantedhisfeetwide,tookcarefulaimandfiredthehuntingrifle.

Theothersshot,too.

Noneofitdidanygood.

Thesmallmanknewthemost.

SlumpedinachairinthebackoftheChallengervan,withthesmallgadgetofAce'sdevisingaffixedto

thebaseofhisskull,hewascompelledtotellthemwhatheknew.Wtiheyesshut,thejungledarkness
pressingagainstthewindowbehindhim,heansweredallthequestionsputtohimbythethree
ChallengersoftheUnknown.

"Thislaserrifleyoutriedtouseonus,"Acewasasking,"wheredidyougetit?"

"Fromthearsenal,"repliedtheambusherinadroningvoice.

"Logicalanswer,"saidProf."Whereexactlyisthisarsenal,oldman?"

"Underground,"wastheanswer,"atourbase."

AceMorganasked,"Basenearhere?"

"Fivekilometers."

"Howmanymenthere?"

"Wehaveastaffofonehundredandeight."

"Whofinancesit,who'sbehindit?"inquiredJune.

"Webroughtthemoneywithus."

"Wherefrom?"

"Thefatherland."

Blinking,Junetookastepback."Andwhenexactlydidyouarriveherefromoverseas?"

"I,myself,didnotreachEreguay,"thesmallmanrecited,"untilthesummerof1947.Theunderground
baseitselfwasconstructedin1944."

"Whobuiltit?"Aceasked.

"They'realldead."

"Youmeantheworkmen?"

"Thesafestwaytokeepitallsecret.Theywereshot,buriedinatrenchthey'ddug."

"Familiarstory,"saidProf."Whodesignedyourlittlehideaway?"

"ThechiefbrainbehinditwasOttoWenzler."

Profseyebrowswentup."Wenzler,"hesaidtowardAce,"wasreportedkilledinanairraidonGermany

in1943."

"IsOttoWenzlerdead?"Juneaskedthesmallman.

"No."

"Whereishe?"

"Heresidessomedistancefromhere,inableakterritoryknownasTierraSeca."

Profsnappedhisfingers."WouldhebecallinghimselfEscabarthesedays?"

"Yes,that'sright."

"SoRedandRockyaren'tonawild-goosechaseatall,"observedProf.

Acerestedonefootonthelowestrungofthechairthesmallmanwassittingin."What'sthepurposeof
allthis?Whydoyouhavehiddenheaquarters?"

"Tostayalive,"answeredtheman,"andtoprepare."

"Prepareforwhat?"

"Somedayitwillbeourturnagain.SoonGeneral

Cuerpowilleffecthiscoup,theregimeofPresidentChanzawilltoppleandwewillrulethiscountry.
Otherswillfollow.""Tomorrowtheworld,"saidProf.Junewasstudyingthebrain-controlledman's
face."Yousayyoucameherethirtysomeyearsago,"shesaid."Butyouappeartobearelativelyyoung
man.Howoldareyou?""Sixty-one."

"Youdon'tlookyourage.Why?""ItisWenzler'sProcess,"repliedthesmallman."Oneofmany
brilliantachievementshehasbroughtforthduringhislongexile."

"Howdoesitwork?"Profasked."Idonotknowthetechnicaldetails;fewofusbesidesWenzlerdo.
Everythreemonthswereceiveaseriesofinjections.""Thatkeepsyoulookingandfeelingyoung?""It
isamarvelousthing.ButthenWenzlerisamarvelousman."

"Comesupwithaprocessthewholeworldwouldlovetogetholdof,"saidProf,"andherestrictsitsuse
torejuvenatingaclutchofover-the-hillNazis.Somegenius."Acesaid,"WhatabouttheMonsterofthe
lake?""Wefearhim."

"He'snotacreationofyours,notaninventionof

Wenzler's?"

"No.Weknowlittleaboutthecreature,butifheisnotstoppedsoon,toomuchattentionwillbedrawn

toLakeSombra."

Juneasked,"Areyoudoinganythingtofindthemonster?""Yes.""What?"

"Atthisverymomentaselectgroupishuntinghim."

"Whataboutus?"saidProf."How'dyouladsknowwheretosetuptheambush?"

"Thereareonlytworoutesintothisarea.Wehadbothwatched."

"Whotippedyoutoexpectusatall?"

"Idonotknow.Iwasmerelyorderedtocarryoutamission."

"Whatdoyoususpect,though?Aboutwherethetipcamefrom?"

"Ineverspeculate."^

Acetookover."Whatwereyourordersaboutus?"

"Totakeyoutoourbase,ifyoucouldbecaptured.Questionyouandthenkillyouthere."

"Veryefficient,"saidProf.

Morganmovedawayfromthetruth-controlledman."ThisnestofNazis,"hesaid,"ismoreimportant
thanZarpa.Wehavetocheckoutthisundergroundbasebeforewedoanymonsterhunting."

"IknowthatintheoldWorldWarTwomoviesonetoughAmericantookonacouplehundredNazis
barehanded,"saidProf."Doyouthink,though,thethreeofuscantakeonthiswholebunch?"

"Alternatives?"requestedAce.

"Calloutthelaw."

Aceshookhishead."GeneralCuerpoishighupinthemilitary,andhe'stheoneplanningacoup.That
rulesoutbringinginthetroops,"hesaid."ForallweknowCuerpohasthepoliceinhiscamp,too."

"Addtothat,"putinJune,"thefactthatpossiblyeventhelocalchapterofUncleSam'sNational
EspionageAgencyisworkingforCuerpo,too."

Profsaid,"Okay,sowesuccumbtotheLoneRangersyndromeandgoinafterthiscrew.""That'sthe
Challengerwayofdoingthings,remember?"remindedAce."Youmusthavereadsomethingaboutitin
theNationalIntelligencer."

Profnodded,fishedasmallnotebookfromhistunicandstartedscribbling.

"Whatareyoudoing?"Juneasked.

"Dividingonehundredandeightbythree."

"Veryspooky,"remarkedRocky.

"Mostlikelyarobotvehicle."Rednoddedinthedirectionoftheapproachingtruck.

"Bumpingintoarobot-driventruckouthereinthemiddleofnowherestrikesmeasveryspooky."

"Spookyornot,myscientificcuriositydoesn'tneedsatisfying.Driveon."

Rockyhadturnedofftheenginewhiletheyscannedthedriverlesstruckwhichwasrollingacrossthe
flat,drydeserttowardthem.Hislargefistgrippedthekey,turneditintheignitionswitch."Herewe
go."

Nothinghappened.

Beyondtheirjeep'smakingadry,asthmaticsound.

"Kee-rist.Engine'sdead."Rockytwistedthekeyfromsidetoside."Ibettergostickmynoseunderthe
hood."

"Gotahunchthat'snotgoingtoaccomplishmuch."

"Howcome?I'madamngoodmechan—"

"Couldbeourimpendingvisitorhassomethingtodowiththis."Afterjerkingathumbinthedirection
ofthedriverlesscar,whichwasnowlessthanahalfmileaway,Redgrabbedaknapsackoutoftheback
ofthejeep."Whatsayweabandonship?"

"Whyshouldwe?"

"Anotherhunch."Knapsackclutchedtohischest,Redhoppedoutontothetwilitdesert.

"You'reastwitchyasanoldgranny."

"Comeon,comeon.Getoffyouroxandoutofthere."

"Okay,ifit'llstopyoufromactingsogoofy."Grumbling,thebigmanswungoutofthedriver'sseat.

Redwastrottingawayfromtheirstalledvehicle."It'spossibletheygimmickedourjeepbyremote
control,"hetoldhispartner.

"Justso'sarobottruckcancomeovertosay,'Howdy'?"

"Couldbeworse,couldbeafineexampleoftheoldsitting-duckgimmick."HecaughtholdofRocky's
arm,urgedhimtotrotfasterandfartherfromtheirvehicle."There'satime-honoredsawaboutasitting
targetbeingeasiertohitthanamovingone."

"YoubeenaroundProftoolong,you'recommencingtosound—"Blam!

Kablam!

Thurump!

Theirjeepexploded,jumpedhigh,felltoearth,shootingoutfireandnight-blacksmoke.

"Kee-rist."Rockyliftedhisheadfromthedesertwherehe'dflunghimself."Youwasonehundred
percentright,Red."

"Onceiagain."Hedidapushupoffthegrittyearth.

Therobottruckwasnowonlytwohundredyardsfromthewreckageoftheirjeep.Onitshoodtheysaw
mountedasmall,bazooka-likeweapon.

"That'saverysmarttruck,"observedRocky.

"Yeah,butIhearitgetspoormileage."Redwasreachingintohisknapsack."Timeforalittleturnabout,
Idobelieve."Hedrewapalm-sizeblackbox,roughlyresemblingapocketcalculator,outofthesack.
"Here'safirst-rateopportunitytotryoutalittleinventionProfandIwhippedup."

"Whatisthatgizmo?"

Therobotmachinehadbackedupsomefiftyfeet,thefrontwheelsturnedthemselvesanditcame
rollingahead.ItsnosewasnowaimedatthespotwhereRedandRockyhadspreadout.Sowerethe
bazookaandthetworiflesbuiltintothehood.

"Explainlater."Redpushedseveralofthebuttonsonthefaceofhisblackbox.

Therobottruckmadeagear-shiftingnoise.

"Wrongbuttons,"mutteredRed,tryinganothersequenceofpushes.

Therobotmachinecameanotherhundredfeet,thendied.Itsmomentumcarrieditwithinafewyardsof
them.

Grinning,Redsaid,"Theyusedsomekindofsimilardisablingdeviceonus,onlyfromadistance."

"They?Whodoyouexpectisbehindthis?"

"CouldbeEscabar,couldbeanti-Chanzaforces,couldbetheLakeSombraMonsterFanClub."

Walkingverygingerly,heapproachedthetruckwhichhadattackedthem.Hecranedhisnecktolookin
atthedash."Nicejob,verycompact."

Rockywastrompingaroundthesmolderingjeep."Howdoyoufeelabouthikingtherestofthewayto
Fortaleza?"

"Neverwalkwhenyoucanride."

"Inwhat,notinthathoodoowagonthatalmostblewustoglory?"

"Weshouldn'thaveanyproblems."Redhelduptheblackbox."Thisgadgetcannotonlydisablerobot
mechanisms,itcancontrol'em."

Rocky,veryslowly,camecloser."Youmeanwecontinueourjourneyinthisspookytruck?"

"Exactlyandprecisely,Rockbound."AsandpaperingsoundwasproducedwhenRockyscratchedhis
curlyhead."Okay,"heagreedfinally,"butyoudrive."

Itwasaman'sarm.

Deadwhite,wrappedinthebloodytattersofasleeve.Atoneend,ahandwiththefingerscontracted,at
theother,amessofsplinteredbone,shreddedmuscle,rippedflesh.

ProfHaley'sflashlighttoucheditfirst.Hewasattheheadoftheirlittleprocession."Whoa,"hesaid.
"Looksomewhereelse,June."

Thegirlwasnextinline,followedbythestillbrain-controlledNaziandthenAceMorgan.Therestof
theirambushersthey'dlefttrussedupintheChallengervan.

"Idon'tgetemotionalaboutdeath,"Junesaid,movingupbesidehimandaddingthebeamofherflash
tohis.

Thearmhadbeenflungtotheedgeofthenarrowtrail;itlayamongfernsandspikybrush.Largeblack
antswereparadingalongthedeadflesh.

Profsteppedaheadtokneelnexttothearm."Okay,it'syourstomach,princess."Hepokedatthehand,

movedthefingerswithhis."Notmorethanafewhoursdead."

"Whoeverdidthis,"saidAce,"maystillbearound."

Profhadrisentohisfeet,wasplayingthelightalongthetrailedge."There'stherestofthepoorguy,"he
said.

"Oh,"saidJune.

"Skullcrushed,"saidAce.

"Byhand,"addedProf,closertothemutilatedbody."Thelastofmyskepticismisdrainingaway."

Easingaroundthegirl,Acewentovertoexaminethecorpse."Clawsdidmostofthisdamage,"hesaid,
pointing."Butnoevidenceitwasananimal."

"Therearen'tanyferociousanimalsinthisneckofthejungle,"remindedProf."Notthisferocious
anyway."

"MyGod,"gaspedJune.

Bothofthemenspuntofaceher.

"Overthere."Shewaswavingherflashlightattheothersideofthetrail,

Ahumanheadwasdanglingfromthebranchesofathornybush,nexttoasplashofbrightredblossoms.

"Monster'sbeenbusy,"saidAce.

"Wemustbeseeing,"saidProf,"what'sleftoftheNazis'monster-huntingparty."

Aceturnedhisheadslowlyfromsidetoside."Maynotallbedead."

"Anybodyaliveiseitherlonggonefromthisvicinityorinnoshapetoworryus."

"Accordingtoourinformanthere,"saidJune,afterswallowinghard,"weshouldbefairlyclosetoone
oftheentrancestotheNazis'undergroundbase.Whichmeansthelakecreaturedoesindeedroamfairly
closetothem.""Tooclose."AcewalkedbackandtookholdoftheNazi'sarm."Let'scontinueonour
way."

Withthetiny,disc-shapedcontroldeviceattachedatthebackofhisneck,thesmallmancoulddo
nothingbutobey.

"Treadcarefully,"Profadvisedthemall.

Theytraveledforseveralmoreminutes.

ThentheNaziallatonceslippedonsomethingonthetrail,stumbledandcrashedagainstJune.

"Blood,"saidAce,"spilledallovertheplace."

"Thoughtyousawit,chief,"saidProf,who'davoidedtheslickspot.

Thesmallmanhadfallen.Ingettingup,hisheadsmackedagainstthelowbranchofajungletree.The
impactflickedthecontroldiscfreeofhisskin.

"Watchit,"warnedAce,tryingagrabfortheman.

TheNazieludedhim.HeswungoutatJune,smackedherlightawayfromher.

Ace'sbootedfeetfailedtogettraction;thespillofbloodofanotherofthemonster'svictimscausedhim
tofall.

"Uptome."Proftookoffaftertheescapingman.

TheNazileftthetrail,wentclawingandsmashinghiswaythroughthejungle.

Profwasabletokeephiminthebeamofhislightashepursued."Onlyfairtowarnyou,oldchap,"he
called,"Iwasacross-countryrunnerinschool."

AcrashingathisbacktoldhimAcehadjoinedinthechase.

ThelittleNaziwasfalling,gettingup,strugglingon.

ThedistancebetweenhimandProfnarrowed.

"Okay,gotcha."Profcaughttheman'sshirtcollar,yanked.

Thesmallmanwaspulledoffhisfeet.Hetriedtopunchhiscaptor,succeededonlyinentangling
himselfinhangingvines."Devil,"hesaidinGerman.

"That'swhattheyallsay."Profwrenchedoneoftheman'sarmsupbehindhisback."Nowletusmarch,
asbestwecan,backtoyondertrail.Don'tneedyou,chief."

Acehadreachedthem."Feltobligedtojoininthehunt.Sinceitwas—"

BackonthedarktrailJunescreamed.

Onlyonce.

"Alwayssomethingdoing."Profturned,gavetheNazitwopokestothejaw.

Itwassufficienttorenderhimunconscious.

ProfandAcetookoff.

Asheran,Morgan,leapingobstructions,calledtothegirl."June?What'swrong?"

Noanswercame.

"Laststop,everybodyout,"announcedRed.Heswungtheircommandeeredtruckoffthedesertroad
andparkeditnearaclumpofcactuswhichlookedlikeacollectionofpricklyelbowsinthedarkness.

"Idon'tseenofort,"saidRocky.

"And,contrariwise,theydon'tseeus."Smallcontrolboxinhishand,Redhoppedfromthevehicle.

"Youcanbettheyknowwe'recoming."Withconsiderablegruntingandmumbling,thebigman
extractedhimselffromthepassengerseat.

Redfingeredtwobuttonsonthebox."Thatshouldkeepthistruckhereforawhile."

"Incasethatgizmoofyoursdon'tworkexactlyperfect,"observedRocky,"thenthisjalopyhasprobably
beensendingoutsignalstowhoeveritwassentittobumpusoff."

"Theboxworks,"Redassuredhim."Ihadallthetruck'swarningdevices,TVmonitorcamerasand
suchlikehardwarecompletelyinmepowerthewholeandentireride."

"Soyousay."Rockyhunchedhisshoulderstwice."Awfulcoldforadesert."

"Mostdesertsgetcoldatnight,andespeciallytheTierraSeca."

"IfIhadn'tgotstuckonthisnitwitjobwithyou,"complainedRocky,"Icouldofbeenwiththeothers
now."

"Beingpursuedbyanicewarmmonster,sure.Thecastleandsurroundingbuildingsareoverthatway."
Rednoddedtohisright."Let'sproceed."

"Probablygotafive-milehikeaheadofus."

"Onlyabouttwo,"saidRed."Ithoughtyoulikednothingbetterthanabriskten-orfifteen-milejog."

"Yeah,butthat'sexercise.Thisiswork."

"Let'shopeso."Theystartedtrudgingacrossthechill,flatground.

"Yougotdoubts,too,huh?Thiscouldbeacompletewasteof—"

"Look,Rocksie,anybodywhocanbuildatrucklikethatonebackthere,"saidRedpatiently,"is
someonetheChallengersoughttoknowabout."

"Okay,soEscabarisafancyinventor,"Rockyacknowledged."Thatdon'tmeanhehasadamnthingto
dowithsomemonsterwho'smaybeswimmingaroundinLakeSombra."

True.

Theycontinuedmarchingacrossthenightdesert.

AfterafewminutesRockyspokeagain."ThisguyEscabarislivingwaythehelloutinnoplace,

tinkeringwithnewfangledgadgetswhichcanknockpeople

off."

"Seemstobe,Rocko."

"Okay,somaybewhenhegetsenoughof'emhe'sgoingtotakeacrackatPresidentChanza,"Rocky
speculated."Youknow,pulloneoftheseherecoups."

Hisbigheadbobbed."Yeah,EscabarcouldbeincahootswiththatarmyguyProfwastalkingaboutto
us."

"GeneralCuerpo."

"Whateverhisnameis,"saidRocky."Anyhow,thatcouldbethereasonPresidentChanzaissohotfor
ustodragourbuttsouthereandfollowuponthis."

"Couldbe,yeah."

"Whichbeingthecase,Chanzajustwantsustopullhischestnutsoutofthefire,"saidRocky."Itdon't
havenothingtodowiththemonsterornothing."

Redsaid,"FromwhatIfeel,thepresident,forapresident,isarelativelyhonestguy.Idoubthe'daskus
toinvestigatetheEscabarangleunlesshereallybelievedtherewasatie-inwiththeMonsterofLake
Sombra."

Rockygruntedinreply.

Afewtinyrectanglesoflightfloatedintheblackness.Fiveofthemclosetotheground;beyondthose,
andmuchhigher,threemore.

"Cheerful,"remarkedRocky.

"That'sthecastlethere,behindthoselowoutbuildings."ThetwoChallengershadhaltedwhenthey'd
spottedthelights.

"Anyguywho'llsendoutrobottruckstokeepoffvisitors,"saidRocky,"issuretohavealotof
electronicprotection."

"We'llhavetogetclose,seeifthere'safence."

"Couldbeanelectric-eyesetuplongbeforewehitanykindoffence."

Pattinghisblackbox,Redsaid,"Icanusethistonullifyanythinglikethat."

"Okay,butyoucan'tnullifynightscopes.Theycouldbewatchingusrightnow."

"Bettersmilethen.Let'scircleandhitthecastlefromthebackside."

"Morehiking,"grumbledRocky.

"Sure,sure.YouthinkI'mapantywaist?"

"There'sanexpressionIhaven'theardinages,Rocky.Didyoupickthatupatagymorahealth—"

"Listen,smartass,"growledRocky,whilemaintainingawhisper,"doyouwanttogetoverthiswallor
doyouwanttostandaroundmouthingoff?"

"Ipicktheformer.Iwasonlyaskingtomakesureyoucan—"

"Ican."Spreadinghislegsandcuppinghishugehands,thebigex-wrestlersaid,"Hopon."

TheChallengerteammateswereattherearoftheFortalezacastle.They'd,utilizingRed'sblackbox,
outwittedanelectrifiedwirefenceandascanning-eyesystem.Thathadbroughtthemtoaten-foot-high
stonewall,slick-surfacedandwithnoapparentplacestocatchhold.Thefencecircledtheentireblack
stonecastle.

RedplacedonebootedfootinRocky'sfingercradle."Fireaway."

"Hereyougo."Withoutanystrain,thebigmanboostedhispartnerupintothenight.

TheforceoftheboostwassufficienttopropelRedtotheverytopofthehighwall.Hecaughthold,
pulledhimselfup.Lyingflatoutonthesmooth,two-foot-widetopsectionofwall,Redsurveyedthe
castlecourtyardbelow.

Asmallamountoflightleakedintotheareafromadistantground-floorwindow.Therewasnooneon
theflagstonesbelow,noindicationRed'sarrivalhadbeennoticed.

RedreturnedhisattentiontoRocky.FromhisbeltRedunfastenedacoilofverythin,verystrongrope.
Unreelingitandgettingagoodgriponhisend,hegaveacome-on-uptwistofhishead.

Silently,withoutasinglegrunt,Rockyusedtheropetoaidhiminscalingthesmoothwall.Whenhe
wasseatedatopit,legsdangling,hesaid,"Didn'tthinkyoucouldsupportmyweight.Youdidokay,
Red."

"Iworkedwithsomeprettyfatacrobatsduringmycircusdays,"hesaid."Nowlet'sjumpdownintothis
seeminglyemptycourtyardandcasethejoint."

"Somejoint,too,ain'tit?Likeoneofthemcastlesinthemovies."

Redlefthisperchtogoplummetingdown.Helandedflat-footed,tookthreestepsandwasupright
again.

ThunkI

Rockyhitonhisbackside.Shakinghishead,hestruggledtohisfeet."Misjudgedalittleonthatone."

Redwasglancingaround."Hopeyouradventdidn'tshakethecastlewallstoomuch."

"Aw,Iwas...watchit,buddy!"

Adoghadappearedfromaroundashadowycornerofcastlewall.Itwaslargeandblack,shoulders
narrowedandheadheldlow.Snarling,itwasslowlyapproachingthem.

"Easynow,"saidRed,bracinghimselfforthedog'sattack.

"Kee-rist,Ihateitwhentheygotmaddogsaround,"Rockycomplained."CauseIlikedogsanditmakes
mefeelbadtobeatuponthem....Huh!"

Whenthedogwasfivefeetfromthem,itstoppedstill.Thetopofitsskullclickedopen.Insidethere
wasanintricacyofwiresandtransistorizedcomponents.Alsoatinysilvernozzle,whichroseupnow.

BeforeeitheroftheChallengerscouldretreatfromtherobot,afinebluishmistcameswirlingoutofthe
nozzletoengulfthem.

Tensecondsafterthemistreachedtheirlungs,bothofthemfelltotheflagstones.

..veryefficientatall,ifyoudon'tmindmysayingso...

"Thisishardlyatimefor...""...letthemoutfoxyouontheroad..,""...hadyoualertedustothe
capabilitiesoftheirvan..."

"...catchtheChallengers,youcan'tevenovercomesomesimple-mindedseamonster..."

"...mybestmenlyingdeadandyouchooseto..Itwasn'tallgettingthroughtoher.Thevoicesofthe
twoarguingmencameandwent,likeasurfadvancingandretreating.

"...werestupidenoughtoletthedarnthinggetthejumpon...""...whatyoudescribe,thecreature
mustbe..

..untilwetakecareoftheChallengers..."JuneRobbinswasable,afterseveralunsuccessfuland
painfulattempts,tomoveherarms.Eventuallyshebroughtherhanduptothesideofherhead.

"Ow,"shesaidwhenherfingertipstouchedthelumpatherhairline.

"Wecantalkaboutthatlater,Shuster.MissBobbinsisbackwithus,Ithink."

Whentheblondegirlgothereyestoopen,shesawthesmiling,clean-cutfaceofDennyYewell
hoveringafewfeetfromhers."Bingo,"shesaid."Iguessedrightaboutyou."

"Afraidyoudid,MissRobbins,"acknowledgedtheAmericanagent."I'mnotonyourside,I'mon

theirs."

Theroomwasfillingin.Agrayroom,withblindwalls.Shewaslyingonahardcouch,thelightfrom
thestarkceilingfixtureglaringdownather."Iconfirmedthat,"saidJuneasshemadeatryatsittingup,
"whenyoupoppedupinthejungle."

"SorryIhadtohityouonthehead."Takingholdofhershoulders,heaidedhertoasittingposition.

Onceshewasoffherback,thegirlshookfreeofhim."Igotthefeeling,fromthelookonyourface
whileyouwereswingingthatblackjack,thatyougotagreatkickoutofit."

Yewellgrinned,shuffledbackfromher."Well,asamatteroffact,MissRobbins,Iguessyou'vegotmy
number,"hesaid."I'mreallynottheniceguymostpeopletakemefor."

JunenoticedShusternow,standingacrosstheroom,armsfolded."Isheoneofthem?"sheasked
Yewell."Oneofyourneo-Nazipals?"

Grinningmorebroadly,theturncoatespionageagentsaid,"He'snoneo-Nazi.He'stherealthing,a
holdoutfromthegoodolddays.AndI'vegottotellyou,MissRobbins,theseguyshavegotabudget
thatreallyknocksyoureyeout."

Junemassagedthebackofherneck."IhavetheimpressionI'mtheonlyoneyoucaught."

"IwasallbymylonesomewhenIbumpedintoyou.Cameouthereonanimpulse,figuringShuster's
boysmightscrewupthewholeoperation.Sureenoughtheydid,noteven—"

"There'snoneed,"Shustercutin,"togointothisnow."

"Doesn'thurttoletherknowyourpeoplearen'tinfallible,"Yewelltoldhim."Makesyouseemalittle
morehuman,besidesaddinganelementofsuspensetofutureevents.Aretheygoingtofoulupthis
time?Orwilltheysucceed?Goodpsychology."

"Ican'tagree.Thewholetheoryofblitzkriegisbased—•"

"Oldstuff,"saidYewell."Halloweenpranksforgrown-ups.Forgetaboutthegoodolddaysinthe
fatherland,Shuster,andletmehandlethings."Hemotionedtothegirl."Wanttohaveyoucomealcfng
withmenow,MissRobbins,toanotherpartofthisundergroundestablishment.They'vegotasetuphere
that'llworkjustfineincasewehaveavisitfromthecelebratedChallengersoftheUnknown."His
blandeyesnarrowedforafewseconds."Iknowwhatyoudidtothosegoonswhotriedtoroughyouup
ontheSanJamesUcampus,butI'mquiteabitfasteronmyfeet.Youtryanytricksonme,Miss
Robbins,andI'llkillyourighthereandnow."

WhenJunestoodup,theroomdidoneswayingspinaroundher.Aftershegotcontrolofherbrainand
herstomach,shesaid,"Itdoesn'tmatterwhereyouhideme.TheChallengerswillcomeafterme."

Yewelllaughedaloud."Isurehopetheydo,"hesaid.

'Itwasn'tthelakecreature,"Acesaid,frowningdownatthejunglefloor.

"Notunlesshe'sinthehabitofwearingboots."Profswungthebeamofhislightfromthesignsof
scufflingonthetrailtothefaceoftheircaptiveescort.

TheNazihadanothercontroldiscattachedtohisneck.•

"WegotherewithinminutesofJune'scry,"Acesaid."Buttherewasnosignofher."

"Indicatingthatwhoevergrabbedhergotheroutofsightshortlythereafter."

"DownintheNazihideaway."

IndicatingtheNazicaptive,Profsaid,"WecanfollowthetrailofwhoeversnatchedJune.Ifitendsupat
asecretentrance,thenhecangetusin."

Acewasthoughtful,cheekhollowing,lefteyenarrowing."Whydoyouthinkshewasgrabbed?"

"Becauseshe'soneofthegang,andtodayissureenoughDoDirttoChallengersDay."

"Maybe,"saidAce.

Withtheirmind-controlledNazibetweenthem,thetwopushedoffthetrail.Thetracksleftbythe
bootedattackerofJuneRobbinswereintermittent,buttherewereenoughfootprints,orfragments
thereof,toprovideatracktofollow.

"Bootssinkingdeepersinceweleftthepathway,andnoneofJune'sprints,"saidAce.

"Sohe'scarryingher,"saidProf."Indicatingheknockedheroutortrussedherup."

"Orkilledher."

"You'regrowingverynegativeasoldagecreepsuponyou,Ace.Perhapsyoucanaskourunderground
Hitlerfanstogiveyouanage-fightingtreatmentortwo."

"Don'tthinkthat'sthetreatmenttheyhaveinmindforus."

AfteramomentProfsaid,"Nomoretelltalebootmarks,chief."

Acetightenedhisgriponthesmallman'sarm."Isthereanentrancetoyourbasehereabouts?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"There,thepalmtreetoyourleftishollowedout."

Profgavetheindicatedtreeagentlethump."Soit•»

is.

"Howdoweuseit?"

TheNazidroned,"Aswitchistobefoundonthegroundbeneaththatorangefern."

Profsquatted,probingwithfingersandflashlight."Here'tis."

"Anyidentifyingproceduresbeforeyouenter?"

"None."

"Howdotheyknowyou'renotanunwantedintruder?"

Thesmallmanreplied,"Thereiscontinualtelevisionsurveillanceonceyoureachthefirstlevelof
tunnels."

"I'vealwayswantedtobeontelevision,"saidProf,"butthisisgoingtotakeawayalotofthesurprise
elementfromourinvasion."

"Possibly,"saidAce.

Thefirstthingtheysawwasironbars.

RedawakenedafewminutesbeforehisChallengerpartner.Directiyinfrontofhim,heavybarsroseup
outofthestonefloor.Helaytherecontemplatingthebars,gettingusedtohisbodyagain.Thebonesof
hisfaceached,therewasanirregularthrobbinginhisskull."Aftereffects,"hemumbled.

Afterwatchingthesturdybarsawhilelonger,Redsatup.Thatincreasedthethrobbing'sintensity,made
hisspineandribsacheandrevealedtohimthattherewerebarsonallsides.Hewasinacage,thecage
wasinthecenterofamuchlargerstoneroom.Thebarsweresunkwellintothechillstonefloor,thrust
farupintothelowstoneceiling.Therewerenowindowsintheoutsideroom;theonlylightcamefrom
thewire-nettedlampsoneachsideofthethickmetaldoor.

Rockywasspreadoutonhisback.Thebigmanstartedthrashingaround,asthoughhewerestruggling
tokeepawrestlingopponentfrompinninghisshoulders."Theystickusinthezoo?"heasked,waking
upandstaggeringtohisfeet.

"Zoo,prison,pen,dungeon,"saidRedfromhisseatedposition."Takeyourpick."

Shakinghisheadfromsidetoside,Rockyinquired,"Howlongwasweincloudland?"

"We'reofferingaprizeofafreeweekendfortwoinCleveland,Ohio,forthebestguess."

Rockyscowled,surveyedtheircageandtheshadowyroombeyond."Two,threehoursatleast,"he
decided."Doesyournogginache?"

"Moderately."

"Remindsmeofmyprehealth-fooddays,whenIusedtogethangovers.We'reinsidethecastle,huh?'

"Afairassumption,Rocko."Redpressedapalmtothestonefloor,pushedhimselftoacrouchandthen
stoodupright."Iimaginewe'renowtheguestsofSenorEscabar."

"Exactly."Avoicecamedownoutoftheshadowsoftheroofabovethem."Allowmetowelcomeyou
tothehospitalityoftheFortaleza."

Rockymadeaglumfaceattheceilingloudspeaker."Thisain'tmyideaofhospitality,buster."

"Consideringthefactthatyouaretrespassers,andpossiblyassassins,Ibelieveyou'vebeentreatedquite
well."Thevoicewasnowcomingoutofthetall,leanmanwho'dopenedtheheavydoorandenteredthe
room."Muchbetterthanyoudeserve."

"We'renotassassins,"Redtoldhim.

"Itwasyoutriedtodousin,"addedRocky."Withthatgoofyrobottruckofyours."

"Ishan'tapologizefortheattempt,thoughIampleasedyousurvived.Thatwaywecanhavesomething
ofatalk."Hestoppedsometenfeetfromthe

frontoftheircage."Asyousurmised,IamEscabar."

"Pleasedtomeetyou."Redinclinedhisheadtowardthedoorofthecage."Canyouletusoutnow?"

"Wecanhaveaperfectlysatisfactoryconversationwithyoubothonthatsideofthebars."Escabar
walkedtoacorneroftheroom,pickedupalightaluminum-framechair.Placingitasafedistancefrom
thebars,heseatedhimself."Letmepointout,toavoidpossiblefutureembarrassment,thatyouwere
thoroughlysearchedwhileyouweresleeping.Quiteafascinatingcollectionofweaponsandgadgets
turnedup."

Rockyslappedathimself."Hey,youeventookmypacketofsunflowerseeds."

Movingtothebars,takingholdofthem,Redsaid,"Whatdoyouwanttotalktousabout?"

"ForOnething,I'manadmirerofyours,"answeredEscabar."HereinmyrelativeisolationI'veoften
readofyourexploits,andwithmuchinterest.I,too,workontheborderofthenaturalandthe
supernatural.AlthoughI'venevergoneinforanyofthephysicalbravadoyouChallengersofthe
Unknownsofrequentlydisplay."

"Aw,anybodycandothephysicalstuff,"Rockyputin."Youjustgottoexerciseandeatright."

"Nodoubttrue,"saidtheirhost."I'veneverhadthepatienceforsuchaprogram.Thereare,however,
otherwaystokeepupayouthfulandvigorousappearance."

"Fads,"saidRockywithscorn."Nothingpaysofflikehardwork."

Redsaid,"We'vehadaverydifficulttimepayingacallonyou.Ourtroublesstartedwhenthemanwho
wasgoingtotellussomethingaboutyoublewup."

"TheunfortunateSatara,yes.Wewerequitegoodfriendsatonetime,"saidEscabar."Drinkinggotthe
betterofhimandthen,whatisworse,totalabstinence.Hebecame,didSatara,veryself-righteous.
Killinghimwasthebestsolution."

"Whowasheexactiy?"

Escabaruncrossedandrecrossedhislegs."I'lltellyousomethingaboutmyself,aswellasthelate
Satara,"hesaid,smilingcarefully."Yourealizeyou'llneverbeabletouseanyoftheinformationI
impart?"

"Wefigured,"saidRed,"youhaduspenciledintofollowSataratoglory."

"I,myself,don'tusesuchflamboyantmeans,butyourdestinationwillbesimilar,"acknowledged
Escabar."HaveeitherofyouheardofOttoWenzler?"

"Didn'theusedtowrestleastheMadPrussian?"askedRocky.

Redsaid,"WenzlerwasaresearchscientistinNaziGermany.He'sbeendeadthirtyyearsormore."

"Notatall,"saidEscabar."IamOttoWenzler."

"ThisiswhereI'msupposedtoexclaim,'Impossible!'"saidRed."Impossible!Youcan'tbemorethan
forty.Wenzlerwasthatagewhenhewaskilledthreedecadesago."

"OneofthethingsIwasworkingonwhenIdecidedtoleaveGermanywasaprocesstoretardaging.
OnceIwassettledsafelyinEreguay,Iperfectedthatprocess,alongwithagoodmanyotherprocesses
andmechanisms."

"AregularRenaissanceman,"commentedRocky.

'Yes,Iamgiftedinmanyfields."

"Whousesthisprocess?"Redwantedtoknow."Onlyyou?"

"SeveralhundredofmyformercolleaguesinthefatherlandhavebeenenjoyingtheWenzlerProcess
thesepastthirtyyears.Theyhopeeventuallytogainpowerintheworld,politicalpower."Heleftthe
chair,circledit."GeneralCuerpo,whoservedtheReichquiteadmirablyunderanothername,plansto
takeoverthiscountryquitesoon."Pacinginwideningcircles,Escabarcontinuedtalking."I'vecometo

theconclusionamuchdifferent,andsurer,kindofpowercouldbeobtainedsimplybyexploitingthe
Processonamuchlargerscale.OddlyenoughitwasSatara,who'dbeenanassistantofminebeforehe
wasallowedtowanderoffandsinkintothebarriolife,itwasSatarawhosuggestedthesepossibilities
tomeoriginally.Unfortunately,duringmostofmyyearsofexilehere,Imaintainedazealousloyaltyto
myfatherlandandtheideasI'dbeenimbuedwiththere."

"Someideals,"remarkedRocky,"borrowedfromajerklikeHitler."

"How,"saidRed,"doesGeneralCuerpofeelaboutyourchangeofheart?"

"AsyetI'vediscussedthiswithnoone,"repliedtheirhost."ExceptwiththelateSataraandnowwith
youtwoestimableChallengers.IimagineIwouldgothewayofSatara,sinceIfoolishlygavethemthe
formulafortheProcessmanyyearsago."Heresumedhischair."Ihavebeenabletoprepareasmall
surpriseforGeneralCuerpo,whichshouldprovideaninterestingfinaletohistakeoverattempt."

"Whatexactly?"

Escabarsmiled."Idon'tintendtoconfideeverythinginyou,eventhoughyou'llsoonbedead."

"Youbettergoeasyonthisgoofyideaofbumpingusoff,"Rockytoldhim."Ifyouknowaboutthe
ChallengersoftheUnknown,youknowthere'smorethantwoofus.Youdousinandtherestofthe
gang'llshowupandputyourbuttinasling."

"Mycastleissecure,"saidEscabar."Noonecangetintodo...todome...domeharm."Hepaused,
ranleanfingersalonghischeek.

Redwatchedthemanclosely."WhataboutthecelebratedMonsterofLakeSombra?Howdoyou
connectwithallthat?"

"Connectwith...all...allthat?I...don't...theMonster...it'sunfor...unfortunate...becauseit
drawsattention..."

"What'swrongwiththeguy?"whisperedRocky.

Escabarwasleaningfarforward,restinghishandsonhisknees."Ourunderground...underground
facility...builttomyspecifications...underground."Heraisedhisheadtostareatthem."Forgiveme,
gentlemen,Iseemtobe..."Escabarfellfromhischair,hittingthestonefloor,hard,headfirst.

"Whatthehell?"Rockyrattledthebars."Istheoldboysick?"

Redsaid,"I'mprettysurehe'sdead."

Handsabovehishead,Profsaid,"Veryconvincing."

"Don'tmug,"cautionedAce.

Theyweremovingalonganinitialentrycorridorintotheundergroundcomplex.Boththepurple-clad
Challengershadtheirhandsup;thesmallNazimarchedbehindthemwithapistolaimedatAce'sback.

"Imustadmit,"admittedProf,"thatknowingwe'rebeingwatchedbyhiddencamerasdoesbringoutthe
haminme.ShouldhavecombedmyhairbeforewecamedowntherabbitholeintothisNazi
playground."

"Theycanprobablypickupwhatwe'resaying,too,sohush."

"It'smyfondesthopethecontrolbugofyoursdoesn'tfalloffthelittlechap'sbrainagain.Thenwe
reallywillbeintheproverbialbouillabaisse."

Twonewcorridorsintersectedwiththeoriginal."Gototheleft,"saidtheNaziinhisdroningvoice.

"Tellhimhedoesn'tsoundauthoritativeenough,"Profwhisperedoverhisshoulder.

Atthenextforkingofcorridors,thelittlemandroned,"Turntotheright."

"Ah,newmembersbeingaddedtothecast,"remarkedProfsottovoce.

Standinginfrontofthemetaldoorsatthiscorridor'sendweretwolargemeninpale-greenoveralls.
Eachworea.45automaticathisbelt.

"Youarenotsupposedtobringprisonershere,Sullivan,"oneoftheguardscalledtotheapproaching
littleNazi.

"ThereisnoadmittancetotheCentralControlRoom,"saidtheotherburlyguard.

"There'saslipup,"saidProf,tickinghisheadinthedirectionofthesturdydoor."PrintingCentral
ControlRoominGermanlikethat.ChangingyournamestoSullivanandthelikedoesn'thelpifyou're
going—"

"Besilent,swine,"saidoneofthebigguardsinGerman.

"Devilisthepreferredinsult,"saidProf,grinning.Hewasonlyinchesawayfromthetwomennow.
Unexpectedlyhereachedout,caughtbothofthembytheearwithhisraisedhandsandforcedtheir
headstobangtogetherwithconsiderableforce."SawLeoGorceydothisinafilmonce;beendyingto
tryit."

Astheguardstottered,Aceleapedforward.Hegaveoneaseriesofincapacitatingchopstotheneck.

Profwasdealingsimilarlywiththeotherguard.

Beforehismanoozedoutunconsciousonthemetalfloor,Acehadthedoorhandlegripped.Heturned,
shovedanddivedintotheroombeyond.

Therewerefourmenworkinginthelarge,domed-ceilingplace.Theywerescatteredatthevarious
controlbanks,monitoringdesks,computersandscanningsystems.

"Veryslowly,"suggestedAce,anodd-lookingpistolinhishand,"veryslowlytakeyourhandsoffwhat
you'redoingandhoist'emhigh."

Profcameinwiththeirthought-controlledNaziintow."Letmesecondthatmotion."Healsohelda
strangepistol.

"Thoseareodd-lookingandstrangegunsyouhavethere,"observedthenearestcontrolroomtechnician.

"Stylish,too,don'tyouthink?"Profshuttheheavydoorsbehindthem."Humaneaswell,sincethey
don'tkillyou.No,theymerelycrippleyouforaboutfifteenhours."

Ace,asthey'dplannedbeforedescendingfromthejungle,ranacrosstotheaddresssystem,pickedupa
microphone.InfluentGermanheordered,"AllpersonnelwillreportimmediatelytoAuditoriumOne.
AllpersonnelwillreportatoncetoAuditoriumOne.Therearenoexceptions;thisisanextreme
emergency!"

Prof,meantime,hadlocatedthecommunicationscontroldeskwhichtheirlittleNazihaddescribed
whenthey'dquestionedhimearlier."Ah,yes,there'sthetoggleIseek."Heflippedtheyellowoneina
bankoftwentymulticoloredswitches."NowHerrShustercan'tusehisownmiketocancelourorder."
Hehoppedsideways,locatedablueswitchonanotherpaneloftogglesandtinneditoff,too."Norcan
heseeanythingatallonhisownTVscreens.Poorlad'sgoingtosuffermediawithdrawalalmost
certainly."

"It'sworking,it'sworking."Acewasgrinning,eyesontherowoftelevisionscreensonthefarwall.

"Yousoundlikea...oops!Mustn'tdothat,oldman."

Zizzle!

Atechnician,noticedoutofthecornerofProfseye,hadbeenmovingtowardthedoor.Nowhewas
collapsedonthefloor,lyinginastiff,folded-upposition.

"Youotherthreechapsbetterhuddleoverthere,"Proftoldtheothertechnicians,"beneaththeTV
screens."

"Iadmirethatweaponofyours,"saidthetechnicianwho'dspokenbefore.

"Why,thankyou,it'sreallyonlyalittlethingIhappenedto—

"Hushup,"advisedAce.

Thedozencontrolroomscreensshowedthemthevariouslevelsofthelargeundergroundcomplex.On
thescreens,men,somelookingfearfulandotherssimplypuzzled,werehurryingalongcorridors.

Profturnedhisattentiontoadifferentcontroldesk."Isthistheone?"heaskedtheirlittleNaziguide.

"Yes,itis."

"Okeydokes."Profclickedaswitch."Well,isn'tthatnifty.TheJuneRobbinsShow."

Asmalltelevisionscreenhadcometolifebeforehim,showingtheroomJunehadbeenplacedin.

Twistingadial,activatinganotherswitch,Profpickedupahandmicrophonefromthedesk."Thisisthe
voiceofChristmasPast,JuneRobbins,andI'dliketocomplainabouttheskisweateryougavemeback
in1974.Imean,apatternofleapingballerinas,whilefetching,isn'texactly—

"Prof?"Onthescreentheblondegirl'seyeswentwide;shewasglancingaroundhercell.

"CurrentlydoingbusinessastheU.S.Cavalrytotherescue,"Profspokeintothemike."Youokay,
princess?"

"Yes,but...don'tcomeinhere.Areyourightoutsidemycell,orwhat?"

"Intheneighborhood,letussay.Whycan'twespringyou?"

"It'sDennyYewell;heisoneofthem,"explained

June."Whenhetossedmeintheprisonwinghere,heimpliedtherewassomekindofboobytrap
awaitingyouifyoutriedtobailmeout."

"Nospecifics?"

"Nope."

"Fearnot,we'llfindout.Hangon."

"It'sdisconcertingtryingtotalktoyoulikethis,Prof.Idon'tknowwheretolook."

"Lookheavenward,mychild,andyoucan'tgowrong.We'llgettoyousoonest.Bye."Heflippeda
switch;theprettygirl'simagefadedaway."Whatkindofboobytrapmighttheysetinthosecells?"Prof
askedthesmallNazi.

"Idonotknow."

"They'reallintheauditorium,"announcedAce,"exceptforaguywhomustbeShuster,andDenny
Yewell...heisadoubleagent."

"SoIhear."Frowning,Profwentovertostareupatthemultipleimages."LookslikeYewelland
Shusterareheadingforelsewhere."

"Theymusthave,"saidAce,"tumbledtothefactsomething'swrong."

"MarineExitRoom,"Profreadoffoneofthescreens."They'rehurryingintotheroom.Hey,what'sin
there?"hecalledtowardtheircontrolledNazi.

Thetalkativetechniciansuppliedtheanswer."Wekeepseveralminiaturesubsthere,tobeutilizedinthe
eventallotherescaperoutesarecutoff.Thesubscanbelauncheddirectlyintothewatersofthelake."

"Ace,canyouhandlelockingtherestofthegangintheauditorium?"

"Doingitnow,"Aceansweredfromanotheroftinecontroldesks.

"I'lltagYewellandShuster."Profranforthedoor."June'scellisbooby-trapped,sogoeasy.""Right."

"You,"saidthehelpfultechnician,"betterbecarefulyourself,myfriend.There'snotellingwhatyou
mayencounterinthedeepsofLakeSombra."

"Oh,it'sprobablythemonster'sdayoff."Profgavethemallamocksalutebeforesprintingfromthe
room.

"FirsttimeI'veeverhadahostdothat."

"Kee-rist!Whatdoyouthinkdidthepoorbastardin?"

Red,clutchingthebarsoftheircage,andwatchingthefallenbodyofthelateEscabar,said,"Hewas
braggingaboutplayingsomesortoftrickontheillustriousGeneralCuerpo.CouldbeCuerpoplayed
oneonhim."

"Politics,"saidRocky."It'sworseinSouthAmericathanitisintheU.S.A.even."

Redturned,leaninghisbackagainstthebars."Feelstrongenoughtobendafewofthese?"

"Icantry,butIdon'tguaranteeanything."Tentatively,thebigmantookholdofoneoftheironbars.
Aftermorethanaminuteofstrainingandgrunting,herelaxedhisgrip."Goingtotakealotoftime."

Redmovedtothelockmechanisminthecelldoor."Verycomplicatedlock,"heconcludedaftera
hunkeredexaminationofit."Goingtoberoughtopickwithoutanyofourtools."

"Waitnow."Rockypokedathumbinthedirectionofthecorpse."Somebody,soonerorlater,isgoingto
missthisbird.They'llcomelooking,we'llwaitourchanceandjump'em."

"Who?"

"Us.Wejump'emwhentheyshow."

"Imeantwhodowejump,evenifwegotachance?"

"Escabar'sgang,hisflunkies."

"Rocky,wedon'tevenknowforsureifhehada

gang-""

"He'sgottohavesomebodyelsehereinthisjoint."

"Theonlyotherinhabitantofthiscastlewe'veseen,besidesourrecentlydeceasedhost,wasarobot
dog."

"Okay,somaybehisservantsandstaffarerobots,too.Wewaittilltheycomeinandwejumpthem."

"Nobodymayevercomehere."

Rocky'sheadtiltedbackonhisthickneck."Aw,that'saspookythought,Red.Idon'twanttohang
aroundherewithnocorpse."

Redunbuckledhisbelt."Thenwebettergetout."

"Whatyougoingtotry,pickingthelockwithyourbeltbuckle?That'lltakeaslongasmebendingthe
bars."

"Givemeyourbelt,too."

"Twobeltbuckleswon'tworkanybet—"

"Handitover;comeon."WhenRedhadbothofthewidewhitebeltstiedtogether,hemadealoopat
theendofone."We'llseenowifthedefunctEscabar,AKAOttoWenzler,hasanythingonhimwhich
willaidourcause."

"Acowboytrick,huh?"

Redflungtheloopedendofthebelttowardthesupinebody.Theloophitthestonefloorseveralinches
fromEscabar'sfoot.Twomorepitcheswereevenlesssuccessful.

"Kee-rist,letmedothat."

"Hell,Ican—"

"111doit."Rockyshovedhispartneraside,assumedthemanipulatingoftheimprovisedlasso."There
shegoes.Ha!Firsttry."

"RemindmeIoweyouacigar.OrwouldyourathertakeaKewpiedoll?"

TheloophadhookedoverthetoeofoneofEscabarsshoes,sliddownasfarastheinstep.Browsknit,

thebigex-wrestlerbegan,veryslowlyandcarefully,topullthedeadmanacrossthefloortothem.

"That'saboy,Escabar,comealongnow.That'sit,"Rockycroonedtothecorpseashereeleditcloser.

AllatonceRockywentbicyclingbackward.

Thunkl

"Loopcameloose,"saidRed.

"Yeah,Ideducedasmuch."Gruntingup,Rockyreturnedtothebars."Aw,Idon'tneedthislassono
more."Hethrustanarmthroughthebars,extendedhisthickfingersandmanagedtocatchthetipofone
ofthedeadman'sshoes."Comeon,comeon.That'stheboy,we'removingagain.Comeon,Eskie.
That'sthewaytogo."

Rockysucceededingettingthebodylinedupagainstthebars.

Redsaid,"I'llsearchhim.I'vegotalighttouch."

Rockygotoutofhisway."Goahead.Iain'tnoghoul."

"Goldcigarettelighter,boxofTurkishcigarettes,bottleofsomesortofpills,sixkeysonachain...
yeah,thismaydoit."Red'sgringrewsmallerandsmallerashetriedthekeysonthelock.Whenhe
reachedthesixthkey,hewasgrinningnotatall."Noneoftheseworks."

"Okay,letmefriskhim."Downonhisknees,Rockysethisbighandtoexploringthedeadman's
clothes."Nowthisismorelikeit,akeyallbyitself."Chuckling,hestoodtotossthekeytoRed."Don't
standtoreasonhe'sgoingtokeepthedungeonkeywiththeotherssinceitain'tprobablyonehe'sgoing
touseasmuch.See,yougottofigure—"

"Thisistherightone."

Thelockgaveasatisfyingclick,thedoorswungoutwardwithapushfromRed."Amnestytime."

"Weain'toutofthewoodsyet,"remindedRocky,followinghisChallengerteammateoutofthecell.
"WemaybestillgottotackleabunchofNazisorawholecastlefullofgoofyrobotsbeforewegetout
ofhere."

Thedogdidn'tstir.

Itwaslyingonitssidebesidethedeepfireplace.Thelastofthelogswasnowonlyglowingfragments.

Rocky,attemptingtowalkontiptoe,approachedtheGermanshepherd."Didn'tEscabarbuildthisoneto
jumppeople?"

Withafinalscanoftheemptyhallway,Redcameintothebeam-ceilingedlivingroom."That'sareal

dog."

"Naw,can'tbe."Rockybent,pokedafingerintotheanimal'sfurryside."Kee-rist,itis...andthedamn
thing'sdead."

"ThenthisisprobablyhowtheykilledEscabar,too."Redtappedthedinnerplatewhichrestedonthe
rough-hewnwoodtablenexttoasubstantialleatherarmchair.Tirebonefromasteaksatonthegravy-
smearedwhitechina.Therewasasimilarboneonthehearthstonesnearthedeaddog'sfrontpaws.

"Poison,huh?"Rockystraightenedup,shakinghishead."Butwhodidit?"

"ImagineEscabargothissuppliesfromoutsidesomeplace.Eitherhetrustedhisdeliveryboy
completelyortheycaughthimwithapoisonthatgotbywhateversafetymeasuresheusedtocheckout
hisfood."

"Politics,"repeatedRocky.Hisfacebrightened."Hey,there'sourgear."

Strewnonamarble-topcoffeetableweretheweaponsandtoolswhichhadbeentakenfromthemwhile
theywereoutcold.

Red,rubbingathischin,crossedtotheleadedwindowtolookdownatthenightdesertandthecastle
grounds."We'rebeenthroughallthecastlebetweenthedownstairsdungeonandhere,without
encounteringanythingexceptafewrobotservomechanisms."

"Escabarwasanoddball,"saidRockywhilehesortedhisbelongingsoutofthepileandredistributed
themonhisbulkyperson."Hereallymustofgotabangoutoflivingalone."

"Webetterchecktheroomsabovethisone,"saidRed."Thenwecanheadoutofhere."

"CanwejoinJuneyandtherestofthegangnow?"

Redshookhishead."Ithinkwehaveastoportwotomakefirst."

Amilkybluenesslacedwithgreen.

Seatedinthecontrolcaboftheminisub,ProfHaleycausedthestroboscopiclightsmountedonthenose
ofhisthirty-foot-longsubmarinetosweepthedeepsofthelakethroughwhichhewastraveling.
Beyondthereachofthetwinbeamsloomedwateryblackness.

BythetimeProfhadreachedtheaquaticescapearea,ShusterandYewellweregone.Thedirectionof
theirdeparturewasobvious,andProfhadswiftlyusedtheadvancedequipmenttoplaceanotherofthe
minisubsinapositiontobelaunchedthroughtheexittubedeepintotheshadowywatersofLake
Sombra.

"ItrustI'vegotthiscontrolboardfiguredoutcorrectly,"Profsaidtohimselfasheguidedthesmall,
two-mansub.Anindicatorgaugenearhisleftelbowtoldhimhewas107feetbelowthesurfaceofthe

lake."Now,let'sgivethisgadgethereatry."

Heactivatedasonictrackingdevice,whichshouldshowhimthelocationoftheminisubhewas
pursuingonatinyscreendirectlyinfrontofhim.Circlesappeared

intheblue-blackscreen,alongwithonefuzzyrounddot.

AfterProfcalculatedwheretheslowlymovingdotwasinrelationtohisship,headjustedhiscourse
accordingly.

"Notabadlittlesub,"heremarked."IfithadaCBradioandaracingstripe,I'dseriouslythinkabout
buyingonefor...Goodgolly,asweusedtosayinmylong-ago,tenth-gradedaysl"

Somethinghadgoneshootingthroughthewaterwithintherangeofhislights.Itflashedupandwas
gone.Acreatureroughlyshapedlikeaman,butitwasn'taman.Greenandreptilianand,suchwasProf
simpressionfromthebriefglimpsehegot,incrediblyvicious.

"Well,"hesaid,slouchingbacksomeinthecontrolseat,"IguessI'veseentheMonsterofLake
Sombra."

Hissubcontinuedthroughtheshadowywaters.Allunderwaterlifehadvanishedsincethecreaturehad
passedthroughhisken.Theprobinglightsshowedonlythemilky-bluewaterandtwistsandtanglesof
aquaticplantlife.

Shortlythereaftercamebubbles.Spillingbackintothereachofhislights,swirlafterswirlofhuge
bubbles.

Profslowedhiscraft,directingittocirclethesourceoftheunderwateragitation.

Itwastheothersub.

Thelightshadbeentornfromitshull,waterwasshovingintothecabin.Theheavy,shatter-proofglass
hadbeensmashedout.

AsProf'ssubcircled,hegothissecondlookatthecreature.Itwasstraddlingtheruinedcontrolcabof
theothercraft.Aftersmashingintheglass,anincredibleaccomplishment,thecreaturewasreachingfor
thedrowningmeninside.

Yewellwastornoutfirst.Hisbody,withthecreaturegraspingitbythethroat,camejerkilyoutofthe
flounderingsub.TheshardsofglassleftinthemetalframeofthewindowslicedandtoreatYewell,
knifinghisclothesintoshredsandstartingribbonsofredswimmingthroughthemilky-bluewater.

TheyoungAmericanagentseemedtocomeapartnow,likeapuzzlethemonsterwassuddenlytiredof.
ClawedhandsrippedatYewell,bloodspewedandturnedtheagitatedwaterblack.

"NothingIcando,"saidProf."Bettergetmyselfupandaway."

Hesetthesub'scontrolsforarisetothesurface.

Asthecraftbegantorise,thelightsgavehimaclearviewofthemonster.

IthadletgoofwhatwasleftofYewell;itsheadwasraised,staringupatthedepartingProf.

AceMorganclosedthecoverofthebrownleathernotebook."Thatmustbeit,"heconcluded.

DroppingthebookonthedeskwhichhadbelongedtothemancalledShuster,helefttheofficeand
moveddownacorridor.

Outsideadoorintheprisonwing,Acehalted."June,it'sme."

"Don'tbargein,theysetsomekindoftrap,"thegirlwarnedfromtheothersideoftheheavydoor.Her
anxiousvoicesoundedveryfaraway.

"Knowwhatitis,"Aceassuredher."Beengoingthroughtheheadman'spapers."Fromapocketinhis
widewhitebelt,theChallengertookthekeyandthesmallbarofmetalhe'dlocatedinShuster'sdesk.
"Everythinginthisplaceiscarefullyplanned,soI'mguessingthetrapYewellusedisaprearranged
one."

Hewentdownononeknee,ranhishandsoverthelowerportionofthedoor."Yep,heresheis."Asmall
panel,itspresenceindicatedbyhair-thinlines,snappedopenwhenhetappeditthrice.

CarefullyAceinsertedthemetalbarintotheopening.Theelectromagnetbeneaththemetalsurfacetook
holdofthebar.Heheardafaintclickfromthewallnexttothedoor."Goingtoopenupnow,Juney;
standback."

Aceusedthekeyandthedooropenedoutward.

"Well?"Junewatchedhimhesitatingonthethreshold.

"Comeonout."

"Thanks."Whentheslimblondegirlwasnexttohiminthecorridor,shesaid,"Whatwassupposedto
happen?"

"Theyfiguredwe'dgobreakingin,eithertrytoforcethelockorbreakthedoor,"explainedAce."That
wouldhavereleasedagasoutofjetsupintheceilingandinsideyourcell."

"Deadlygas?"

"Deadly."

"I'mgladthisparticulartrapdidn'tspring."Shetookhisarm."Where'sProf?"

"ChasingYewellandtheheadman."

"WhataboutalltheotherundergroundNazis?"

"Alllockedinsidetheirauditorium,withalltheexitselectrifiedtopreventanybodyfromboltingtillwe
getsometroopsouthere."

"Thearmy'scrooked,too,"remindedJune.

"Therearetroopsandtherearetroops,"saidAce."Weshouldbeabletoroundupapeacekeepingforce
totakecareofthismanyold-schoolNazis."

Thegirlsaid,"DowewaitdownhereforProf?"

"Bettermeethimupstairs.Sincehe'soutinthelakenowinaminisub,huntingforthoseguys.""Lake
Sombra?That'swherethemonsteris.""Profshandledmanyamonster,"Acetoldher."Don'tworry."

"ButIwillworry."

Theminisubbrokefreeoftheblacksurfaceofthelake.Itslightsmadethebeadsofwateritwas
sheddingglistenandsparkleinthenight.

"Isthathim?"askedJune.

"We'llhavetowaitandsee."AceandthegirlwerecrouchedintheunderbrushneartheshoreofLake
Sombra."Don'twavehellotillweseewhocomesout."

Theamphibioussubcamerollingclearofthelaketogocrashingseveralyardsintothesurrounding
jungle.Whenthehatchonthecontrolcabflappedopen,Profcamepoppingout.Piesliddownthewet
sideofthesub,landedonthemossygroundwithhisstunpistolalreadyinhishand.Piestoodforafew
secondswatchingthelakehe'demergedfrom,thenpivotedandstartedjoggingaway.

"Hey,Prof!"calledAce.

Slowly,halting,Profsaid,"Everybodyrun."

"Why?"askedJune.

Thegirlandthecrew-cutAcehadsteppedintothethrowofthelights.

Profshouted,"Becausethatdamnmonsterisaboutto...orishe?"Hecamewalkingbacktothem.

Thesurfaceofthelakeseemedstill.

JunetouchedProfssleeve."Yousawthething?"

"Yep,sawagooddealoftheoldboy,"heanswered."Hefollowedmeonmydashtosafety.Iwas
expectinghe'dattackaboutthetimeItoucheddryland

"There'snosignofhim,"Acepointedout.

"Evenso,"saidProf,"I'dliketogetawayfromthisparticularsectionofpicturesqueEreguayanjungle."

"Webettertrekbacktoourvan,"Acesaid."Iwanttoradiothecapitalanyway."

"Let'scommencetrekking,"urgedProf.

"WhataboutYewell?"thegirlaskedhim.

Movingawayfromthesub,Profsaid,"I'llgiveyouafullaccountatalaterdate,ifyoudon'tmind,
princess.Sufficeittosayhe'snolongeramongtheliving,"

"Shusterlikewise?"Acesaid.

"Monstergotbothofthem,"saidProf."ImayeventuallywritehimupastheMostUnforgettable
CharacterIEverMet.Itwasincrediblewhatthatthingdid.Heattackedtheirsub,brokerightintoitand
..."Profdidn'tprovideanaccountofwhatthecreaturehadnextdone.

Afterseveralminutesofsilentwalking,Acesaid,"Youobviouslygotagoodlookatit."

"Verygood,yes."

"Anyideawhatitis?"

"Amonster."

"Whatsort?"

"ThereI'mataloss.It'slikenothingI'veeverencountered,atleastnotinmywakinghours.Ifyou
crossedagianthumanwithacrocodileandacoupleoflizardsandthen...No,youstillwouldn'tquite
havethischap.Mostunsettlingaspectis...He's,Idon'tknow...there'ssomethingglaringlyevil
abouthim.Excusethemelodramaticphrasing,butonceyouseehiminaction..."Profdidn'tfinishthe
sentence.

"Yougotawayfromhim,"saidJune."I'mthankfulforthat."

Profgrinned."Takesacrisistomaketrueloveblossom,asmysainted—"

"Lovehasnothingtodowithit,"thegirlcutin."Butwe'reateam,andI'dhatetohavesomecritter
breakusup."

"Ancientmonstersarebreakingupthatoldgangofmine,"sangProf."Doyoumeantotellme,June,

you'dbejustasthankfulaboutRocky'sescapingfromtheclutchesofthatthing?"

"Possiblyashademoreso."

"That'scarryingespritdecorpstoridiculousextremes."

"Well,anyway,Iamgladyoucamethroughwhole."

"ItrustI'lldoaswellnexttime."

"Nexttime?"

"Certainly,"saidProf."Wecameheretoputastoptothatmonster'sactivities,didn'twe?Grantedwe
seemtohaveputthekiboshonaNaziplottotakeovertheworldagain,andwe'veroundedupa
hundredormorebadguys...Youdidcatchthemall,didyounot,Ace?"

"Gotthewholesetsafelylockedupdownthere."

"Thenweoughttogetbacktoouroriginalpurpose.Whichistotrackandcatchthatbeastie."

"Iwish,"saidJune,"youwouldn't."

Profsaid,"TheHaleyClanhaslongbeennotedforitsstubbornness.I'mgoingtotakeanothercrackat
thatthing,whenI'mabitbetterequipped."

Profwaswatchingthemugofcocoaheheldinbothhands."Thismustbeanopticalillusion,"he
decided."Ihavetheimpressionmyhandsareshaking."

"Opticalillusionsdon'tsplashonyourknee."Junereachedover,wipingathistrouserswithaKleenex.

"Astonishing,"Profsaid."MyrecentunderwaterencountermusthaveshakenmemorethanIrealized.
CanIeverlivethisdown?"

"Youreallyare,despitethatglibfrontofyours,averyconventionalguy.Amancannevershowfear
andallthat."

"Well,arealhe-manshouldn'tspillcocoainhislap."

AcecameintotherearendoftheirChallengervan."IgotthroughtoPresidentChanza,"hesaid."He's
goingtocallinanInternationalPoliceunit.They'llhaveourcooped-upNazisincustodybytomorrow
sometime."

Profhadthecuprestingonhiskneenow."Thatmonstercontinuestointrigueme."

"Intrigueisn'tquitetherightword,isit?"Junehelpedherselftosomemorecocoa.

"Bethatasitmay,"Profwenton,"I'mgoingtogodownintoLakeSombraagaintolookforhim."

"ConsideringwhathedidtoDennyYewell,"saidthegirl,"you'regoingtohavetogoverycarefully."

"Ibroughtalongsufficientmonster-tacklinggear.AndI'llavailmyselfoftheNazis'handylittlesub."

JuneturnedtoAce."Whatdoyouthink?"

"IthinkI'llgoalong,"Aceanswered.

ItwasawarmafternooninSanJames.Thestreetsbelowthebalconyseemedfreshandbright.Menin
whitesuits,womeninbrightdresses,Indiosinmulticoloredponchosandstrawhatswereallonview.

GeneralCuerposat,alone,onthewidebalcony,lookingdownatitall.Hewassippingaglassofchilled
Chablis.Inaveryfewhourshewouldgivethesignalforhismentomove,andbytomorrowhewould
beheadingthecountry'sgovernment.

Now,though,hewouldrelaxinthebrightsun.Itwasodd,butthegeneraldidn'tfeeltheexcitementhe
should.Hewas,ifthetruthwereadmitted,verytired.Weary.Forthefirsttimeinalongtimehefeltas
thoughhemightjoinintheridiculousnationalcustomofanapafterlunch.

"Perhapsit'sdepressionwhichmakesyoufeelthisway,"hesaidtohimself.

Thenhestraightenedinhiswickerchair.Hehadn'tintendedtospeakaloud,buthefeltastrong
suspicionthathehad.

"Don'tstartbehavinglikethatfool,Shuster."

GeneralCuerpocarefullyplacedhisglassonthemosaictablebesidehischair.Yes,definitelythattime
hehadutteredthewordsaloudratherthansimplythinkingthem.

Itwasunderstandable,wasn'tit?He'dlearnedthismorningtheChallengersoftheUnknownhad
invadedtheundergroundheadquartersinthejunglenearLakeSombra.Theentirefacilityhadfallento
them,andthatidiotChanzahadcalledoninternationaltroopstotakealltheNazisprisoner.

"Buttheydon'tknowaboutyou,"heremindedhimself."OnlyShusterandYewellwerereallyawareof
yourlinkwiththeoperation...weren'tthey?..."Hecouldn'trememberwhoelsehadknown."The
twoofthem,fromallaccounts,aredead.Outsideofadvancingthedate,thecoupcangoaheadas
planned.Yes,that...WhateveristhatfatanduglyIndianwomanupto?"

Downinthestreetthreestoriesbelow,awomaninayellowandredponchoandaderby-like,chocolate-
brownhatwasstaringupatthegeneral.Withoneplumphandsherepeatedlymadethesignofthecross.

"Shecan'tpossiblyhaveheardmetalkingtomyself,"Cuerposaidaloud."Evenifshehad,thatwould
hardlycausesuchadisplayofsuperstitiousreligiousbehavior."

"Shesawme,General."

Cuerpospunoutofhischairintimetowitnessared-hairedmaninaroyalpurplejumpsuitdoinga
somersaultoffhisslantingtileroof."You'reoneoftheChallengers!"

RedRyanlandedonhisfeetnearthewickerchair."Youareabsolutelycorrect,General,"hesaid."We
tookthisunconventionalwayofcallingonyoubecauseweweren'tinthemoodtoarguewiththose
armedguardsdownstairs.Weclimbedupthesideofyourneighbor'svillaandthenwehoppedoverto
yourroofandhereweare."

"We?"

"Kee-ristl"Rockycameslidingdowntheorangetiles,bootsclattering.Heteeteredontheroofedge,
droppedtothebalconyfloorforabuttocks-firstlanding.

Thunkl

Cuerpocouldn'tunderstandwhyhisthinkingwassosluggishtoday.Oneglassofwine,andthatnot
evenfinished,shouldn'tproducesuchfuzziness.Yethedidn'tthinkofgoingforthepistolinhis
shoulderholsteruntilthesecondChallengerhadhitthedeck."Youwerefoolishtoattempt—"

"Noweapons,General."Redwasnexttohim,graspinghiswrist.HeslidouttheLugerfromthe
general'sholster."Wecametotalktoyouinafriendly,relativelyfriendly,way."

"Doyoufoolshonestlythinkyoucanbreakinhereto—"

"Webeenincontact,"saidRockyasheroseoffhisbackside,"withourbuddiesoutinthejungle.The
puckyreallyhitthefanoutthere,General,andyourwholesetupisgoneblooey."

"Mysetup?"Cuerpoaffectedsurprise."IamaloyalEreguayan,amanofsomeprominenceinthis
country.IhavenothingtodowithanynestoffanaticalNazis."

"Youshouldn'tknowabouttheirbeingNazis,General,unlessyou'reincahoots."

Shouldhe?Cuerpomassagedhischeek.No,wait."AsheadofthemilitaryinEreguay,Iaminformedof
suchmatters,"hetoldthepairofChallengers."Iknewquiteearlythismorningwhathasbeengoingon
intheLakeSombraregion.NaturallyIfeelourownmilitaryforcesshouldroundupsuchscum,butI
willnotgoagainstmypresident'swishes."

"Notuntilafterthecoup,"saidRed.

"I'mafraidIdon'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout."Cuerpo,thoughheknewitwoulddetractfromhis
poseofcalmauthority,sankdownintothechair."NowImustaskyouto—"

"WegotthroughtoEscabar,"Rockytoldhim."Hetoldusallaboutyoubeforehekickedthebucket."

"Escabar?Idon't—"

"YouknewhimbetterasOttoWenzler,"saidRed."That'sbackinthedayswhenyouwereknownas
GeneralSteinbrunner."

Howcouldtheyknowthatname?WhathadthatfoolWenzlersaid?"Gentleman,you..."Itwasvery
strange.GeneralCuerposatwatchingthemandhefoundhehadnoideawhotheywere."Forgiveme,
butI..."

"Kee-rist!"exclaimedRocky."IsthiswhatEscabarwasblabbingabout,thesurprisehehadforthe
general?"

Escabar.Therewasafamiliarname.Yes,Escabarhadpersonallyadministeredthemostrecentseriesof
Processshots.Atleastthegeneralsuspectedthatwaswhotheymeant.Hemovedhishandacrosshis
face,tryingtogethisheadtoclear."Thisismostunusual."

Hedidn'thavehisownhandanylonger.No,someonehadreplaceditwithagnarled,shrunkenhand
whichobviouslybelongedtoanoldman.Averyoldman.Ninety,atleast,fromtheunpleasantlookof
it.

"TheProcesshasstoppedworkingforhim,"Redsaid."ThisisEscabar'srevenge,becausehesuspected
theywereabouttogetridofhim."

Twomenweretalkingtohim,butCuerpocouldn'tmakemuchofitout.Perhapstheyweren'tspeaking
German.Yes,thatmustbeit."SpeakGerman,ifyouplease,"herequested.

Herewasanotherverystrangething.Hisvoicewasnothis.Somehowithadbeenreplacedwiththe
rasping,whiningvoiceofadodderingoldman.

ForafewsecondsCuerpomanagedtorealizewhatwashappeningtohim."Itdoes...not...workany
...longer."

"Kee-rist."Rockybackedofffromwhatwassittinginthewickerchair.

"Youmustexcuseme,gentlemen,"thegeneraltriedtosay.

Thesunwassohot.Thevoicessoloud.Bettertogotosleepuntilthedaywaned,bettertorestuntilthe
cooloftwilightcameon.Bettertorestthan...

Redshookhishead."Allover."

"Poorbastard."Rockydidn'tlookatthebodyofGeneralCueipo."Gettingoldisbadenough,butdoing
itinafewminutes...ugh!"

Redcrossedthebalcony."Hisofficeisinhere.Let'slookaround."

"Whatabouthim?"

"Leavehimtherefornow."Redsteppedintothecoolnessofthedepartedgeneral'slargeoffice."Iwant
todigupwhateverrecordsandpaperswecan,deliverthewholepackagetoChanza."

Insidetheoffice,stillgazingoutatthebalcony,Rockysaid,"I'veseenalotofstrangestuffsinceweall
teamedup.ButthisistheveryfirsttimeIeverseensomethingwhatgivemegoosebumpsallover."

"You'vegottoomuchempathy,Rock."Redwasatthegeneral'sdesk,tuggingoutdrawers."Doubthe
stuckanythingaboutthecoupintheseunlockedones,butbettercheck'emall.""WonderwhatI'lllook
likewhenIgetold."Rockycamewanderingintotheroom.

"Likealostbuffalo,sameasnow.Startinonthosefilecabinetsoverthere."

"Mygrandpoplivedtobeninety-four."

"Didherassletilltheend?"

"Aw,hewasn'tnowrestler.Hewasafarmer.Hadhimagiganticspreadin—"

"Handsup,Rocky.You,too,Red."

Thewallbookcasehadswungopenwithoutacreak,andadapperyoungmanwithaheadslightlytoo
largeforhisbodycameintotheoffice.ItwasAlexHentoff,oftheNationalEspionageAgency.He
carrieda.38revolverinhiswell-cared-forrighthand.

"You,too?"Rockyshuffledoveragainstawall,raisedhishands.

"Didn'tyoutumbletothatasyet?"askedtheAmericanagent.

"Inthebackofmycomputer-likebrain,"Redsaid,"theideawasstartingtotakeshape.DennyYewell
didn'tknowwewerecomingdownhereuntilwewereenroutefromtheStates,yetpeoplestartedtrying
todiscourageusadaybeforewetookoff.Ergo,eitheryouorHoldenChotehadtobeinonthedeal."

"Kee-rist,"saidRocky,"don'ttellmeChoteisaturncoat,too?"

Hentofflaughed."Havenofear,Rocky.Holdenremainsasinnocentandloyalasanewbornbabe.I,on
theotherhand,canbesorelytemptedbylargeamountsofuntraceablecash."

"SoyouwenttoworkfortheNazis,"saidRedashetooktwostepsawayfromthedesk.

"There'smoretoitthanthat,Red.Perhapsyouhaven'tasyetheardaboutChanza'splanstoeventually
nationalizealltheoilfieldsinEreguay,"saidHent-off."GeneralCuerpo'smovetooverthrowChanza
wasfinancedbymorethanjustabunchofNazis."

"PetroSur,"saidRed.

HentoffglancedfleetinglyatthebalconyandthenbackattheChallengers."I'vebeenlisteningbehind
thesecretdoorforseveralminutes,"hetoldthem."I'msaddenedbythegeneral'sdemise.Hereallyhad
averygoodchanceofgettingridofChanzaforus."

"Youshouldbeabletofindanothergeneral,"Redsaid."SouthAmericaiscrawlingwiththem."

"Yes,butitwillmean—"

"Kee-rist!"Rockywashopping,pointingtothesunnybalcony."Theoldbastardain'tdead!He'sgetting
upoutofhischair!"

Hentoffturnedtosee.

Reddivedforthefloor,flippedoverandcameupinaperfectpositiontokickHentoffintheabdomen
withbothbootedfeet.Hedidthat.

Doubling,expellingair,gagging,Hentofftriedtousehispistol.

Redkepthimfromdoingthat.HechoppeditfromtheAmerican'shand.

Rockysnorted,chuckling."Theolddodgesarethebest."

TossingHentoffintothegeneral'sdeskchair,Redsaid,"Staythere.""Youthinkhereallywill?"

"Whoandwhat?"

"Giveusmedals,PresidentChanza,"saidRocky.Heletgoofthejeep'ssteeringwheeltopattheplace
onhisbroadchestwherehe'dliketoseethemedalhung.

Redgrinnedoutatthelateafternoonjungletheywerepassingthrough."Notagoodideatoweartoo
manymedals.Theygetcaughtonthings."

"Aw,onelittlemedalwouldbeokay,"saidRocky."And,see,IfigureifIwasadecoratedhero
hereabouts,it'dgivemealittleextraclout."

"Didn'trealizeyouwereintheneedofclout."

Rockyscowled."Don'tlaughnowwhenItellyouthis."

"Promisenotto."

"I'dliketodosomethingforthemlittlekids.Youknow,themlittlekidsinthebarrio.Startsomekindof
charitything,toseetheyallgetshoestowearandtherightfoodtoeat."

Redsaid,"That'saniceidea,Rocky.""WithamedalIcanmaybethrowmyweightaroundmore.I
knowtherearealreadyoutfitstryingtohelpout,buttheyain'tdoingagoodenoughjob."

"OncewegetbacktoSanJames,youcangettoworkonsomething.I'mprettysureChanzawillhelp
you."

"Itstilldependsonifhereallydeliversonthemedal,"saidRocky."Today,whenwewentoverallthe
documentsandstuffwefoundatCuerpo's,plusthatbastardHentoffandthegeneral'sbody...naturally
PresidentChanza'sgoingtobefavorablyinclined.Buthowaboutinafewdays?"

"Sincewehelpedthwartaplottoknockhimoutofoffice,heshouldkeeplookingonuswithfavor,"
saidRed."Ialsothinkhe'sthesortofguywhofollowsthroughonhispromises."

Rockyeasedapacketofcarrotsticksoutofhisroyalpurpletunic."Hadahellofatimefindingorganic
carrotsanywheres.Wantone?"

"Pass."

"Yououghttobemorecarefulwithyourdiet.Otherwiseyou'regoingtoenduplookinglikeGeneral
Cuerpo."

"Okay,I'llhaveone."

"Here,"saidRocky,passingthepacket."Youdon'tthinkProfisgoofy,doyou?"

"Sure,he'sgoofy.Why?"

"WhatI'mgettingatis,didhereallyseethatmonsterinthelake?"

"Hesayshedid."

"Profsaysalotofthingswhichain'teventuallytrue."

"Isense,"saidRedafteranibbleathishunkofcarrot,"somemotivebeneathyourqueries.""IfProf
couldconvince'emthere'samonsterinLakeSombra,thenhecanspendmoretimeouttherewith
June."

"Rocky,doyourememberouractivitiesofearliertoday?Whenweinvadedthegeneral'shousebyway
oftherooftops?"

"Sure,Iremember.What'sthatgottodowithProfmakingtimewithJuney?"

"Whenitcametimetojumpfromrooftoroof,youdidn'thesitate.Youdidn'ttrytothinkupsomealibi
togivetoanybodywhomighthavenoticedus.Yousimplyjumped."

"That'sthebestwaytodoit."

"Exactly,andit'sthesamewithgirls."

"YoumeanIshouldjumpon'em?"

"Notliterally,butyouhavetobeasdirectasyouareintheotherareasofyourlife,"advisedRed."What
I'mtryingtogetyoutosee...Profdoesn'tmakeupyarnsasanexcusetospendtimewithladies.See?"

"He'saprettytrickyguy."

"Tricky,yes,butdirect."

Rockysaid,"Youfigureheain'tbeenoutheremakingpointswithJune?"

"Maybehehas.IfyouwanttogetJuneinterestedinyou,youhavetotakeamoredirectapproach."

"Iain'tcutoutforromancingbroads."

Redsaid,"Maybeyou'llfeeldifferentlyonceyougetyourmedal."

Abluetranquillitysurroundedthem.

"Notabadjalopy,"commentedAce,whowasatthecontrolsoftheborrowedminisub.

"ExactlywhatonewouldexpectfromthepeoplewhogaveustheVolkswagen."Profsatsidewaysinthe
passengerseat,gettingintohisdivinggear.

"Sureyouwanttoheadoutthere?"

"I'mequipped."Hetouchedataholsterriggedaroundhismiddle.

"You'veseenmoreofthiscreature'shandiworkthanIhave.He'saroughone."

"Youhaveaniceflairforunderstatement.Thethingisnotonlyrough,he'sferocious."

"Idon'twanttoseeyoutornlimbfromlimb."

"Youcan,shouldthatsadeventoccur,alwaysavertyoureyes,"Proftoldhim."Wetalkedthisallover
whenwewerestillatourhomebaseinColorado.Thegearwebroughtdownshouldbesufficientto
overcomeourmonster."

"Shouldbe,"saidAceslowly.

"I'mdamncertain,Ace,there'snotanothercreaturelikethisonearth.Iwanttocapturethisone."

Eyesonthemilky-bluewatersofthelakeofshadows,Aceasked,"Youbuythetheorydieoldprofessor
handedJune?Thinkthisthingisanalien,fromsomeotherplanet?"

"Hehasanunearthlyairabouthim.WhichisanotherreasonI'dliketogethimsomeplacewherewecan

studyhim."

Acecheckedthecontrolpanel."We'rejustaboutatthespotwhereyousawhimlastnight."

Nodding,Profgotup."YousureEstherWilliamsstartedthisway?"Heclimbeddowntotheexit
chamber.

Whenhewascompletelyreadytogo,Profallowedthechambertoejecthimoutthebottomhatchand
intothechilllakewaters.

"Wearenowpassingthroughaveritablewaterwonderland,"hesaidintothemicrophonebuiltintohis
breathingmask."AllaboutusMotherNature'swetwondersbeckon—"

"Okay,okay,"cameAce'svoiceintotheearphoneinProf'sdivingcap."Stowthetravelogue."

"OnethingIamnotnoticing,"saidProfashefrog-kickedawayfromtheminisub."Nofish."Heclicked
onthewaterproofunderwaterlightstrappedtohisleftwrist.

"Gocareful,Prof.Couldmeanyourcreature'shangingaroundcloseby."

BubblesfromhisairtankstrailedhimasProfswamlower."WhenIretireIthinkI'llbuyacoupleacres
downhere.Buildmyselfanicelittleundersearanchhouseandsettledown.Orpossiblyanundersea
housingdevelopment.Wantmetoreserve...oops!"

"Something?"

"Seamonsteratthreeo'clock,"saidProfinaslightlyawedvoice."He'sabouttwohundredyardsfrom
meandIcanjustmakehimoutinthelightsfromthesub"

"Getyourselfready."

"NowIlaymedowntosleep,"recitedProf.

"Thegun?Haveyougotitoutandsetformaximum?"

"Ace,Icansafelyassureyou,basedonmyperformancejustnow,thatI'mthefastestguninLake
Sombra."

"Icanseehim,don'tknowifhe...Yep,he'sgoingtocomeatthecabin."

"Noticedthat."Profwasalreadyswimmingbacktowardthestationaryminisub."Getbreathinggearon,
incase—-"

"Pressure'slikelytodomeinifhesmashesthiscabin,butI'mprepared."

InhisbarehandProfheldalong-barreledblackpistol.Therewasaclearplasticbubblewherethe

cartridgecylinderwouldbeonaregularrevolver,andinsidethebubblewasanintricacyofwiresand
tinytubes.

Profnoticedhishandwasquiveringslightly.

Onlyafewfeetdirectlyabovehimwasthewhite-streakedundersideofthecreature.

Itspun,camedivingstraightforhim.

Profswungatthewaterwithhisleftarm,kickedwithhisflipperedfeetandgothimselfoutofthepath
ofthething.

Asitpassedhim,theeyesinitsterriblefaceglareddirectlyintohis.Theywereawesomeeyes,eviland
oddlyglowing.

Profwaselsewhere,allatonce.

Therewasagreenishmistswirlingallaroundhim.Thegroundunderfootwasswampy,suckingathis
scalyfeetashemadehiswayacrossit.

Highabovehim,hugeblackbirdswheeledthroughthemistysky,theirdry,scalywingstintedbya
fuzzyorangesun.Thetreesweretwistedandstunted,smearedwithbluemossthatglowedfaintly.

Tohisright,someone,something,wasmoving.Profwasawareofalargedarkfigurelurchingforward
throughthegreenmist.Theywereboth,herealized,headinginthesamedirectionandsharingthesame
destination.

Therewereothersmovingwiththem,theirshapesformingandfadinginthefluxofthemist.

Hedidn'twanttogothere.Buthecouldnotstophimself.

Atempleloomedsuddenlyupahead.

Builtinastylewhichwasbothvaguelyfamiliarandunsettlinglyalien.Itsgreen-tintedfacadewas
illuminatedbyhundredsofhandheldtorches.Crowdedacrossthetemplecourtyardwerehundredsof
men,eachholdingatorchaloft.

Notmen,no.Creatures,Profrealized.Green,scaly,manlikecreatures.

Creatureslike...himself.

Hehelduphishands.Buttheyweren'this,theyweregreenleatherythings.Clawsprotrudingfromeach
gnarledfinger.

Wherewashe?Wherewasthiselsewhere?Howcouldhe—

"Prof!What'swrong?"cameavoice.

Whowasthat?

Someoneheknew.Someoneheknewontheotherside.

Thedoorwayglowedandthrobbed.Theywereapproachinghim,hundredsofthem,theirfeetraspingon
thestonesofthetemplecourtyard.

Hedidnotwanttocrossthatthreshold,didnotwanttobeginthatexile.

Proftriedtostruggle.Theygrabbedhim,theirroughhandsseekinghisthroat.

"Prof!Prof!I'velostsightofyou!Whereareyou?"

Bluewaterfoamedallaroundhim.

Thetalonedfingerswereathisthroat.

Withanimmenseeffort,Profbroughtupbothkneesandthenshovedwiththem.

Thecreaturewaswrenchedfreeofhim,wentspiral-ingaway.

"Prof!"

"It'sokay,Ace,"herepliedinavoicewhichsoundedtohimveryunlikehisown."Iwasdaydreaming."

"Daydreaming?"

"Tellyoulater."

Thelakecreaturewaschargingathimagain,teethshowinginavicioussnarl.

Profwentsomersaultingoutoftheway.

Butasitpassedhim,itssharp-clawedfingersrakedhisrighthand.

Bloodcameoutinribbonyswirls.

Andthepistolfellfromhisgrip.

Proftwisted,wentdivingafterthefallinggun.

Itplummeteddownanddown,eludinghim,throughthewater.

Thecreaturedidn'tpursuehim.Itwasgoingforthesubagain.

FinallyProf,kickingwithgreatforce,caughtholdoftheweapon.Heclosedbloodyfingersoverthe
stock.

Shininghislightlikeabeaconaheadofhim,hewentclimbingbackthroughthedarkwaters.

Thecreatureglowedabovehim.Itsgreenfistswerepoundingattheglassofthecontrolcabin.

"Prof?"calledAce'svoice.

"Watchout,Acel"

"Youokay?"

"Yeah,merelyamiteclumsy.Hangon."Profswamclosetodieattackingcreature,aimedthegunand
squeezedthetrigger.Anaftershockwentratchetinguphisarm,jerkedhiselbow.

Thehugescalycreaturedealtonemoreblowtothecabin.Itpushedawayfromthesub,turnedtoface
Prof.

Hefiredthestunpistolagain.Shockwaveswentringingthroughthewater.

Thecreaturescreamed,butProfheardnothing.Itsfearfulmouthwaswideopeninacryofpain.

Thoseeyesglowedathimagain,seemingtoburnawaythechurnedwaterbetweenthem.

Profdidn'tgoallthewayelsewherethistime.Butalienimagescametumblingthroughhismind.

Thebleak,mistedlandscape,thegreatblackbirdskitingthroughthemuffledsky.

Thetorches,circling.

Thetempleawaitinghim.

Acreaturedifferentthantheothers,older,incrediblyolder.Arobeofglisteningcrimsonoveritsbent
shoulders.Armsraisedskyward.

Thedoorway.

Exile.

Hedidn'twanttocrossthatthreshold.

Hedidnotwanttoleavehisworldandcrossoverto...

Tohere.

Ahandcamerakingthroughthewater,reachingforhim.

Proffiredyetagain.

Themonster'sarmswentflappingupandthen...

Itwasnolongerthere.

"Begpardon?"mutteredProf.

Thewaterwasagitatedandbubblingattheplacewherethecreaturehadbeen.

"Ace?"

"Yeah,Isaw."

"IthinkIknowwhathappened,thoughI'mnotsureexactlyhow."

"Getyourselfbackinherenow;we'lltalkaboutitwhileweheadforhome."

Profnoticedhewasswimminginaimlessandwideningcircles."Hejustsimplydisappeared,"hesaid.
"Thisstunweaponactedasakeyforhim;itopenedthedooronourside."

"Getbackinhere,"orderedAce.

"Maybehisexileisover,"saidProfasheswamforthehatch."Andweendupwithoutsomuchasa
trophyforthemantel."

"It'sasaddayforAmericanespionage."HoldenChotepluckedaredblossomfromtheflowerbushat
hiselbow."Twoofmymosttrustedagentsprovetobeuntrustworthy."

"Spying'sthatway,"AcetoldtheNEAchiefbywayofconsolation."Youpaypeopletospy,somebody
comesalongandoffersthemhigherpaytospyforthem."

Chote'sporkynosewrinkled."There'sagooddealmorethanmoneytotheespionagetrade,"hesaid.
"I'mawareit'snotcurrentlyfashionabletoappearpatriotic,butIjoinedtheNationalEspionageAgency
originallybecauseIloveAmericaandwanttoserveher."

"Everybodyisn'tlikeyou,"Acesaidfromhiswrought-ironchair."Orhaveyounoticed?"

"DennyYewellinthepayofsomekindofNaziconspirators."Chotewalkedaimlesslyaroundthe
gardenoftheChallenger'srentedhouseintheEreguayancapital."AndAlexHentoff,too.Whatatruly
bizarreturnofevents."

"Don'tforgetPetroSur,anditsparentcompanybackintheStates.Theyhadapartinallthis."

"Thatremainstobeestablished."

"Doesit?"

"IrealizeAlexisclaimingPetroSurfinancedhisdisreputableactivities.Weneedmorethanthewordof
amansuchasheprovedtobe."

"Wantustoinvestigate?"

"Saveyourselvesforthemoresupernaturalproblemsthatarise,"theNationalEspionagemansaid.

Acewatchedtheplumpmanramblearoundthewalledgarden."You'vebeenouttothe.underground
facility?"

"Earliertoday,yes."

"ThesecretoftheEscabarProcessforholdingbackaging.Didyoufindtheformuladownthere?"

"Averydifficultquestiontoanswer,Ace."

"MeaningyoufounditbutNEAandWashingtonwantyoutopretendyoudidn't."

"Youcancometowhateverconclusionyouwish.I'llneitherconfirmnordeny."

"Afteryouboystestouttheformula,whogetstoavailthemselvesofit?"

"IfsuchaProcessdoesexist,andiftheformulaisinthehandsoftheUnitedStatesgovernment,thenit
isuptothatgovernmenttoissueastatementastotheultimatedispositionofthematter."

"Wellput,"saidAce."Haveyoueverconsideredsigningonassomebody'spresssecretary?"

"You'vechosenadifferentpathinlife,"saidChote,circlingabirdbath."Thereforeyou'renotcompelled
todothethingssomeofushavetodo."

"Nobody'scompelledtodoanything."

"EasyforaChallengertosay.Atanyrate,Idon'twanttodebatetheissuefurther,"saidChoteashe

droppedhisfingertipsabsentlyinthewaterofthebirdbath."You'llturnin,Itakeit,afullreportonthe
monster?"

"Soonaswegetbackhome."

Chote'sheadnoddedslowlyafewtimes."WhenIassignedtheChallengersoftheUnknownto
investigatethecreature,I'dheardrumorstherewasmoregoingonintheLakeSombraareathanthe
reappearanceofalegendarymonster.I'mpleasedyouclearedmostofitup."

"Thisguywasn'tlegendary."

Choteasked,"Whatdoyouthinkhappenedtothething?Whydiditsuddenlyvanishonyou?"

"WhenProfwasoutthereinthedepthsofthelakeofshadowsstrugglingwithit,hetunedinonthe
creature'smindapparently,"saidAce."Couldbethethingdidthattoallitsvictims,hypnotizedthem
andgavethemaglimpseintoitshead.Wedon'tknowforsure,sinceProfstheonlyonewholivedafter
aconfrontation.Profthinks,andItendtogoalongwithhim,thatourcreaturewasanexilefromsome
otherworld."

"Otherworld?"Choteblinked."Youmeanaplanet,likeMarsorVenus?"

"He'snotsomebodyourastronautsarelikelytomeetintheimmediatefuture,"Aceanswered."Hemay
havecomefromanotherplanet,aplanetimmeasurablyfarfromourownworld.Orhemayhavecome
fromsomeotherdimension,someunknownworldwhichparallelsourown."

Shakinghishead,Chotedroppedhishandstohissides."They'renevergoingtoacceptanythinglike
thatinWashington."

"OurcreaturewasfromaworldevenstrangerthanWashington."Acegrinnedbriefly."Hecrossedsome
sortofthreshold,foundhimselfhere.Thetypeofgunweusedonhimhelpedhimcrossbackto
whereveritwashecamefrom."

"Thenitmightcomeback?""Might,thoughIsomehowdoubtit.""Well,Icamebytothankyouallfor
thehelpyougaveus,"saidChote."AretherestoftheChallengershere?I'dliketocongratulateeachof
thempersonally."

"Afraidnot.I'mtheonlyoneathome,"saidAce."Everyoneelseisouttryingtocatchuponthe
vacationsthisassignmentinterrupted."

"Perhapsthat'sforthebest,"saidChotewithaslightsigh."Idon'tknowhowmuchgood-natured
kiddingIcouldstandtoday."