The Shadow Men by Vogt A. E. Van

Author:Vogt, A. E. Van [Vogt, A. E. van]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NewBook, Science Fiction
Publisher: Startling Stories
Published: 1950-01-04T05:00:00+00:00

AT twenty-four Betty Lane, having been advised that her instability was not rooted in her own childhood, was directed by her personal psychologist to go to the Inter-Time Society for Psychological Adjustment.

She went. An investigation was made and it was decided that the death of Marie Chanette was responsible.

“—and that,” said the voice from the air in front of Cargill, “explains why you are here in this therapy room. Tomorrow morning it will be necessary to kill you in order that the effects of Marie Chanette’s violent death can be nullified. That is all.”

There was silence and it was evident that the speaker had withdrawn.

For an hour Cargill paced the room like a caged animal, his temper steadily gathering strength. But finally his thoughts narrowed back to reality.

He had become dangerous to Grannis and so now he was to be killed. Incredibly the Shadows, despite their vaunted superiority, were going to be destroyed by the schemes of one of their number.

It served them right, Cargill told himself in fury. Imagine setting up a situation whereby their victims couldn’t even talk to them—the silly, stupid fools!

In abrupt rebellion against his fate, he explored the apartment for some means of escape, first the living room, and then—

As he entered the bedroom, Ann Reece was just getting up from the floor. She saw him, and put a finger to her lips.

“Ssssshh!” she said.

Cargill blinked at her with eyes that watered with relief. He could have rushed over and hugged her. He had to restrain himself from racing over to the elongated tube-like instrument which had brought her, grabbing at it and shouting, “Let’s get out of here!” He restrained himself because it was up to her to show if she remembered a previous rescue.

She said, “This time let’s not waste a moment, It’s bad enough having to come twice.”

This time—twice! That was all he wanted to know. Silently, sure of himself again, Cargill grabbed at the tube. He blinked—and it must have happened as quickly as that.

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