Double, Double by John Brunner

Author:John Brunner [Brunner, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780575101494
Publisher: Hachette Littlehampton
Published: 2011-09-29T06:00:00+00:00

The night watchman at the Organic Acids plant moved off on the latest of his regular tours of the grounds. He was getting rather tired now, but he had still some six or more hours before the daytime gatekeeper turned up to relieve him. With the circle of brightness from his torch going ahead of him like a firefly, he moved between the fences of piping that connected the tanks.

Suddenly he checked. Ahead, coming toward him from the wharf at which the barges docked to deliver their raw materials, he had seen a shadowy figure.

“Hey!” he called out, and hurried forward, taking a fresh grip on the truncheon that was his only weapon. He was not a young man, and running was difficult for him, but he had no trouble in catching up with the intruder, who stood still as though waiting for him.

Puzzled, he saw by the light of the torch that it was an elderly woman, very shabby. He said uncertainly, “What the—?”

And she lunged at him. He cried out and raised his truncheon, jumping away from her, thinking she must be crazy. She came after him, hands raised like claws, and made a second grab. This time she managed to catch his sleeve. The cloth tore, and for an instant he felt a burning sensation. He yelled, and this time—in pure reflex—used the truncheon. It landed on her right arm with a smacking noise.

Her grip broke. Turning tail, he doubled for the safety of the gatehouse, where there were bright lights and the cheerful music from Radio Jolly Roger. He dashed inside, slammed the door, and picked up the phone.

“Police, quick!” he shouted to the operator who answered his call. “There’s a crazy old—”

Checking, he turned to the window. Outside there was a noise of engines. Cars with blue lights on top were pulling up before the gate.

“It’s all right,” he said rather foolishly to the phone. “They’re here. Lord knows why, but they’re here!”

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