But this was unnecessary, for the Doctors and the Colonel were already descending the ladder. They turned quite white at the sight of her. Wordlessly, she indicated that they were to join the others. The Doctors found it harder to adjust to a purely military sort of emergency. Ankers asked clearly, "What on earth is this nonsense?"
"No nonsense," the girl said. "Just do as I say. First, surrender all your papers."
"Our papers?"
"Your research. Your conclusions. Everything."
Henderson said, "I'll go get it, Ma'am."
"I would also like the Colonel's amusing work on the coming occupation."
"I know where it is, sir," Martin said swiftly. "I'll get it."
The Colonel's expression was stony. He nodded to Martin to get it, and it occurred to him that the girl was one of those whom he had personally selected as the most promising for the puppet governments. But when he asked about her identity, she cut him off without a word.
"Then, may I ask where you learned such flawless English?"
"All of us know English," she said. "It is a very stupid language."