And as I blinked, the light coalesced into a form! It was, roughly, the form of a man—and from where its head should be there came a strange, strained, hollow voice.

"Ombiggs!"

Then the light flickered, and was gone, and with it was gone the voice and the last vestige of my self-control. I let loose one squawk—out loud!—and dived for the darkness and comparative security of the region under the couch!

Not so Hank. He stood stockstill in the middle of the floor. I yelled at him,

"Hank, did you do that? Did you touch something on the radio?"

There was a faint, puzzled look on his face.

"Nope, Jim. I didn't do nothin'. Did you see him, too?"

"I saw him. Whoever he was. But who—how?"

"I dunno." Slowly. "Leastwise, the only thing I can think of is so durn unlikely—Hey, listen!"

The radio music had stopped suddenly. The voice of the announcer was clear, crisp, ominous.