"It isn't in my head," Jimmy said violently. "I saw him. He stepped on the ground and stuck his foot into it. I talked to him. And I know something else. He stutters."
"What?" said the sheriff. "Now I know you're lying."
The father started dragging the boy by the arm. "Come on home, Jimmy. You got one more licking coming."
Jordan, however, was sure the boy was not lying. "Leave him alone," he said. "He's right. He did see him." He took a fast look at the timepiece on his panel board. "I'll be down in an hour and a half. Wait for me."
He flicked the switch off, and kicked up the motors. The ship shot southward almost as rapidly as a projectile.
He had topped the Sierras and had just turned into the great central valley of California when, with the impact of a blow, a frightening thought occurred to him.
He flicked the screen on again, and he caught the sheriff sitting behind his desk industriously scratching himself in one armpit.
"Listen," Jordan said, speaking very fast. "You've got to send out a national alarm. You must get every man you can down to the power plant. You've got to stop him from getting in."
The sheriff stopped scratching himself and stared at Jordan.
"What are you so het up about, young man?"