CHAPTER V
Alan awoke after an hour of nightmare-ridden sleep. He opened his eyes and got quietly out of bed and put on his tweed suit and a pair of loafers, and walked out of the house without disturbing the slumber of Brave.
He went down to the main road and walked along it in the moonlight toward a distant group of buildings. Presently a soldier stepped into his path.
"Halt and identify yourself."
"I am Dr. Alan Rackham of Fuel Research. My security number is A10C14B44."
The soldier looked at him a moment and then his eyes glittered. "Pass, friend," he said, and standing aside he watched Alan go on toward the buildings. There was a cynical smile on the soldier's mouth.
Alan came to a squat flatroofed structure like a concrete shed. He knocked on the door. It opened and he went in. One weak bulb burned in a lamp. There was a tall man standing there in the shadows. He shook hands with Alan.
"Welcome, companion. Just sit down here."
Alan seated himself on a stool. The other passed along two walls and in succession a number of vivid lights flared out, bathing Alan in their burning radiance. He did not blink, but looked steadily and fixedly ahead.
Greetings, said the voice.