to earth.

A few surprised early risers saw them flashing across the sky; saw them
land; saw the mutants, armed with focus rods, step out and adjust
themselves to the openness all around them. Hate was stamped plainly on
the mutants' faces. They took their time, adjusting their focus rods for
death and destruction. The few earthlings who saw them waited or fled or
advanced with curiosity.

At the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, a saucer landed in the
third cortile. The three jump towers to the left were like bony fingers
pointing accusingly at the sky.

* * * * *

The troops, alerted, uncertain as to what they were waiting for, were
lounging in the barracks. Their orders had been changed several times in
the last few days. An orderly coming from "C" Company rec hall saw the
saucer first. He watched the female mutant get out, look around,
shudder and shrink upon herself beneath the horrible, distant sky.

He went to report it to the O.D.

The female began to adjust her focus rod.

At the airport across the Chattahoochee River in Alabama, five
battalions of paratroops were waiting assignment. They had been briefed
on their jobs less than twelve hours ago. Cargo planes warmed up off the
runways, poised for service.

The hastily organized message center was the focus of frantic activity.
A teletype chattered. Telephones from radar stations rang and were
answered. A harried clerk slipped a scribbled slip to a major waiting
beside the desk. He read it, whistled, and trotted toward the main body
of troops.

"There's one over in the third cortile."

A nervous captain stood up and field-stripped his cigarette. "Want me to
jump--or take a truck?"

"Jump," the major said. "There's planes."

"Yes, sir."

"Load the third platoon," the captain called.

A transport, under instruction from a colonel, wheeled onto the runway.

The colonel came running up. "Load that platoon for Birmingham,
Captain," he ordered. "Radar traced one down there."

"There's one in the third cortile on the Main Post," the major said.

"Get it with the next plane," the colonel said.

The major trotted off to get a plane.

The captain told a lieutenant: "Take the fourth platoon, Hawkins."

The lieutenant saluted self-consciously. He crossed to his assignment
and began to check his men's equipment. The men pulled nervously at
their parachute harnesses and puffed at their cigarettes. "Don't forget
t