bile. Through the silent city they drove, Baron watching
carefully to avoid striking stalled cars or grotesquely sprawling
bodies.

There was a tangle of wrecked automobiles in the center of the
Queensboro Bridge and they were forced to push them apart to get
through. While they were engaged in this arduous work, a drifting
ferry bumped into a pier, shaking the dreaming captain into a
semblance of life at the wheel.

"I used to like fairy tales," moaned June. "They're dreadful, really."

She clung to him like a frightened child. He drew her close and kissed
her.

"I love you, June," he whispered, as though fearful that the sleeping
drivers of the tangled cars might overhear. "Don't be afraid."

"I'm not--now," she smiled through eyes filled with tears. "I've loved
you for months, Jack. Whatever happens, we have each other."

He helped her back into the car and drove on in silence. At last the
Rothafel plant gloomed before them, forbidding as an Egyptian tomb.
With a feeling that he was entering some forbidden precinct, Jack led
the way to his office. Somehow, without its usual bustle and bright
lights, it seemed alien.

Once inside he forgot his hesitation and set about collecting
equipment--queerly shaped neon tubes, reflectors, coils, electrodes.
Soon there was a pile of material glinting on top of his desk.

They were exploring a deep cabinet with the aid of a flashlight when a
strange clicking sound made them whirl simultaneously. In a corner of
the room a deeper blot of shadow caught their eyes. Jack snapped on
the flash. In the small circle of light a long, cadaverous face
appeared. Thin lips were drawn back over wide-spaced yellow teeth.
Black eyes stared unwinkingly into the light. The flash wavered as the
engineer tried to get his nerves under control.

"It's nothing," he assured the trembling girl. "A night watchman
caught as he was making his rounds, probably. Don't get excited." He
wet his lips.

"He's alive!" screamed June. "The eyelids! They moved!"

* * * * *

"Yes, I'm alive," boomed a hoarse voice. "I thought I was the only man
God had spared. Pardon me for frightening you. I was so
thunderstruck...."

The stranger stepped forward. He was dressed in a long black topcoat,
high collar and string tie. The clicking noise was explained when he
rubbed his long white hands together, making the knuckles pop like
tiny firecrackers.

"Ivan Solinski, at your servic