n the identification, "leech," was a
humanizing factor. O'Donnell was dealing with it as he would any
physical obstacle, as though the leech were the simple equivalent of a
large army.

But the leech was not human, not even of this planet, perhaps. It should
be dealt with in its own terms.

"Here come the bright boys now," O'Donnell said.

* * * * *

From a nearby tent a group of weary men emerged, led by Allenson, a
government biologist.

"Well," the general asked, "have you figured out what it is?"

"Just a minute, I'll hack off a sample," Allenson said, glaring through
red-rimmed eyes.

"Have you figured out some _scientific_ way of killing it?"

"Oh, that wasn't too difficult," Moriarty, an atomic physicist, said
wryly. "Wrap it in a perfect vacuum. That'll do the trick. Or blow it
off the Earth with anti-gravity."

"But failing that," Allenson said, "we suggest you use your atomic
bombs, and use them fast."

"Is that the opinion of your entire group?" O'Donnell asked, his eyes
glittering.

"Yes."

The general hurried away. Micheals joined the scientists.

"He should have called us in at the very first," Allenson complained.
"There's no time to consider anything but force now."

"Have you come to any conclusions about the nature of the leech?"
Micheals asked.

"Only general ones," Moriarty said, "and they're about the same as
yours. The leech is probably extraterrestrial in origin. It seems to
have been in a spore-stage until it landed on Earth." He paused to light
a pipe. "Incidentally, we should be damned glad it didn't drop in an
ocean. We'd have had the Earth eaten out from under us before we knew
what we were looking for."

They walked in silence for a few minutes.

"As you mentioned, it's a perfect converter--it can transform mass into
energy, and any energy into mass." Moriarty grinned. "Naturally that's
impossible and I have figures to prove it."

"I'm going to get a drink," Allenson said. "Anyone coming?"

"Best idea of the week," Micheals said. "I wonder how long it'll take
O'Donnell to get permission to use the bomb."

"If I know politics," Moriarty said, "too long."

* * * * *

The findings of the government scientists were checked by other
government scientists. That took a few days. Then Washington wanted to
know if there wasn't some alternative to exploding an atomic bomb in the
middle of New York State. It too