As they moved closer to the barrier all hope collapsed.
The guard in charge was the same one they had encountered at their homes during the night, and he was still smarting under the Master’s sarcasm at the unexpected disappearance of a number of feminine garments.
“Oh, you again!” he exclaimed, as he beheld the three in the new autobus. “And you—!” He looked at Lucy.
“Last night you said you were Worker Ten and, so far, you haven’t reported to headquarters to verify that fact. We happen to know that Worker Ten is dead, so what is your explanation?”
“Mistaken identity,” Clem said frankly.
“You mean spying! This woman’s responsible among others for corroding steel, crazy beech trees, rotting leather, and a host of—”
“Rotting leather?” Clem repeated, surprised. “Who told you about his pants’ belt?” and he looked at Buck.
“Pants’ belt?” The guard stared. “I’m talking about my gun-holster strap!” he roared. “Even that isn’t safe from these damned spies! It broke without reason when I was standing right in front of the Master! And this morning, not half an hour ago, my boots broke in two! Better start explaining things, you,” he went on, glaring at Lucy. “There’s some low-down trickery going on and if anybody can say what it’s all about it’s you!”
“But — but I can’t!” Lucy stammered, glancing back nervously as traffic to the rear kept a continuous chorus of siren blowing at the long delay.
“And those clothes I took!” the guard fumed. “They were yours, weren’t they? Weren’t they?”
“Yes — yes,” Lucy agreed nervously.
“I thought so! Then you tell me why they disappeared from their bag without anybody being near them! No clothes can do that ordinarily! I hardly knew it had happened, because being silk they were light, but they went, and I want to know why!”
“I can’t explain it,” Lucy protested. “Honest I can’t.”
The guard narrowed his eves and whipped out his atom-gun. “Out of that car!” he ordered. “All of you. It’s time the Master had a talk with—”
Then Buck’s mighty fist lashed up suddenly and slammed straight into the guard’s face. He howled with pain and went flying backwards, collapsing some six feet away. Without a second’s pause Clem flung in the car switches and sent the vehicle flashing forward.
It whipped through the scattering line of officers clutching at their atom-guns. Within seconds they were left behind. Clinging to the steering-gear Clem stared ahead of him fixedly, dodging around and behind the traffic in front of him. Then at last he managed to merge the vehicle into the swirling tide of autobuses and transports flowing out of the city’s heart.
“I hope you realize what sort of a mess we can get into now,” he panted, glancing at Buck. “We’ll be tracked down for hitting an officer.”
“Give them a run for their money, anyway,” Buck retorted. “Better all three of us get arrested than just Ancient.”
Clem became silent, mainly because he inwardly agreed with his tough, impulsive friend. Lucy herself did not say anything. She sat with tight lips between the two men, realizing more than ever the complicated, dangerous tangle she had plunged into since arriving in 3004.
“Okay, here we go,” Clem said at length, and twisted the car off into a side-alley, thereby joining up with the normal route beyond the sundered bridge. Continuing at the same terrific speed it was not long before he gained the immense underground ramp, which led to the site of the Protection Tower foundations.
Once below, speeding through the long tunnels, all three began to breathe more freely.
“All right so far,” Clem said grimly, clambering out at last. “Get the boys to work, Buck. Just at this moment I’ve got some figuring to do. If it works out right it may save us from the lethal chamber.”
“Eh?” Buck asked blankly. “Figuring? What sort of figuring?”
“Well, let’s say itemizing. I’ll need you to help me, Lucy. Carry on, Buck. I’m staying right here. I want to get any news reports that may come through.”
Though he was clearly bewildered Buck did as he was told. Clem watched him heading away towards the site of operations, then he took the girl’s arm and led her into the portable little building which served as a headquarters. He motioned her to a chair and she sat down.
“Lucy,” he said quietly, regarding her, “I’m forming a most extraordinary theory about you — and it is the fact that it may be right that frightens me.”
“Frightens you?” Lucy’s eyes were wide. “W-why?”
“I have the feeling,” Clem continued, “that some of the amazing things which keep happening may be directly attributable to you. The steel bridge, the beech trees, even Buck’s pants’ belt and the guard’s holster belt.”
“Attributable to me? That’s impossible! Clem, what in the world are you talking about?”
“A scientific possibility,” he replied, musing. “As you know I am a scientist, though I don’t pretend to be an extremely good one. Like all scientists, though, I get ideas and like to work on them. Now, let me do a bit of notating.”
From the desk he picked up a notebook and began to write down various items. Lucy watched as the words appeared under his swift handwriting:
Steel Bridge.
Steel Flywheel.
Steel Building Supports.
Beech Trees.
Leather Belts and Boots (Guard’s)
Silk Clothes.
“What’s all that for?” Lucy enquired.
“I’m just listing the things that have been affected strangely. Tell me, those clothes of which you rid yourself, were they all silk? Every one of them?”
“Yes. Even the stockings.”
“I see. That seems to suggest that—” Clem thought for a moment and then changed the subject. “How many clothes are you wearing now that you wore in your own time?”
“None. Mrs. Cardew supplied everything I’ve got, including undergarments.…”
Clem made a whistling noise with his teeth. “Things are getting awfully complicated,” he said. “If I can only find the right scientific relationship to explain all this I’ll be able to prove to the hilt that you really are a girl from the past. Then the Master will not only believe you, he’ll honor you. I only hope you don’t cause too much trouble in the meantime.”
“Trouble?” Lucy repeated. “But, Clem, the very last thing I want to do is cause trouble to anybody.”
“Not you personally, I don’t mean — but the various things connected with you—”
Clem broke off and glanced towards the civic loudspeaker as it came to life. First came a dreary routine statement of city matters, and then the announcer continued: “A series of incidents, which may be considered either ludicrous or alarming, depending upon how one looks at it, are reported from various centers this morning. Many men and women, for instance, have found themselves suddenly without any footwear, their boots and shoes have either crumpled to powder in certain sections or, in more extreme cases have vanished entirely without explanation! Similar things have happened to men’s and women’s belts and to handbags, briefcases, and even leather trunks.…”
Clem crouched in silence at the desk, listening. Lucy was staring at the loudspeaker as though she were paralyzed.
“A further case is reported of General Brandon Urston who examining our defenses in case of Eastern invasion, found himself with his ray-gun charges, and the charges themselves, lying on the ground. Every supporting belt had gone. From Sector Fifty there is news of a cattle disease. It appears that pigs, cows, hulls, oxen, and various other species of animals are dying. The disease seems to be a form of rapid senility, followed in most cases by actual disintegration, which so far has the veterinary experts and scientists baffled.… Stand by please for Regulation Announcements.”