Childhood's End Read Online Free PDF Page B

several days, he might be anywhere on Earth.
    The torch-light illuminated a pile of clothes draped over a packing-case.
    "This should be enough for you," said the voice from the darkness. "Laundry's rather a problem here, so we grabbed a couple of your suits and half a dozen shirts."
    "That," said Stormgren without humour, "was very considerate of you."
    "We're sorry about the absence of furniture and electric Light. This place is convenient in some ways, but it rather lacks amenities."
    "Convenient for what?" asked Stormgren as he climbed into a shirt. The feel of the familiar cloth beneath his fingers was strangely reassuring.
    "Just-convenient," said the voice. "And by the way, since we're likely to spend a good deal of time together, you'd better call me Joe.
    "Despite your nationality," retorted Stormgren, "you're
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    E'olish, aren't you?-I think I could pronounce your real name.
    Et won't be worse than many Finnish ones."
    There was a slight pause and the light flickered for an distant.
    'Well, I should have expected it," said Joe resignedly.
    "You must have plenty of practice at this sort of thing."
    "It's a useful hobby for a man in my position. At a guess I ihould say you were brought up in the United States but didn't ~eave Poland Until-"
    "That," said Joe firmly, "is quite enough. As you seem to save finished dressing-thank you."
    The door opened as Stormgren walked towards it, feeling nildly elated by his small victory. As Joe stood aside to let aim pass, he wondered if his captor was armed. Almost cer~ainly he would be, and in any case he would have friends around.
    The corridor was dimly lit by oil lamps at intervals, and for the first time Stormgren could see Joe clearly. He was a man Df about fifty, and must have weighed well over two hundred pounds. Everything about him was outsize, from the stained battledress that might have come from any of half a dozen armed forces, to the startlingly large signet ring on his left band. A man built on this scale probably would not bother to carry a gun. It should not be difficult to trace him, thought Stormgren, if he ever got out of this place. He was a little de-. pressed to realize that Joe must also be perfectly well aware of this fact.
    The walls around them, though occasionally faced with concrete, were mostly bare rock. It was dear to Stormgren that he was in some disused mine, and he could think of few more effective prisons. Until now the fact of his kidnapping had failed to worry him greatly. He had felt that, whatever happened, the immense resources of the Overlords would soon locate and rescue him. Now he was not so sure. He had already been gone several days-and nothing had happened. There must be a limit even to Karellen's power, and if he were indeed buried in some remote continent, all the science of the Overlords might be unable to trace him.
    There were two other men sitting at the table in the bare, dimly lit room. They looked up with interCst, and more than a little respect, as Stormgren entered. One of them pushed across a bundle of sandwiches which Stormgren accepted
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    eagerly. Though he felt extremely hungry, he could have done with a more interesting meal, but it was probable that his captors had dined no better.
    As he ate, he glanced quickly at the three men around him.
    ~oe was by far the most outstanding character, and not merely In the matter of physical bulk. The others were clearly his assistants-nondescript individuals, whose origins Stormgren would be able to place when he heard them talk.
    Some wine had been produced in a not-too-aseptic glass,
    and Stormgren washed down the last of the sandwiches.
    Feeling now more fully in command of the situation, he turned to the huge Pole.
    'Well," he said evenly, "perhaps you'll tell me what all this Is about, and just what you hope to get out of it."
    Joe cleared his throat.
    "I'd like to make one thing straight," he said. "This is nothing to do with Wainwright. He'll be as surprised as