Desperation and Decision
being
organized. We think this organization gets very young children and
starts them out with small jobs. They graduate to bigger things and
get sent all around the world. What connects them is that they are
all drilled in a common system protocol – respond with violence and
kill if necessary to keep free and prevent identification."
    "Then our chap failed miserably," Doctor Mac
commented.
    "Right," Mr. Campbell nodded. "But I don't
think they counted on your getting help from a half-naked jungle
denizen and a black panther."
    "Yes, about that -- " Doctor Mac began.
    Mr. Campbell interrupted him. "Phoebe, when
are the others due in?"
    "All through the night," Phoebe replied.
    "You're sure none of them need to be
met?"
    Phoebe replied, "Sue has her own
transportation, of course. The river authority was reluctant, but I
was persuasive."
    "Mmmm. You can be very persuasive." Mr.
Campbell bent down and kissed his wife.
    Madame Moore-Campbell tapped his nose to come
up for air and went on. "Mowgli and his family came to London with
us, of course. Dr. Twist insisted on making all the other
arrangements. I only hope he doesn't frighten any of them
away."
    I glanced sidelong at Doctor Twist, who
grinned and rubbed his hands together as if he looked forward to
frightening these mysterious "others".
    "Hah! Maybe it's a good test of their
resolve. So, Mac and I will go see if we can question the boy who
tried to rob him. Want to tag along, Florizel? Twisty?"
    "It's time for me and Tod to get started
frightening the other recruits," Twist demurred. "We shall go up
and then you can go down."
    Doctor Mac growled and rose unwillingly from
his comfortable chair, shedding the satin jacket and donning his
overcoat and blue goggles. His wife sweetly made sure his coat was
buttoned and his scarf securely wound about his neck. I readily
agreed to accompany them, very curious to know more of this
kidnapping incident and as hopeful as they were of getting someone
to question.

    We were destined to learn nothing, however.
The boy was gone, the constable on desk duty informed us when we
got him to admit there had actually been a pickpocket incident that
evening.
    "I thought surely he would be held
overnight," Doctor Mac snapped at the fellow.
    "How was he released so soon?" Mr. Campbell
demanded.
    More constables were called. Papers were
shuffled. Whispered conversations were held. The upshot was that no
one knew. Everyone thought someone else had him, or someone else
was doing the paperwork.
    "He's clean vanished from under their noses,"
Doctor Mac growled as we emerged into the drizzle once more.
    "They have no idea who he was or where to
find him," Mr. Campbell mocked.
    "In the midst of all that confusion, is it
not odd that everyone agreed upon one thing?" I said. "The
constable walked in with his collar and vanished off the face of
the earth. How can that have happened?"
    "Well, among other things, your highness,
that's why we called you in," Mr. Campbell said grimly. "By the
way, we insist you take a room for the night downstairs, as our
guest. We have a few more things to go over with you before
tomorrow's meeting and it's already far too late for you to go home
to your place." I was too intrigued to do other than accept.
    "There are quite a few more things I would
still like to know," Doctor Mac began as we arrived back at the
penthouse sitting room. The two ladies graciously helped us strip
out of our wet things. Madame Moore-Campbell then repaired to a
curious credenza-like furnishing in a niche outside the suite she
and her husband shared. The cabinet rotated and presented file
drawers by clockwork and steam power as she operated a series of
levers. She extracted and handed to Doctor Mac and his wife a
folder of documents.
    "These seem to be biographical sketches,"
Doctor Mac commented.
    "They are," Madame Moore-Campbell nodded.
"They will acquaint you with the people we have asked to join our
company, and will help prepare you for our
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