Lanterman added, with a certain complacency, "All the fools went, and left their houses, cars, cities. Left 'em to those of us who wasn't fools! That's why we gathered together. Figured we might as well pick up what they'd left. We got near a hundred men together, I said, 'Boys, let's quit picking over these empty villages and take a real rich town. Let's go up to Pittsburgh.'" One of the farmer-men said gloomily, "Only this Bauder had the idea first. _His_ bunch took over Pittsburgh, as we found out." Lanterman's eyes flashed. "But they're not going to keep it! Since we first tried it, we've got a lot more men. One or two joining us every few days. We'll show Bauder's outfit something this time!" Of a sudden, the strangeness of the scene struck at Wales. A few years before, this quiet old country courthouse had been the center of a busy, populous town, of a county, a nation, a world. Now world and nation were drained of most of their people. An Earth almost de-populated lay quiet, awaiting the coming of the destruction from space. Yet men who did not believe in that destruction, men in little bands, were, with the passing of all law, contending for the possession of the great evacuated cities. Lanterman stood up. "Well, what about it, Wilson? You want to join up with us and take Pittsburgh away from Bauder? Man, the loot there'll be--liquor, cars, food, everything!" * * * * * Wales knew he had no real choice, that even though it was a maddening interruption to his search for Kendrick, he must pretend to accede. But he thought it best not to agree too readily. "About Pittsburgh, I don't care," he said. "It's Castletown I want to get to--and my girl." "Ho," said Lanterman, "I'll tell you what. You join up with us and I'll give you Castletown, all for your own. Of course, I'll still be boss of the whole region." Wales made another attempt for information. "I've heard of this Brotherhood of Atonement," he said. "Are you with that outfit?" Lanterman swore. "That bunch is _crazy_. No sense to 'em at all. Hell, no, we're not Atoners." Wales said, slowly, "Well, looks like if I and my girl decide to stay, we'd better be in your bunch. Sure, I'll join." Lanterman clapped him on the back. "You'll never regret it, Wilson. I've got some big ideas. Those that stick with me will get more'n their share of everything. Pittsburgh is only the start." He added impressively, "You're joining at a lucky time. For tonight's when we're taking Pittsburgh." The young, dark man snarled, "If he's a spy, then letting him know that will--" "You're too suspicious, Harry," said Lanterman. "He's no spy. He's come." He looked down at the dark young man. "All right, Harry, you take your bunch along now. And you remember not to start things till you hear our signal." Ten cars, with thirty-odd men in them, pulled out of the main street in the twilight. Harry was in the first car, and they headed south out of town.