Suddenly, the news leaflets became charged with a fresh type of intelligence. At first there was a single item describing the detection of two cases of a new form of disease in the Nitrogen Area. Then, in succeeding issues, the spread of the epidemic was chronicled without comment. PLAGUE SPREADING. TWENTY CASES TO-DAY. The next bulletins contained detailed accounts of the symptoms of the disease, laying stress upon the painful character of the ailment. It was said in some ways to resemble hydrophobia, though its course was more prolonged and the sufferings entailed by it were more severe. Then further accounts of the extension of the scourge were rained down from the sky: PLAGUE TOTAL: 10,000 CASES. NO RECOVERIES. Hitherto the news had confined the Plague to the Nitrogen Area; and people had not thought it would spread beyond these limits; but in the next stage of the propaganda this hope was taken from them. The messages to Southern England described how the disease had made its appearance in Newcastle and in Hull; those leaflets intended for the western districts also gave the same information. In the North of England, the intelligence took the form of accounts of the discovery of the plague in London. In every case, care was taken that there was no direct communication between the “affected centre” and the spots where the news was dropped. The penultimate series of publications was in the form of lists of precautions to be taken to avoid the disease. It was described as contagious and not infectious; and people were advised to avoid mingling with their neighbours as far as possible. Complete isolation would ensure safety, since it had been established that the plague was not air-borne. Horrible details of the sufferings of patients were also published. Finally, the last group of leaflets represented a steady crescendo. ENORMOUS SPREAD OF PLAGUE IN NITROGEN AREA. 100,000 CASES. SPREAD OF PLAGUE THROUGH ENGLAND. ONLY A FEW DISTRICTS FREE. NITROGEN AREA DECIMATED. POPULATION DYING IN THE STREETS. DOOM IN THE CLYDE VALLEY. TOTAL FAILURE OF NITROGEN SCHEME. DEATH OF NORDENHOLT. The ultimate message was hurriedly printed with blotched type: THE NITROGEN AREA IS ALMOST UNINHABITED, THE REMAINDER OF THE POPULATION HAVING FLED IN PANIC. THE PLAGUE IS SPREADING BROADCAST OVER ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND. ISOLATE YOURSELVES, OTHERWISE SAFETY IS IMPOSSIBLE. After this had been dropped from the air, the skies remained empty. No aeroplanes appeared.