In the bleak gray of the following dawn, the captain was shot for theft and conspiracy against the State. But the money was not found among his effects.... * * * * * Brian Shaughnessey, crouched in the concealment of a flowering hedge, heard the footsteps of the guard pass within scant inches of his head. He counted slowly to himself. "... eight ... nine ... ten...." Noiselessly he gathered himself for the silent dash. Watchful waiting had taught him that ten seconds after marching past this bush, the guard turned briefly down a side lane from which the roadway was invisible. A hurried run, a swift and silent dash, would take him to the doorway of the supply warehouse. He crouched, tensed, listened ... then ran. For a big man he made little noise. He had reached his objective with seconds to spare before the guard, returning from the bypath, glanced up and down the main avenue, found all clear, and resumed his rounds. Shaughnessey grinned, slipped into the shadow of the doorway, and fumbled at his belt. He withdrew a metal ovoid, prepared to draw the pin that set its mechanism into operation ... then stopped! His fingers faltered, and he whirled, eyes darting anxiously. For from the darkness, a voice had spoken. "_No, Brian!_" Brian Shaughnessey shook himself like a great, shaggy dog. He was a strong man, a man of great courage. But he was also a superstitious man. Awe dawned now in his eyes. "This is it, then," he whispered to himself. "I'm not long for this world. It ... it's _him_, come to meet me. Well--" He shrugged--"if that's the way it must be, I might as well finish this job--" And again he reached for the pin. But this time the sense of unseen presence was so strong that Brian Shaughnessey could almost feel the grip of ghostly fingers tingling on his wrist. And the voice was louder, clearer. "_No, Brian! Not here!_" "Morris!" cried Shaughnessey starkly, unbelievingly. "Dirk Morris!" "_Hush, you idiot!_" warned the voice. "_You'll bring the guard down upon us!_" "Us?" repeated Brian, baffled. "_Don't toss that grenade here. You're too close to the munitions bins. Here ... let me have it!_" Shaughnessey, stricken with a near-paralysis of awe, felt a curious vibration tingle through his fingers as from his slackened grip the explosive ovoid slipped ... and vanished! He stared about him wildly, gasped, "The grenade! Where did it go? Dirk--" "_Not now!_" whispered the urgent voice. "_Go to Neil. Tell him to gather the Group at the regular place tonight. I will come to you. Now, get out of here. Quickly!_" "B-but I don't understand--" gulped Brian. "_Quickly!_" insisted the voice.