"Fine. And can you make a hole in the bottom as the tank shape passes over the trench?" "I can." "That's what I thought. My idea is that we drop into the trench and the tank continues on. It goes into the forest beyond the camp and as soon as all the troops have followed, you destroy the image." "Instantly?" "If you can." Gowru breathed gustily. "I can create it instantly, but the reverse is not true. It has to fade away, and that takes time." Rains didn't want that, since it would reveal the nature of the tank. "Is there any other way to dispose of it?" "I think so," said Gowru. "I can project it into the forest and let it rise later with a trail of fire. I can imitate a rocket." A rocket tank would give them something to think about. "Excellent. But remember to drop out of sight in the trench. The troops on foot will be concerned with the tank. They won't notice us in the darkness." Gowru nodded and they went on. Presently he spoke. "Here we are." They dropped. The trench was deep and it was near a swamp. They fell into half a foot of water. Overhead, the troops marched away. [Illustration: They fell into half a foot of water, while overhead, troops were marching.] Gowru straightened and looked out. He climbed up and extended his hand, pulling Rains to the top. As they stood there, a trail of fire rose over the forest, the tank image bursting upward and disappearing. It was too soon. The troops wouldn't find anything though they'd scour around. They'd have to return. Rains was aching to empty his shoes of cold water. Together they started out, slinking through the deserted camp. They hurried, but they didn't have much leeway. Soldiers began straggling back. There was no time to look for a trail through the swamp, if there was a trail. They crashed through a dense fringe of vines and fell into the swamp. They had been wet, now they became drenched. Mud clung to them, sticky, foul-smelling slime. Rains could imagine snakes and unspeakable vermin crawling away from them or toward them as they crashed onward. Branches slashed at them, mud sucked them down. Gasping, they floundered away. Anyone could follow their trail. But no one was likely to associate such bedraggled men with the phenomenon that had lately puzzled the best minds of the Indian army.... * * * * * Rains was awakened by a rhythmical thud nearby. He jumped up and looked around and then relaxed. It was Gowru pounding clothing on a flat rock in a pool of brackish water. He had pulverized a native plant and added it to the water, producing a reasonable imitation of soap. Rains wrinkled his nose in disgust. The stench still clung to his body in spite of attempts to wash it off last night before falling asleep. Silently, Gowru gave him some of the soap plant, and he found another pool to bathe in. He emerged feeling much cleaner.