"This cavern you were talking about, Mallory. Take us there! We'll all be blown to bits--" Joe Sanders' nose wrinkled, he looked at the airman disgustedly, and spat. Mingled with my own contemptuous reaction to Krassner's demand, I felt a warming glow of pride in my men. Each of them had realized, as had Maureen and I, that the only safe place was the underground shelter. But each of them had wanted, before we took to that refuge, at least one vengeful poke at the enemy. Quivering capitulation like this rubbed them the wrong way. But Mallory, serene as ever, had already led the way to the secret entrance. He pressed the knobs, the door swung open. I was beside Krassner as he did so; I saw the look of surprise on the aviator's face as he saw the long tunnel that fed to the depths beneath. I couldn't restrain the taunt. "Thought Mallory was insane, eh, Krassner? Does this look like the work of a madman?" He muttered something incoherent. Then Pelham-Jones, whose squad had been quartered farthest from the main house, burst into the room excitedly. "They're landing foray parties, Brian! How long will it take to get everyone out of here?" I glanced at Mallory. He said, "Fifteen or twenty minutes, at least." "And to get the _Jefferson's_ motors started?" "Another ten." "Then," I snapped, "you'll need protection for a half hour. That's what we're here for. Bruce, Rudy, Raoul, split your squads. Send half below; have the others throw a cordon about the laboratory. If they're dropping infantry, they'll have to stop bombing. By the time they find us, the others will be below. Then we'll take to the cavern--" "Very good, sir!" They sprang into action. * * * * * The women continued to file singly into the small dark-room, pass through the doorway into the tunnel. Maureen clutched my arm. "Brian, you don't have to stay up here. You're too important. You're the leader. You've got to--" "--to stay with my men!" I told her quietly. And I did what I had been wanting to do, but had never before dared. I took her, unresisting, into my arms; kissed her. Her lips were warm against mine. Then I pushed her toward the doorway. "Get down there. Don't worry about us. If we hold our fire it will take them a long time to locate us. Danny, where did Krassner go?" Danny grimaced. "That yellow mutt? Don't ask me. He's probably down there by now, hugging a stalactite." "Well, to hell with him. Let's get going. And don't forget--don't fire a shot unless they actually see us. We don't want to give our position away." Mallory said quietly, "I'll herd them below as fast as I can, Brian. When you hear the signal, bring your men on the double. But before you leave the laboratory, you know what must be done?" He nodded significantly toward the inner room, toward the trebly-barred door that contained a world's fate. I nodded. "I know."