The Leader stopped and regarded her uncertainly. "You American vooman spy, hah?" he demanded. "You think you smart. Vell, you be dad soon, vhat you think, hay?" "I think you're going to be reasonable and do what I say, hey," Toffee answered firmly. "Either that or you're going to get the surprise of your life." "Who iss you anyway?" "An avenging angel," Toffee said. "That'll do for now." "Nonsanse!" the Leader snorted. "No soch thing angel. Anyvay, angel vould not say dorty vords, make soldiers drop things." "Okay," Toffee said, "so I'm no angel. You're right there, pop. But I'm avenging, and don't you forget it." * * * * * A new thought crossed the seething mind of the Leader. "You know who you talk to so mean?" "Sure, Mac," Toffee said. "I know you." "Than I tall you drop dad, you gotta do it, hah?" "Huh-uh," Toffee said, shaking her head. "And let's have no more sass about killing people. Now let's get down to brass doorpulls...." But just at that moment the soldiers outside not only got down to doorpulls, but pulled them: the room began to swarm. "If I'd knew you were coming," Toffee said, "I'd have baked a snake." Nevertheless, she retreated warily. The guards paused uncertainly before her and started babbling among themselves. "Now!" the Leader said triumphantly. But Toffee pointed imperiously to the gabby guards. "What are those birds saying about me?" she demanded. "I've got a right to know." The Leader paused to listen, then nodded with comprehension. "Forst man say he think you foreign spy because you look nothing like voomans from this country. Other man say he's right because if you var from here you vould haf thick lags like his wife who iss von big slob. Forst man say he can say that again for his vife who iss so big slob you gotta say it twice to describe her." The Leader paused to consider this exchange and suddenly smote his brow. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "Now iss clear! You deganerate product of America sant har to make men unrastful with slobbish female population. So!" "It's a side-line I hadn't thought of," Toffee said and smiled engagingly at the guards. "But if you think it'll work...." "Iss no good you viggle around and look saxy," the Leader put in sullenly. "You gonna get shot good, you deganerate boopsy daisy." He turned to the guards and shouted an order which had but one meaning in any language. The men instantly formed a single rank with mechanical precision and raised their rifles toward Toffee, albeit with a certain gleam of reluctance in their eyes. "Now you gonna gat it," the Leader said. But Toffee only smiled. "I've told you," she said, "I'm an avenging angel. And we angels are practically indestructible."