Menace of the Saucers
Page 13
“I know, I know,” said Thane. “You request that I never reveal this to anyone on earth. I promise.”
“That may not be good enough,” said Thalkon half-apologetically, “human nature being what it is. So—”
He took a medallion out of his pocket and held it before Thane’s eyes. HONORARY MEMBER, GALACTIC VIGILANTE CORPS, SOL-EARTH SPECIAL AGENT.
“—we invite you into our ranks, sealing your lips according to our code. Do you accept, Thane Smith?”
“I’m honored,” said Thane simply and sincerely. “But do I have any…well, actual duties as a ‘special agent,’ whatever that means?”
“It means you will be called upon by us, whenever necessary, in case earth becomes the target of a new menace. The defeat of Morli will leave a vacuum here. Other predatory worlds may step in. What your duties will then be, we cannot foretell.”
He waved a hand. “But otherwise, you will simply resume your earth life, as before—with one change. You will have a wife. That is, after you’re duly married in the earthly style.”
Miribel still did not blush but stared back at Thane boldly. “Yes, I asked for earth duty along with you, Thane.” Then suddenly she was shy. “You of course have the right to refuse.”
“I accept,” grinned Thane, “Mrs. Miribel Smith-to-be.”
* * * *
“Listen to this TV news item, dear,” called Thane. “For laughs.”
Miribel came in from the kitchen, wiping her hands. On the screen, a news commentator told of a new sighting. A switch to videotape showed the witness, a respected professor, who recounted his story.
“It was a dancing light in the sky at first, coming down. It seemed about to crash to earth. Amazingly, however, it came to a dead halt 500 feet over me. Then I could clearly distinguish its shape, similar to two pie-plates placed together. Definitely metallic and powered. Definitely a machine.”
The commentator came on again, a slight smile quivering at his lips, as he introduced the next videotape guest, a member of Air Force’s Blue Book Staff.
The well-groomed officer who appeared spoke emotionlessly, without a hint of sarcasm. “After thorough study, and consultation with dozens of scientific experts, we have come to the conclusion that the professor was unknowingly deceived. It was the planet Venus that he saw, low over the horizon, where the refraction of the atmosphere can distort its image into many queer shapes—such as that of a flying saucer.”
The officer stared out at the audience, his well-schooled face under control: “The Air Force wishes to emphasize again that there is no evidence whatsoever that UFO’s, or flying saucers, are real objects, ships from other worlds driven by extraterrestrial beings, exist. Thank you.”
“That,” sighed Thane, “is where I came in.” He turned to look out the window. The world beyond lay in total ignorance. “It’s a pretty lonely feeling, being the only man on earth who knows the truth….”