husky assistants who grabbed Henry.

"Put him in the strong room," quavered the Senior Elder. "Keep him there until the day for punishment."

Roughly Henry was pushed around, led out a rear door to the stage. The day of punishment! Three nights and two days to live!

He awoke the morning of the third night feeling cold. He opened his eyes to find himself in total darkness.

For a moment he thought himself free, hiding out in some deserted building, that all that had happened lately was a dream. But from outside he heard a panicky voice crying that the lights in his apartment were out and it was getting cold.

It had happened! Far sooner than he expected, it had happened!

But what would Theta do? She had gotten away, he was sure, as no one mentioned her. Theta, that was it! She had gone to the plant, pushed the button, condemning herself and all the others to death! But that was not like Theta. She was too clever....

That was it! Why hadn't he thought of it! It was a message, a challenge, a tool which he could use to free himself—get them to help him!

More relaxed, he lay back. Dawn was already showing up over the ridge. More people would be getting up, more people rushing out into the streets in panic. They would remember him, come to his cell imploring him to do something. He would demand what he wanted. They could comply—or face disaster.

What should he demand?

Someone came down the street shouting for the Senior Elder. The volume of excited voices increased with each minute: voices demanding to know why there was no light, no heat, no water. Asking each other if they had them. Hysteria mounting each minute.

Perhaps it would be a time before they thought of him, but they would be before him before the day was over.

"It's that witch in the strong room!" bellowed Ole's voice outside. "He did it by magic! Kill him before he strikes us all dead!"

The cry was taken up, "The witch, kill the witch! He did it! He is right in there, kill him!"

Cold terror seized Henry.

Theta's scheme was backfiring! There would be no reasoning with a superstitious, hysterical mob! Well, at least it hurried things up by a few hours. 

 Prev. P 17/19 next