Page:Amazing Stories Volume 10 Number 13.djvu/60

58 the Agriculturalists, he would not be here today. As a diplomat he is the greatest boor in the Union. Quick of temper, he is as friendly as a Siberian wild-cat.)"

"(He is sitting right next to the Commissar of the Interior. I hope he keeps his vulgar mouth shut, Vassily, or anything may happen.)"

Suddenly all stood up. A tall, slim ascetic-looking man joined them. He bowed and shook hands with several of the delegates.

"(Who is he, Vassily?)"

"(It's Shito Kanuchi, the Japanese Envoy! Watch him closely. Study every movement of his features! He is the man we have to worry about.)"

The conference began and progressed rapidly. Several problems seemed to come up and were quickly settled. At once, the watchers saw a look of tenseness come over the faces of the diplomats. Anton Yousopoff was on his feet gesticulating wildly. His face was purple with anger. Vainly, his compatriot, the Commissar of the Interior tried to calm him, but the exhibition of vulgarity went on.

Now Kanuchi stood up and gracefully motioned for quiet but without effect. In a burst of uncontrolled fury, Yousopoff hurled a heavy inkwell into the Japanese's dignified face!

The watchers could hear nothing, but they imagined the uproar. However it lasted but a moment as Kanuchi lifted the unsigned Peace treaty in his long-fingered, well-kept hands and tore it across.

Without troubling himself to wipe the ink from his face, he bent over the table and with tightly drawn lips framed the single word: WAR!

The burst of radiance that signalled the end of the suspension blotted out the rest of the scene from the watchers' eyes.

INA was still waiting, watch in hand. "You're right on time," she greeted them. "What happened? Anything important?"

Vassily and Earl regarded each other seriously. Without the benefit of mental telepathy, each knew what the other thought.

The door was thrown open and Mikhailloff dashed in. His face cleared on seeing the men well and safe.

Mina's intuition told her all was not right. She took Earl's hand between her soft palms and asked. "What happened, dear? Did something go wrong?"

In a few words Earl related what had occurred.

"—and without a doubt," he continued, "war was the result."

"Everything went along nicely until Yousopoff went wild," added Vassily.

"Then we're in for trouble?" asked Mikhailloff.

Vassily nodded sadly.

"Can nothing be done?" begged Mina. "I have the entire Gay Pay Oo at my command for the duration of the conference. Is there no way that I can help?"

A sudden light burst into Earl's keen mind. His eyes narrowed as he turned over the idea carefully. His jaw squared as a daring plan began to form itself.

Mikhailloff regarded the American closely. "What brilliant thought have you now, my son?"

Earl made a strenuous attempt to restrain his enthusiasm. "Listen friends! Do you recall that day in the laboratory, when Vassily and I had that 'preview' of Mikhailloff's death?"

"Yes!" pressed his listeners.

"Don't you see! The fact that we saw him die didn't prevent us from stopping his assassination, did it?"