Famine by John Creasey Page B

not, could not know; but all reason made him doubt whether it could be so.
    If his doubts were justified these must be earthbound creatures. Yet there was something so unreal, so uncanny; even he, used to the bizarre and the terrifying, to phenomena on the borderline of the fantastic and the supernatural, was deeply affected. The worst feature was the utter lack of knowledge, the fact that the first indications had come as matters of interest rather than alarm. Pondering this, he sat down at his desk, and rang for Joyce. She came in at once, a nice girl with a nice figure and a kindly nature.
    â€œAny more reports from overseas?”
    â€œNone at all.”
    â€œI’ll do a special memorandum which must be sent out tonight,” said Palfrey. “Can you stay?”
    â€œOf course,” Joyce looked almost affronted at the implication that there might be any doubt how late she would work.
    â€œGood. No one can read my writing quite like you.” He leaned back and closed his eyes, suddenly very weary. He was aware of her standing and looking at him, and he went on without opening his eyes. “You’ve seen all the reports, as they’ve come through, haven’t you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat do you make of it?’”
    â€œIt’s—” she hesitated. “It’s terrifying.”
    â€œA major emergency.”
    â€œUnquestionably.”
    â€œYes,” said Palfrey. “I’m going to draft that request for information, and take it over to the Prime Minister. I’d like him to call a meeting of ambassadors, so that the news can be sent to all governments by special courier.
    â€œWhat worries me most—” he broke off.
    â€œThe disappearance,” Joyce hazarded.
    â€œNo.” Palfrey opened his eyes and looked steadily into hers, aware that a question which had been teasing his subconscious for hours, had come to the surface. “We can’t be sure how long they were in that field, at the most it was a few months. In that time they built a whole subterranean city, in miniature. Why weren’t they noticed before? And how did they learn the engineering methods? What did they model their city on? I’m less worried by their disappearance than in the fact that they were able to imitate us so accurately, and that they could stay unnoticed for so long.” He sat up suddenly, his expression changing, his eyes glistening. “These reports of food losses in Southampton, twenty miles from Salisbury. How much food? How many other grain and food warehouses in the area have suffered depredations. We need to find out, quickly. Is Jim Baretta back?”
    â€œNo. Galsworthy is in, though.”
    â€œPut him onto this,” Palfrey said. “Arrange an appointment with the Prime Minister for half past nine or thereabouts. Send me in some sandwiches and coffee, and then forget me until I’ve finished the draft.
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    The Rt. Honourable James Mason, M.P., the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was an energetic and vital man in his middle fifties, comparatively new to his job, alert, anxious to make sure that he missed nothing that mattered. He had been well-briefed about Z5 during his term as Leader of the Opposition, and he knew that Palfrey would not ask for an interview without good cause. Nevertheless, he was host and main speaker at a charity dinner at the Guildhall that night, and would not change his plans. So he arranged to be called from his table at nine-fifteen, and when he met Palfrey in an ante-room, shook hands and said briskly: “I’ve twenty minutes, Dr. Palfrey. I’m sorry it can be no longer.”
    Palfrey blinked at him.
    â€œI see, sir.” He was so obsessed by what he had learned that he hardly believed that this dark-eyed, alert man could be serious about a time restriction. “The matter may take a little longer.”
    â€œIt mustn’t. I’ve a major policy speech to make