The Flying Eyes by j. Hunter Holly Page B

“If they can make such a shambles here, what could they do to the whole country? I’m at my wits’ end, Linc. Washington seems to be holding us responsible for some solution. They’re sending a man out, yes, but they expect us to have something to tell him. Of course, they have some ideas of their own. They think the attack was a good plan and they want the Guard to try it again.”
    â€œOh, no!” It was Linc’s turn to shudder. The first failure had been his fault, and another failure would reflect on him, too—still his idea, still his guilt. “They wouldn’t have any more chance than we did.”
    â€œWashington thinks they would. Where we could only inflict small, single wounds, the Guard will have big weapons. They can blow the things apart.”
    â€œAnd they can turn into zombies just as easily as those boys.”
    Iverson stared at him, his face ashen. “I don’t suppose you’ve been outside of town—out toward the hole?”
    â€œNo. Why?”
    â€œIt’s a sight you wouldn’t easily forget. The soldiers drove me out there in a Jeep. The roads are crammed with people—four rows deep—all lost to us, all zombies. How do they do it, Linc?” Iverson’s voice rose in desperation. “What do they do, and how?”
    â€œI’ve been working that over in my mind for two days. The answer is obvious: hypnosis.”
    â€œOh, now!” Iverson was shaking his head.
    â€œDon’t slough it off before you’ve given it a chance. I was out on that field with them and downtown with them. I felt their pull. It’s so strong it’s like a physical tug. I resisted it—I was angry and I resisted, but I felt it drawing me.”
    â€œYet you resisted it.”
    â€œThat’s the proof of my point. I’ve got a strong will, Doc. I impose it on everybody, so you should know. And that will save me. It saved the others who returned. The boys—the unformed, groping, boys—didn’t have a chance. The Eyes hypnotized them before they knew what to resist.”
    Iverson was quiet, staring at his hands. “If you’re right, how can they be stopped? How can we fight such a thing? It’s beyond our power.”
    â€œYou’ve overlooked the main point, Doc. If the Eyes can hypnotize, then there must be a mentality behind them. Right?”
    â€œI suppose I knew that, anyway. They act intelligently.”
    â€œThen what we should do is try to reach that mentality and study it. Maybe in that way we can discover how to destroy them.”
    â€œYou’re leading up to something.”
    â€œThe only thing I can think of as our next action. I want to capture an Eye, Dr. Iverson. I want to capture one and study it—inside and out.”
    Iverson showed no enthusiasm. He didn’t show much of anything.
    â€œShould I take your silence to be disapproval?” Linc asked.
    â€œNo. You make sense, as usual, but the idea is so tenuous—it depends on so many ‘ifs.’ How will you capture one? How will you study it? Even if you do, will it work? I can’t help but feel the Guard has the right idea. Blow them apart and rid our skies of them.”
    Linc sat back. He had expected more appreciation of his suggestion. “At least give me your permission to try.”
    â€œWell—” Iverson’s answer was cut short by the clang of bells and a siren wail. He sat bolt upright in his chair. Linc was already on his feet. The bells were the external alarm on the reactor. Something was wrong in the atomic pile.
    Iverson grabbed up his direct line to the reactor and spat questions into the phone, “Where? Why aren’t they inside? Who?”
    When he hung up, he hissed at Linc, “Somebody’s in the reactor. He hit the guard over the head and broke in. He’s sending the pile crazy. It’s going to go sky-high!”

CHAPTER SIX
    Linc raced out of