rested one hand on the back of his chair and nodded. “Allow me, Doctor, to introduce your visitors.”
And beginning with Senator Merrick, as chairman of the committee, he named them one by one, finishing with “Mr. Brian Merrick Junior.”
Dr. Hessian nodded to all and then sat down. He put some typed pages before him, so that they partly hid the Bronx.
“If you please,” he began in a guttural voice and a very marked German accent, “of English I have not enough properly to explain myself. So these notes I have had translated from German more clear to make it—what I have to say.”
There was a faint murmur of sympathy. Evidently Dr. Hessian could see quite well through his dark glasses, for he now consulted his notes and went on, speaking better English but with no better accent:
“Sound vibrations, like all others of which we have knowledge, move neither straight up nor straight along, but, so—” One black-gloved hand described an arc. “They conform to the shape of the envelope in which the earth is enclosed: our atmosphere. Very well. There are sound vibrations, many of them inaudible to our ears, which can shatter a glass goblet. There are others, fortunately rare under normal conditions, which are even more destructive. Such a vibration I have succeeded in producing.”
He raised his head, looked around. But although one or two of his audience stirred restlessly, no one spoke.
“It is not only inaudible, but no receiver yet invented (except mine) can transmit it. So. It is as simple as this. Very well. Above my target area, in this case”—he laid a hand on the plan—”Manhattan, a plane flies at a given elevation. The antenna projecting above this plane carries a special receiver from which this vibration inaudible to human ears is cast upon the atmosphere. The plane, although in fact below the denser sound-belt, is immunized.”
Another voice broke in. “Dr. Hessian! Your words, so far, leave me more completely mystified than ever. What do you mean by ‘the denser sound-belt’?”
Dr. Hessian looked up from his notes, and stared at the questioner.
“It is Dr. Jurgonsen who speaks? I thought this. No doubt you speak also German? Be so good, Doctor, as you question to repeat in German.”
And then began a heated exchange in that language, which rose to a pitch of violence. At this point Senator Merrick banged his hand on the table.
“Gentlemen! In the first place, many of the committee don’t know what you’re talking about. In the second place, you are delaying the demonstration which we are here to see.”
Dr. Hessian nodded and looked down again at his notes.
“I am far from being satisfied,” Dr. Jurgonsen muttered.
“The demonstration will explain my words,” Hessian’s guttural voice continued. “My assistant will now lower the objects which you see suspended there.”
These “objects”, which had excited so much interest, were attached to hooks in the ceiling by slender metallic cords, the ends of which had small rings. These hung down over the table. The Japanese assistant lowered the one suspended above the Battery.
“Open please the container,” Dr. Hessian directed.
The halves of the dull metal ball opened on a hinge.
And the ball contained a large coconut!
Everybody laughed, except Dr. Jurgonsen. “Preposterous!”
he choked. But Dr. Hessian, quite unmoved, went on to explain:
“This nut, although out of proportion to the scale of the plan, represents an enemy dive bomber which has penetrated the air defences and will presently swoop down upon lower Manhattan to discharge its load of destruction. These containers are immunized against any sound vibration. Close and return, please.”
The metal ball was re-closed and hoisted back to its place.
“Each of these has a trigger on the top which releases the contents when a ball is raised to touch the ceiling,” the guttural voice explained. “And now, the guided missile which could destroy the whole city.”
A second metal ball, hanging over mid-town New York, was lowered. It was evidently very heavy. The Japanese, leaning over between Admiral Druce and General Rawlins, opened the container. In it, point downward, and carefully held in place by the Japanese, lay what looked like a miniature torpedo.
“Here is a scale model of the latest guided missile, with an atomic warhead—as it would reach our atmosphere with what I may term its outer garments discarded.”
Those further removed from the centre of the table stood up and eagerly grouped behind Admiral Druce and General Rawlins for a close view of the model.
“I completed it in Cairo,” Dr. Hessian told them. “Only externally is it true to type. It weighs nearly eight pounds and has a small charge of high explosive for the purpose of this demonstration. It is so weighted that it will fall nose downward. Close and return, please.”
Looking puzzled and excited, everybody went back to his place as the metal ball was swung up again to the ceiling. Dr. Jurgonsen shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
“Exhibits A and B I have shown you,” Dr. Hessian carried on his guttural monotone—due, perhaps to the fact that he was reading his English transcription. “Exhibit C, just above me, represents a sneak raid” (he had difficulty with the words) “on the Bronx.”
The metal ball nearly above his head was lowered. He opened it himself, and displayed a Service revolver!
“I shall detach the weapon from its container.” He did so. “Because, in this case, it remains there throughout the experiment. It is set at safety. But, before I return it, the revolver will be ready to fire. I shall request General Rawlins to confirm the fact that the cartridges are live.”
It was passed to that officer, who took out several shells and nodded, replaced them and handed the weapon back to the doctor. He adjusted it and the metal ball was raised to its place.
“This exhibit is so adjusted,” Dr. Hessian explained, “that whenever the trigger of the receiver is brought in contact with the ceiling the revolver fires a shot at the Bronx. And now, my final exhibit: the small box which you see suspended roughly above the centre of Manhattan. Time prohibited the preparation of a model of an aeroplane resembling the one I have described. Therefore, if you please, imagine that this is such a plane. Its height above the city is out of proportion with the scale. An altitude of three miles would be enough. But I have set it much higher purely in the interest of your safety. I beg, from the moment contact is made—watch for the red light— that you will all remain
Brian experienced a wave of almost uncontrollable excitement. He noted that Nayland Smith’s hands were clenched below the table. Every face he looked at registered high nervous tension.
The Japanese moved to a small side table and opened a cabinet which stood there.
“A very ordinary transmitter, gentlemen,” came the guttural tones. “Such as any amateur can make. But a mechanism is attached which no one but myself could make. It transmits the lethal note which can throw a protective umbrella over the whole of the New York City! Proceed . . .”
Brian held his breath, and looking upward saw a speck of red light glow in the suspended “receiver”. There was no sound.
“Contact is established,” Dr. Hessian declared. “The enemy approaches.”
The unemotional Japanese returned to the centre table.
“Hold out your hands, Senator Merrick,” the new commanding voice ordered. “Prepare to catch the debris of the dive bomber.”
Brian saw his father’s colour change slightly; but he stretched out his hands, looking up.
The metal ball opened. The big coconut fell. . .
But well above the heads of the seated committee it was shattered to bits!
Fragments of shell and pulp shot miraculously across space to be piled against the walls!
An almost hysterical, concerted gasp told of the reactions of the committee.
“And now, if you please, the guided missile.” Dr. Hessian looked up from his notes. “You will note, Dr. Jurgonsen, that any hollow object it is burst instantly on contact with my sound belt. Had you so indiscreet been as to stand up, imagine what happens to your head!”
Before Dr. Jurgonsen could think of a suitable reply, the second metal ball was opened.
