The Space Children Page #4

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the nearest phone, kid?

There's a gas station

down the road about a mile.

Steering rod's split wide open,

and the brake's gone.

Anything I can do to help?

I have my bike.

No, thanks.

What's in the truck?

Look, kid, we're in a jam.

Now please don't annoy us,

will you?

I was just asking.

Well, don't ask.

Look, I better stay here. Uh, go

phone the depot,

Tell them to get another truck

here as soon as they can.

And phone Eagle Point.

Tell them what happened.

Right.

Hello? Hello?

Operator? Operator?

Hello?

Yes, this is Sergeant Cooper,

speaking.

Hello?

Hello?

Operator? Operator?

Hi.

Eadie!

Eadie!

I guess she's still down

on the beach.

Oh, I'll find her, hon.

Eadie!

Eadie!

Eadie!

Eadie!

Eadie!

Hi, Daddy.

You had me scared, honey.

I didn't know where you were.

I found your jacket

and a towel back at the beach.

Come on, Daddy.

Let's go for a swim.

I haven't been all day.

Wait a minute, honey.

What were you doing in there

all alone?

Just playing, Daddy.

It's so nice out.

I bet the water's warm.

Come on, let's go for a swim.

Now, what's the matter

with you, honey?

What are you looking back

in there for?

Nothing, Daddy.

I'm not looking

at anything, honest.

Eadie, honey.

What's in there?

Nothing, Daddy.

Just an old cave.

Come on,

let's get out of here.

I will, honey. As soon as I

find out what this is all about.

Don't Daddy! Please! Please!

Daddy!

Daddy, you all right?

Hello, dear.

Did you find Eadie?

Eadie?

What's the matter, Hank?

What's happened?

Nothing, I went swimming.

We have to go now.

Already?

Yes, it's time.

The other children

have already started.

Come on.

3:
45...

Phone out

Of order.

4:
30...

Johnson

In hospital.

Now, I pride myself

in knowing a little bit

About permutations

and combinations.

As you say,

this may all be coincidence.

I've studied these reports

again and again,

And I agree, there seems

to be no connection

Between any of these events.

That's what makes it

so incredible.

Except there's one

brightly-colored thread

That runs throughout the day,

tying all these events together.

I couldn't find any link.

Now, listen, Alan.

"In the presence

of his little boy,"

Technician Brewster

collapses.

A few hours later, according

to this truck driver,

As a child watches

from his bicycle,

The truck runs off the road.

Two children watch a sentry

try to phone for help and fail.

Johnson goes searching for his

little daughter on the beach,

Collapses,

and can't remember anything.

I know all that.

You're just saying

what we already know.

Now, just a second. Can't you

see?

A child or children

was present

At each

of these events today.

Well, what if that's so.

What are you driving at?

I don't know.

That's all here

in black and white.

Children, children,

children.

What can the children

have to do with it?

Has Brewster

left the dispensary?

No, doctor wants him

to stay overnight.

Why?

Well, on the surface,

everything seems calm.

Yet, all day,

the unexpected.

Like pebbles

dropping one by one,

Ruffling the surface.

Well, within an hour,

the Thunderer will be launched.

I better get going.

I'll see you at the Blockhouse.

All right.

Guard?

Why, yes, sir?

Why did you let those children

inside here?

Dr. Wahrman, what children?

At least half a dozen children

just walked out of that gate.

Oh, no, sir.

No, there haven't been

any children around here.

Besides, the gate's locked.

See?

I thought the doctor told you

to stay overnight.

I wanted to be

at the launching.

Did you wanna see me

about something?

What did you tell the doctor

about, this morning?

The truth, that I fainted.

The matter of your voice?

I didn't tell him about that.

Why should I?

It wasn't important.

Total paralysis of the throat

muscle is not important?

Brewster.

You see, a man of science

Is like a deep-sea diver.

He mustn't be afraid

to walk down

Where it's dark

and frightening,

In the hopes of scooping up

a handful of truth.

Brewster, this morning,

What did you want to tell us

about the children?

I've made the obvious

deductions.

They don't seem to add up.

I remember very well

what you said this morning.

What did I say?

There may be trouble

launching the Thunderer.

Obvious deduction,

a spy in our midst.

But a few minutes ago,

in front of the powerhouse,

I saw the incredible.

The unbelievable.

Spies do not work

in unbelievable ways.

Always through

counter-intelligence

Can be drawn

logical conclusions.

But what I saw a group

of children do a few minutes ago

Is something

for which there is no name,

Unless you can name it.

I can't tell you anything.

I see.

Do you mean, your voice

would become paralyzed again

If you should tell me

that some force,

Still unknown to man,

has been able, through children,

To shatter a steering rod,

To take away a man's mind,

Another man's voice,

To allow a boy to walk

through a locked gate?

I don't understand.

Nothing's happening to you

when you tell me this.

Well, that's

because I'm talking to someone

Who also knows the truth.

Now, I wonder what

would happen

If I would try

to tell someone else?

Just to satisfy

my scientific curiosity.

Mm-hm.

Hello? Hello? Hello?

Just as I thought. Dead.

Where is it now, Brewster?

In a cave.

And what does it look like?

I can't describe it.

The hideous part

is it's making the children obey

Its every command.

The children are completely

in its power.

Then we're in the power

of the children.

I'm warning you, doctor.

I can't be held accountable

for what might happen

If you go in there.

I'm ready if you are.

All right.

My life

is more than half over.

The worst you can do to me

is to kill me.

I'm willing to face that,

if I can just know

Why you're here.

Why you've taken

our children

And made them do your work.

I've spent a lifetime

in the search

For truth and knowledge,

Trying to make this world

a better place.

A world

where the very children

You're controlling can live

in peace instead of fear.

I'm their friend.

I beg of you, tell me

what you want of them,

What you're making them do.

Is there no man

on this Earth,

Who has the wisdom and innocence

of a child?

Dave. Better hurry

to the launching.

Number 1 stage.

Primary fuel valve is locked.

Number 2 stage.

Primary fuel valve is locked.

Number 3 stage.

Primary fuel valve, locked.

Are you sure Dr. Wahrman

hasn't called in?

I'm positive.

I've called everywhere.

Transmission, Band A.

Motor reception, ten by ten.

Transmission Band B.

Motor reception, ten by ten.

How did you kids get in here?

We're leaving now.

Who opened that lock?

Well, we don't know.

I don't know how you managed

to get past me,

But I'll give you just

two seconds to get out of here.

And fast!

Colonel,

will you initial this?

I'm afraid we can't wait

for Dr. Wahrman.

Okay.

How's it look?

Everything's checked out.

You're positive?

Absolutely.

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