IMAGINATION'S PLACE
FICTION
MARKER
(Part One)
By; Speaker Gerald A. Polley
THE ANCIENT ONE AND HIS COMPANION flew
far south. They came to rest on the roof of a research facility. The Ancient
One went over to a phone box, opened it, took out the phone, said, "I'm
here, professor," put the phone back, and waited. A few moments later the
roof door opened and a group of men appeared carrying four tables which
they quickly sat up. Others followed them, laying out tool boxes in their
assigned places, and opening them.
Finally five men appeared carrying metal boxes, which they laid on the
table. A gray-bearded man using a cane came out the door.
"All the components you requested are here, my Lord," he remarked, "only
I gathered them, and did the preliminary assembly you requested."
"Very good, Professor!" The Ancient One complimented. With incredible
speed he went down the table assembling the components into what could only
be called a ray gun. As he did so all but the Professor turned their backs
so they could not see what he was doing.
The Ancient One examined what he had put together. "The test sample?"
he requested.
The Professor took a small vial from his pocket and sat it on the table.
the Ancient One pointed the device at it. A pale blue beam with golden sparks
came from the device. The container glowed for a moment, then when the beam
was shut off, returned to normal. The Ancient One picked it up and examined
it.
"Excellent!" he remarked, "Excellent! Stand by, Professor! We should not
be gone more than half an hour. Has the food and beverage been provided
for the workers?"
"As always!" the Professor answered, "my Lord."
The Ancient One nodded to his companion and they again took to the sky
to land in the midst of a vast industrial complex. The Ancient One opened
a roof vent and looked below. The warehouse was filled with blocks of illegal
drugs of all kinds waiting for shipment.
"Ax Man," he commented, "there's too many people down there. I need a
diversion. But I don't want them to know it's us."
"Where do they keep the money?" The Ax Man asked. "Maybe it's time for
them to make some charitable donations!"
The Ancient One smiled. "The vault's in that building over there, the
explosives are in that one, over there."
"Ten minutes!" The Ax Man laughed. He changed into another form, shedding
his armor and disappeared over the rooftop. Ten minutes later the back of
the counting house blew away! Gunshots erupted and the men in the warehouse
below grabbed up weapons and headed for the front of the complex.
The Ancient One descended, rendering the two guards unconscious. He took
up the device and slowly radiated everything in the warehouse. When he was
satisfied he hadn't missed anything, he flew back up through the vent. The
Ax man carrying two good-sized bags in one hand, joined him. "Pesos!" he
remarked. "They didn't have any greenbacks."
"Good enough!" The Ancient One answered, taking one of the bags. "Let's
go!"