On the big recreation field at the center was a pile of clothes, neatly sorted; jackets in one pile, shirts in another. They went on right down to the last which was a pile of socks. Just beyond the socks was a mark on the ground where something about twenty feet wide had dug into the ground. Samuel scratched his head.
"Too big for a helicopter ramp," he remarked "and if it had been a helicopter these clothes would have been blown all over everywhere."
"There's something else, sir!" the commander remarked. "There's not a mouse or a bird! We can't find one living thing ANYWHERE around here! Except what are beginning to come in from the outside every living thing in this camp except for the guards, are gone! They even dug up some small plants and took them with them, carrying them in anything they could find."
"Gather up these clothes," Samuel ordered, "there'll be others that will need them. Call off the general aleart. I got a feeling we're not going to find these people. They've gone away, they've gone VERY far away."
In a few days they learned that THEIR prisoners had not been the ONLY ones to disappear. On the coast of Maine the inhabitants of an entire city had vanished even though the city was completely surrounded. And camps in Europe had also been emptied. As they studied the reports one of his young soldiers asked a question.
"Sir, this was obviously done by people outside of this world, but The First Speaker has said beings like that would not be allowed to interfere in our affairs, that there are those out there protecting us. How could this happen?"
Samuel thought a moment. "Perhaps," he remarked, "what they have done will NOT interfere with our affairs. Perhaps those they have taken were already out of the struggle, would in no way contiribute to its eventual outcome. Their removal would have no harmful or beneficial effect. Perhaps under those circumstances these strangers could be allowed to come and take them to a place where they will be allowed to live as they want to, in peace. Perhaps The First Speaker's associates found that such an act of kindness was not unreasonable."
The young man thought a moment and nodded. "I would not be surprised," he answered, "if such a possibility was true. The First Speaker has told us how kind and benevolant most of those out in the stars are. I wish it would not be so long before we are ready to join them."
"From what is happening now," Samuel answered, "I'm afraid it will be quite a while yet. Mankind has to get rid of alot of the negative things within this race before we are ready to join with the greater community out there in the stars."
Again the young man nodded in agreement. A few days later Samuel was called to the president's office. His old friend greeted him warmly.
"As I am leaving office," he began, "there are a few things I wanted to handle personally, before my successor takes over. He appreciates, by the way, your kind regards in his election victory."
"They are quite deserved," Samuel answered. "What can I do for you, Mr. President?"
"It's the leaders of the other countries that you have been so helpful to, who your people have been so helpful to in the last few years are extremely upset. For over a year and a half this terrible struggle has been going on in The United States. Many of those there are descendants of our people, and are fighting desperately for their freedom, freedoms that have never been more enjoyed since your people have removed the barriers that kept them virtual slaves of the status quo. We wish to raise a volunteer force to go and assist our American cousins, to help your brave people in this desperate struggle. But all agree, only one man could lead such a force. It will not be gathered, it will not go unless you are its commander!
I have here a letter to your First Speaker requesting you lead such a unit. I ask that you dispatch it to him immediately! It will take many months to get everything together to arrange the ships and the aircraft. But we want such a force to depart as soon as it can be readied."
Samuel took the letter extended to him and smiled broadly. "There are no words," he answered, "that can express what is in my soul at this time. The assistance you offer is indeed welcome and sorely needed. I will transmit this request immediately!"
The president smiled and waved Samuel from the room. The slow, sometimes frustrating work of gathering a considerable military force was begun. The ships arrived and began loading, but then circumstances took a turn. The feared Com uprising began. The Coms seized a great deal of territory, and their armies began to push into others. they seemed unstoppable. A sudden communique arrived at Samuel's headquarters. An aide quickly brought it to him.

Page 94