The Radiant Shell
By Paul Ernst
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from "Astounding Stories"January 1932. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that theU.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The man on the metal plate was vanishing.
"And that, gentlemen," said the Secretary of War, "is the situation.Arvania has stolen the Ziegler plans and formulae. With theiracquisition it becomes the most powerful nation on earth. The Zieglerplans are at present in the Arvanian Embassy, but they will be smuggledout of the country soon. Within a month of their landing in Arvania, warwill be declared against us. That means"—he glanced at the tense facesaround the conference table—"that we have about three months to live asa nation—unless we can get those plans!"
There was a hushed, appalled silence, broken at last by General Forsyte.
"Nonsense! How can a postage-stamp country like Arvania really threatenus?"
"The day has passed, General," said the Secretary, "when a nation'spower is reckoned by its size. The Ziegler heat ray is the deadliestweapon yet invented. A thousand men with a dozen of the ray-projectorscan reduce us to smoking ruins while remaining far outside the range ofour guns. No! I tell you that declaration of war by Arvania will befollowed by the downfall of the United States inside of three months!"
Again the hushed, strained silence descended over the conference table,while one white-faced man gazed at another and all speculated on theincredible possibility of a world in which there was no United States ofAmerica.
"We must get the plans," nodded Forsyte, convinced at last. "But how?March openly on the Arvanian Embassy?"
"No, that would be declaration of war on our part. The World Court,which knows nothing of the Ziegler plans, would set the League at ourthroats."
"Send volunteers unofficially to raid the place?"
"Impossible. There is a heavy guard in the Arvanian Embassy; and I morethan suspect the place bristles with machine guns."
"What are we to do?" demanded Forsyte.
The Secretary seemed to have been waiting for that final question.
"I have had an odd and desperate plan submitted me from an outsidesource. I could not pass it without your approval. I will let you hearit from the lips of the planner."
He pressed a buzzer. "Bring Mr. Winter in," he told his secretary.
The man who presently appeared in the doorway was an arresting figure. Aman of thirty-odd with the body of an athlete, belied somewhat by thepallor of an indoor worker, with acid stained, delicate hands offset byforearms that might have belonged to a blacksmith, with coal black hairand gray eyes so light as to look like ice-gray holes in the deepcaverns of his eye-sockets. This was Thorn Winter.
"Gentlemen, the scientist, Mr. Winter," announced the Secretary. "Hethinks he can get the Ziegler plans."
Thorn Winter cleared his throat. "My scheme is simple enough," he saidtersely. "I believe I can walk right into the Embassy, get theplans—and then walk right out again. It sounds kind of impossible, butI think I can work it by making myself invisible."
"Invisible?" echoed Forsyte. "Invisible!"
"Precisely," said Thorn in a matter-of-fact tone. "I have just turnedout a camouflage which is the most perfect yet discovered. It wasdesigned for application to guns and equipment only. I'd never thoughtof trying to cover a human body with it, but I am sure it can be done."
"But ... invisible ..." muttered Forsyte, glanci