ured, "but it's terrible, too. No wonder the
ancients believed comets brought evil and death upon the Earth. I could
almost believe it, myself!"

Chapter 2. _Breakdown_

Ken Maddox could not remember a time when he had not wanted to become a
scientist. Maybe it started when his father first invited him to look
through a microscope. That was when he was a very small boy, but he
could still remember the revelation of that experience. He remembered
how it had seemed, on looking away from the lens, that the whole world
of normal vision was only a fragment of that which was hidden behind
curtains and shrouds and locked doors. Only men, like his father, with
special instruments and wisdom and knowledge, could ever hope to
understand the world of the unknown, which the ordinary person did not
even suspect.

Now, at sixteen, Ken was tall, with black hair that had an annoying curl
to it. He was husky enough to be the main asset of the football squad of
Mayfield High School in his senior year. He knew exactly where he was
going and what he was going to do. He would be one of those men who
lived beyond the mere surface of the world, and who would seek to
understand its deep and hidden meanings.

Ken thought of this as he watched Maria at the telescope. What a
difference between knowing the comet as this instrument showed it, and
with the knowledge revealed by modern astronomy, and knowing it as the
average person in Mayfield did.

Ken and Maria stayed in the observatory until the comet had almost
disappeared below the horizon. Mrs. Maddox brought a snack of sandwiches
and punch.

"I always do this when I see the observatory dome open," she said,
smiling. "I never know when Ken's going to quit his stargazing and come
in for the night."

"We're about through, Mom. I'll drive Maria over to her place and be
back in a little while."

"I'm going to loan him the stamps," Maria said.

Mrs. Maddox looked at Ken in mock severity. "You mean you forgot
_again_?"

"No--I remembered," Ken said lamely. "After the post office closed, that
is. Anyhow, Maria has plenty."

"Well," said Mrs. Maddox, "I know who's going to have to mail my
invitations if they're ever to get out in time for the party!"

After he and Maria had finished the snack, Ken started his car again.
The engine had cooled to normal temperature, but he watched the
indicator closely as he drove. Nothing seemed right about the action of
the car. The engine had