ron can't support three. Get what I mean?"

"Sure--sure, I get it."

"You better think it over, mister--and tell that fat bastard to quit
sneaking up on me or I'll blow his brains all over the carpet!"

If the situation hadn't been so grim it would have appeared ludicrous.
Jim Wilson, feeling success almost in his grasp, was balanced on tiptoe
for a lunge. He teetered, almost lost his balance and fell back against
the wall.

"Take it easy," Frank said.

"I'll take it easy," Davis replied. "I'll kill every goddam one of
you--" he pointed the gun at Jim Wilson "--starting with him."

"Now wait a minute," Frank said. "You're unreasonable. What right have
you got to do that? What about the law of survival? You're standing
there with a gun on us. You're going to kill us. Isn't it natural to try
anything we can to save our own lives?"

A look of admiration brightened Davis' eyes. "Say! I like you. You're
all right. You're logical. A man can talk to you. If there's anything I
like it's talking to a logical man."

"Thanks."

"Too bad I'm going to have to kill you. We could sit down and have some
nice long talks together."

"Why do you want to kill us?" Minna asked. She had not spoken before. In
fact, she had spoken so seldom during the entire time they'd been
together that her voice was a novelty to Frank. He was inclined to
discount her tirade on the floor with Wilson's head in her lap. She had
been a different person then. Now she had lapsed back into her old
shell.

Davis regarded thoughtfully. "Must you have a reason?"

"You should have a reason to kill people."

Davis said, "All right, if it will make you any happier. I told you
about killing my keeper when they tried to make me leave town. He got in
the car, behind the wheel. I got into the back seat and split his skull
with a tire iron."

"What's that got to do with us?"

"Just this. Tommy was a better person than anyone of you or all of you
put together. If he had to die, what right have you got to live? Is that
enough of a reason for you?"

"This is all too damn crazy," Jim Wilson roared. He was on the point of
leaping at Davis and his gun.

At that moment, from the north, came a sudden crescendo of the weird
invader wailings. It was louder than it had previously been but did not
seem nearer.

The group froze, all ears trained upon the sound. "They're talking
again," Nora whispered.

"Uh-huh," Frank replied. "But it's different this time. As i