The Smog
Page 16
“Can it be done?” demanded Palfrey.
“With one charge of explosive, yes. He would destroy himself and everyone near.”
“He would destroy our hopes,” said Storr, in a cold voice.
“I must go—” Marion cried.
“I am willing—” began Andromovitch.
“For God’s sake! With your weight the path would crumble at every step.” Harrison sounded terrified.
“Marion,” said Storr, “I will go with Jensen—”
The man from the motor launch growled: “I’m not going in that hell hole for anything or anyone. Only a fool would try. If Philip went in there he’s a skeleton by now, that water has the flesh off the bones in minutes.”
“I don’t believe he can have got through,” Harrison said—and across his words there came another ‘peep’ Storr raised his watch.
“Professor Storr,” he answered.
“Professor, there’s something wrong,” a man said in a clear voice. “Philip is in one of the inspection bays—the one near Boiling River. Costain’s two cubicles away from him. I can see, but I can’t get at the bay unless I change the concentration levels. If I do that Costain won’t have a chance to finish the tests and the testing chambers will be out of action for days. What do you want me to do?”
“Wait until he is at the loading bay,” Storr said. “If there is an emergency cleanse the chambers. I am going in through Boiling River Cave.”
“My God!” the other man said, aghast.
Costain had no idea what was going on, but Philip’s expression made him feel more and more uneasy.
“Professor,” Palfrey said equably, “Harrison is right, and Stefan is too heavy. So are you. If Miss Kemble and I go in, we should have the best chance of getting through.” He smiled at Marion. “Shall we go?” It was as if he were asking for a dance.
In a strange, taut voice, Storr said: “You need to prevent Philip from using any explosive. He probably has a revolver which will fire an explosive charge into the wall of the inspection bay, and let the water through. If the river water does hit the test chambers—”
He broke off as Palfrey took Marion’s arm and led her towards the steam-filled cave. As they went in the heat made Palfrey gasp, but soon he could see as well as breathe. He could see and hear the roar of Boiling River, in a channel on one side. There was a path along the wall, on the other side, away from the river, and he saw the tyre tracks, obviously recently made. He led the way. The river ran black and terrifically hot on his left. He brushed the inside wall with his shoulder, sensing that Marion was cringing back, too.
Just ahead, some of the path crumbled away and fell into the water, making no sound. Marion gasped. Palfrey stepped across the crumbling patch, turned, and helped her over. Their hands were wet with sweat and steam, their hair flat against their heads, their clothes moulded by steam to their bodies.
And the water boiled.
Then, he saw a light – a single electric lamp, burning. He heard Marion whisper: “There he is!” And there was Philip Montefiore, with a revolver in his hand, staring towards David Costain, who was inside the test chamber only ten feet away.
Philip was talking, like a demented creature.
“Come on, one more step and then you’ll know what it’s like to choke to death … One more step and there won’t be any people left … one more step. Come on! My God, how I hate you. How I hate …”
Palfrey was now on firmer ground, only feet away from the maddened youth, the sound of his approach drowned by the rush of the scalding water. He reached the chair and, with infinite caution, stretched out his hand and took the gun away.
Philip screamed, and spun his chair round. The chair moved forward, slithering downhill towards the river and the steam. Marion, flattened against the wall, saw Philip going, saw the terror on his face as the chair jolted, then tipped up, and pitched him into the river.
Costain, watching in stupefied horror, saw it all.
First Philip, then the chair, disappeared.
Next, he saw Palfrey, one arm round Marion’s shoulders, making the thumbs up sign.
Chapter Twenty-One
The Final Message
“Message from Dr. Palfrey and Stefan Andromovitch from Pale Valley, United States.
“To: Heads of States.
“Experiments now concluded by Professor Stephen Storr into the concentration of noxious gases in the earth’s atmosphere show highly encouraging results. An additive to all gasolines, all forms of petroleum fuels and natural and coal gas fuels will release a gas which will negative noxious concentrations during the next few days. Sufficient for all major cities will be available within one week. Strongly recommend immobilising all motor vehicles and oil-driven trains if the concentration in any city or town reaches danger point.
“Good reason to believe that further experiments will introduce an additive to all fuels which will in future greatly reduce even today’s normal toxic concentrations.”
Joyce Morgan read the message, her heart racing, and began to send it out with the help of the young man in the Control Room. Within minutes it was being read by the Chairman of the Presidium of Soviet Republics, by the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, by heads of state throughout the world.
Grace Drummond read it as she sat, convalescing, in a nursing home belonging to Z5.
Newspaper editors read it and rushed it into print.
Every television and radio channel carried the message, word for word, at regular intervals during that golden day.
Everyone at Pale Valley watched a television relay, that afternoon, in a small theatre at the back of the chalet. When it was over, Palfrey moved to the front of the theatre, and said almost apologetically: “I hope I may have a few minutes to talk to you all. We know now that many of your efforts to find the answer to air pollution were thwarted by Philip Montefiore. We know that his mind as well as his body was infirm, that as he could not live a normal life, he turned his hatred on the world. It was he who blew up Sane Manor, and who began the holocaust.
“But we know also what Professor Storr has done to make amends for the first terrifying miscalculations that caused the catastrophes. He hoped to solve the problem without the world knowing he was responsible, only to fail utterly, killing many thousands of people. But it must be said that without him the problem could not have been solved. And I have learned, while I have been here, how many of you have been dedicated to the same task. I am—ah—fortunate. I have the facilities to make sure that the world knows of this, and shall use these facilities to the full. And for a start I shall see that this little speech of mine is relayed to everyone who works in any of the Storr plants and depots.”
Everyone began to clap.
Storr suddenly found himself surrounded by those who worked for him, by Costain, Marion and Griselda, young Collins.
Then Palfrey said: “And the world will soon know the part that David Costain played in this modern miracle. David—”
But David Costain and Marion had slipped away.
Later, Palfrey was alone with Andromovitch, who had received an amiably worded telegram of congratulation from Moscow, and who was sitting back, enormous and relaxed, on the patio. The aircraft engines were being given a final check, and the flight home would start within an hour.
Costain came in.
“Well, David,” Palfrey asked him. “Do you still feel publicity shy?”
“Always was and always will be,” Costain answered. “Er—I hope you won’t think I’m letting you down, but there’s a lot of work I can do here and I’d like to stay. I’ve been asked to take young Philip’s place on the staff. Will that be all right?”
“My dear chap,” said Palfrey, “if any man in the world has the right to do exactly what he wishes, you do.”
/> Costain and Marion stood with Storr, Griselda and Harrison, watching the two aircraft take off. Both circled once, high above Pale Lake, and then flew between the mountain peaks towards the world beyond.
When they had disappeared, Costain turned with Marion towards the new world he had found.
Endnote
[1]In 'The Oasis'.
Series Information
Published or to be published by
House of Stratus
Dates given are those of first publication
Alternative titles in brackets
'The Baron' (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)
'Department 'Z'' (28 titles)
'Dr. Palfrey Novels' (34 titles)
'Gideon of Scotland Yard' (22 titles)
'Inspector West' (43 titles)
'Sexton Blake' (5 titles)
'The Toff' (59 titles)
along with:
The Masters of Bow Street
This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey's account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel's Act in 1829.
'The Baron' Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Meet the Baron (The Man in the Blue Mask) (1937)
The Baron Returns (The Return of the Blue Mask) (1937)
The Baron Again (Salute Blue Mask) (1938)
The Baron at Bay (Blue Mask at Bay) (1938)
Alias the Baron (Alias Blue Mask) (1939)
The Baron at Large (Challenge Blue Mask!) (1939)
Versus the Baron (Blue Mask Strikes Again) (1940)
Call for the Baron (Blue Mask Victorious) (1940)
The Baron Comes Back (1943)
A Case for the Baron (1945)
Reward for the Baron (1945)
Career for the Baron (1946)
Blood Diamond (The Baron and the Beggar) (1947)
Blame the Baron (1948)
A Rope for the Baron (1948)
Books for the Baron (1949)
Cry for the Baron (1950)
Trap the Baron (1950)
Attack the Baron (1951)
Shadow the Baron (1951)
Warn the Baron (1952)
The Baron Goes East (1953)
The Baron in France (1953)
Danger for the Baron (1953)
The Baron Goes Fast (1954)
Nest-Egg for the Baron (Deaf, Dumb and Blonde) (1954)
Help from the Baron (1955)
Hide the Baron (1956)
The Double Frame (Frame the Baron) (1957)
Blood Red (Red Eye for the Baron) (1958)
If Anything Happens to Hester (Black for the Baron) (1959)
Salute for the Baron (1960)
The Baron Branches Out (A Branch for the Baron) (1961)
The Baron and the Stolen Legacy (Bad for the Baron) (1962)
A Sword for the Baron (The Baron and the Mogul Swords) (1963)
The Baron on Board (The Mask of Sumi) (1964)
The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle (1964)
Sport for the Baron (1966)
Affair for the Baron (1967)
The Baron and the Missing Old Masters (1968)
The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait (1969)
Last Laugh for the Baron (1970)
The Baron Goes A-Buying (1971)
The Baron and the Arrogant Artist (1972)
Burgle the Baron (1973)
The Baron - King Maker (1975)
Love for the Baron (1979)
'Department Z' Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
The Death Miser (1932)
Redhead (1934)
First Came a Murder (1934)
Death Round the Corner (1935)
The Mark of the Crescent (1935)
Thunder in Europe (1936)
The Terror Trap (1936)
Carriers of Death (1937)
Days of Danger (1937)
Death Stands By (1938)
Menace! (1938)
Murder Must Wait (1939)
Panic! (1939)
Death by Night (1940)
The Island of Peril (1940)
Sabotage (1941)
Go Away Death (1941)
The Day of Disaster (1942)
Prepare for Action (1942)
No Darker Crime (1943)
Dark Peril (1944)
The Peril Ahead (1946)
The League of Dark Men (1947)
The Department of Death (1949)
The Enemy Within (1950)
Dead or Alive (1951)
A Kind of Prisoner (1954)
The Black Spiders (1957)
Doctor Palfrey Novels
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Traitor's Doom (1942)
The Legion of the Lost (1943)
The Valley of Fear (The Perilous Country) (1943)
Dangerous Quest (1944)
Death in the Rising Sun (1945)
The Hounds of Vengeance (1945)
Shadow of Doom (1946)
The House of the Bears (1946)
Dark Harvest (1947)
The Wings of Peace (1948)
The Sons of Satan (1948)
The Dawn of Darkness (1949)
The League of Light (1949)
The Man Who Shook the World (1950)
The Prophet of Fire (1951)
The Children of Hate (The Killers of Innocence; The Children of Despair) (1952)
The Touch of Death (1954)
The Mists of Fear (1955)
The Flood (1956)
The Plague of Silence (1958)
Dry Spell (The Drought) (1959)
The Terror (1962)
The Depths (1963)
The Sleep (1964)
The Inferno (1965)
The Famine (1967)
The Blight (1968)
The Oasis (1970)
The Smog (1970)
The Unbegotten (1971)
The Insulators (1972)
The Voiceless Ones (1973)
The Thunder-Maker (1976)
The Whirlwind (1979)
Gideon Series
(Writing as JJ Marric)
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Gideon's Day (Gideon of Scotland Yard) (1955)
Seven Days to Death (Gideon's Week) (1956)
Gideon's Night (1957)
A Backwards Jump (Gideon's Month) (1958)
Thugs and Economies (Gideon's Staff) (1959)
Gideon Combats Influence (Gideon's Risk) (1960)
Gideon's Fire (1961)
A Conference for Assassins (Gideon's March) (1962)
Travelling Crimes (Gideon's Ride) (1963)
An Uncivilised Election (Gideon's Vote) (1964)
Criminal Imports (Gideon's Lot) (1965)
To Nail a Serial Killer (Gideon's Badge) (1966)
From Murder to a Cathedral (Gideon's Wrath) (1967)
Gideon's River (1968)
Darkness and Confusion (Gideon's Power) (1969)
Sport, Heat & Scotland Yard (Gideon's Sport) (1970)
Gideon's Art (1971)
No Relaxation at Scotland Yard (Gideon's Men) (1972)
Impartiality Against the Mob (Gideon's Press) (1973)
Not Hidden by the Fog (Gideon's Fog) (1975)
Good and Justice (Gideon's Drive) (1976)
Vigilantes & Biscuits (Gideon's Force) (1978)
Inspector West Series
These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
Inspector West Takes
Charge (1942)
Go Away to Murder (Inspector West Leaves Town) (1943)
An Apostle of Gloom (Inspector West At Home) (1944)
Inspector West Regrets (1945)
Holiday for Inspector West (1946)
Battle for Inspector West (1948)
The Case Against Paul Raeburn (Triumph for Inspector West) (1948)
Inspector West Kicks Off (Sport for Inspector West) (1949)
Inspector West Alone (1950)
Inspector West Cries Wolf (The Creepers) (1950)
The Figure in the Dusk (A Case for Inspector West) (1951)
The Dissemblers (Puzzle for Inspector West) (1951)
The Case of the Acid Throwers (The Blind Spot; Inspector West at Bay) (1952)
Give a Man a Gun (A Gun for Inspector West) (1953)
Send Inspector West (1953)
So Young, So Cold, So Fair (A Beauty for Inspector West; The Beauty Queen Killer) (1954)
Murder Makes Haste (Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman) (1955)
Murder: One, Two, Three (Two for Inspector West) (1955)
Death of a Postman (Parcels for Inspector West) (1956)
Death of an Assassin (A Prince for Inspector West) (1956)
Hit and Run (Accident for Inspector West) (1957)
The Trouble at Saxby's (Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death) (1957)
Murder, London - New York (1958)
Strike for Death (The Killing Strike) (1958)
Death of a Racehorse (1959)
The Case of the Innocent Victims (1959)
Murder on the Line (1960)
Death in Cold Print (1961)
The Scene of the Crime (1961)
Policeman's Dread (1962)
Hang the Little Man (1963)
Look Three Ways at Murder (1964)
Murder, London - Australia (1965)
Murder, London - South Africa (1966)
The Executioners (1967)
So Young to Burn (1968)
Murder, London - Miami (1969)
A Part for a Policeman (1970)