Abna said, “is the United States. You recognize the outline? And there is England and Federation Europe. That greyness is the Atlantic and the darker grey running across it is newly risen Mu. If it were daylight instead of moonlight you’d see it more clearly. However, it is sufficient for our purpose.”
“What purpose?” the Amazon asked in suspicion.
Abna summoned the adviser. He came forward like a ghost.
“Plan 19,” Abna told him. “Proceed with it.”
Sefner Quorne withdrew and moved over to the men still at the control board. He gave them instructions and then stood watching proceedings, alert for the slightest mistake. The Amazon gave a start as from the floating globe there stabbed a deep, lavender-coloured beam which lost itself in distance as it reached down toward Earth.
“What have you done?” she demanded flashing a glance at Abna’s intently watching face. “Set fire to a city?”
“No, we have— There! See?”
The girl looked at a brief flash of flame. Then the lavender beam faded out and the hum of power from the atomic plant ceased.
“Satisfactory, highness?” Sefner Quorne inquired.
“Entirely,” Abna assented, and to the Amazon he added, “I have destroyed the force-dome existing round Atlantis. That is the first move. I shall next travel to Atlantis and resurrect its scientific weapons. I must go quickly before your Earthly curiosity-mongers start investigating. After that will come the destruction of every city, unless we compromise.”
The girl made a bewildered movement. “Abna, I do not understand you!” she declared. “Whatever I may think of you, I have never considered you a man of violence. I honestly do not believe that you would deliberately kill a whole race of people just to get me. You haven’t the necessary ruthlessness for that!”
“You underrate me,” he replied. “There was a time in the past when you killed thousands to try to master the world: why shouldn’t I perform a similar action for, to me—a far greater prize—to get you?”
The Amazon said nothing and Abna’s reddish eyes regarded her steadily. “One word from you can stop it all, Vi. However,” he added, smiling, “think it over. I shall not go to Earth to deal with Atlantis until tomorrow. In the meantime you are my guest. Excellency!”
Sefner Quorne came over without a sound.
Abna said: “Please see that Miss Brant has the guest suite. And you’ll forgive me, Vi,” he added to her, “if I place a guard outside your door. With you right here in my hands I would be a fool indeed if I gave you any opportunity to escape!”
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