It was quite by accident I discovered this incredible invasion ofEarth by lifeforms from another planet. As yet, I haven’t done anythingabout it; I can’t think of anything to do. I wrote to theGovernment, and they sent back a pamphlet on the repair and maintenanceof frame houses. Anyhow, the whole thing is known; I’m notthe first to discover it. Maybe it’s even under control.
I was sitting in my easy-chair, idly turning the pages of a paperbackedbook someone had left on the bus, when I came across the reference thatfirst put me on the trail. For a moment I didn’t respond. It took sometime for the full import to sink in. After I’d comprehended, it seemedodd I hadn’t noticed it right away.
The reference was clearly to a nonhuman species of incredible properties,not indigenous to Earth. A species, I hasten to point out, customarilymasquerading as ordinary human beings. Their disguise, however,became transparent in the face of the following observations by theauthor. It was at once obvious the author knew everything. Kneweverything — and was taking it in his stride. The line (and I trembleremembering it even now) read:
… his eyes slowly roved about the room.
Vague chills assailed me. I tried to picture the eyes. Did they rolllike dimes? The passage indicated not; they seemed to move throughthe air, not over the surface. Rather rapidly, apparently. No one in thestory was surprised. That’s what tipped me off. No sign of amazementat such an outrageous thing. Later the matter was amplified.
… his eyes moved from person to person.
There it was in a nutshell. The eyes had clearly come apart fromthe rest of him and were on their own. My heart pounded and mybreath choked in my windpipe. I had stumbled on an accidental mention of a totally unfamiliar race. Obviously non-Terrestrial. Yet, to thecharacters in the book, it was perfectly natural — which suggested theybelonged to the same species.
And the author? A slow suspicion burned in my mind. The authorwas taking it rather too easily in his stride. Evidently, he felt this wasquite a usual thing. He made absolutely no attempt to conceal thisknowledge. The story continued:
… presently his eyes fastened on Julia.
Julia, being a lady, had at least the breeding to feel indignant. Sheis described as blushing and knitting her brows angrily. At this, I sighedwith relief. They weren’t all non-Terrestrials. The narrative continues:
… slowly, calmly, his eyes examined every inch of her.
Great Scott! But here the girl turned and stomped off and the matterended. I lay back in my chair gasping with horror. My wife and familyregarded me in wonder.
“What’s wrong, dear?” my wife asked.
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