Jules Barnes' assignment was to write a
play which would save Earth from an invasion;
he wrote well—and yet the crucial scene was—
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
December 1955
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Colen Shratt studied his image in the silver-framed mirror. Hismustache was neatly clipped, his face clean shaven and well talcumed.His captain's uniform—light blue—was pressed and looked as if it hadjust been bought. He was fastidious in everything he did.
He looked away from the mirror as the valet approached.
"Mr. Barnes is ready to see you, sir," the valet said.
"Good."
Captain Shratt was ushered into a study where Jules Barnes was waiting.
"Won't you be seated?" Barnes invited.
The captain sat, laid his cap on his knee.
"A drink?"
"No, thank you."
"Mind if I have one?"
"Of course not."
Barnes fixed himself a drink. He seated himself on a sofa, leaned backand said: "Now what's it all about? What would an intelligence officerwant with me?"
"I'm not only representing the Americas at this moment, Mr. Barnes,but all of earth as well. I'm here to ask you to do a service for theworld."
"A service?" Barnes sipped at his drink. "You must be mistaken about mecaptain. I'm just a playwright."
"But I haven't made a mistake, Mr. Barnes. And you can save theworld. Just by writing a play."
"Oh, come now."
"Mr. Barnes, within two months we shall have a visitor from Mars."
Jules Barnes finished his drink. "You don't say?"
"I do say."
"Are you sure you won't have a drink? Or have you had too many?"
"Mind if I use your phone?"
"Go right ahead."
The captain dialled a number, said into the mouthpiece: "General?...Shratt. I'm at Barnes.... Yes. Of course. Have the President put on,will you?" The captain turned to Barnes. "You'd recognize the voice ofWilliam Livingstone, the President of the Americas, wouldn't you?"
Barnes nodded his head silently.
He took the receiver from Shratt and listened gravely.
The captain watched the playwright put down the receiver. "Well?" hesaid.
Barnes sat down, gulped noisily. "I'm listening."
"We're going to have a visitor from the planet Mars. Now supposedly,they will be on a friendly mission. But that will not be so. Theirpurpose is to determine our strength. If they decide we are ahead innuclear physics and rocket-ship expansion we will be attacked. If theydecide we are behind in experiments then we will be safe."
"I don't understand. Why shouldn't they attack us if they know we areweak?"
"They're not in any great hurry. If they believe we are strong andready to launch rocket ships into space then they will stop us,determined we should never leave our planet to conquer space. If theybelieve we are weak and backward, they will let us alone, for the timebeing. As long as we aren't a threat then they'll feel safe, ready toconquer us at their own sweet time. They move when they think we'restrong, ready to blast ships into space, ready to conquer the stars.Till then they'll let us alone, knowing we're weak and ineffectual."
"How do you know all this?" Barnes asked, moving to make himself andShratt drinks. This time, the captain accepted his drink. "How can youpossibly know of their plans?"
"We've picked up their ship by radar. We've been listening in on theirconversations with Mars through a new I.B.M. machine. And Germanyhas sent their best code experts to give a