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肩書を与える: Stranger from Smallness Author: Otis Adelbert Kline * A 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBook * eBook No.: 1400251h.html Language: English Date first 地位，任命するd: Jan 2014 Most 最近の update: Jan 2014 This eBook was produced by Roy Glashan. 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed 版s which are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright notice is 含むd. We do NOT keep any eBooks in 同意／服従 with a particular paper 版. Copyright 法律s are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright 法律s for your country before downloading or redistributing this とじ込み／提出する. This eBook is made 利用できる at no cost and with almost no 制限s どれでも. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the 条件 of the 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia License which may be 見解（をとる）d online at http://gutenberg.逮捕する.au/licence.html To 接触する 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia go to http://gutenberg.逮捕する.au
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Smaller than a microbe, the Stranger was—but how he grew! Ralph Blake's surprise kidnapping flung him into 猛烈な／残忍な adventure in the torrid Sahara. Then a strange creature from 水銀柱，温度計 stepped in—and even Ralph's death couldn't 妨げる him from unravelling the 網状組織 of intrigue!
最高の Science Novels Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 1, August, 1941
FOR some time now, as he passed from 立ち往生させる to 立ち往生させる in the 甘い-smelling Suk al Attarin, the Street of the Perfumers in the Arab ４半期/4分の1 of Cairo, Ralph Blake, American microbe hunter, had been conscious that he was 存在 followed. The young bacteriologist, a tall, slender, sun-bronzed chap with dark brown hair that was bleached at the 寺s by （危険などに）さらす to the sun, had received a week's furlough from his gruelling labors. He was trying to find the 原因（となる） of and cure for a mysterious malady that was decimating the native 全住民 of lower Egypt.
He had hurried through tiffin after his late arrival at Shepheard's hotel, anxious to make the most of the 簡潔な／要約する time 割り振るd him for 転換 in the Moslem metropolis, and had decided to 小旅行する the bazaars. The afternoon and evening had passed with many of the bazaars still unexplored, and now, it was 近づく の近くにing time.
観察するing the two who had been に引き続いて him, from the corners of his 注目する，もくろむs, he saw that one was short and slight, with a patch over one 注目する，もくろむ beneath his red tarboosh. The other was as tall as Blake himself, but fully twice as wide, and walked with a rolling gait. His rotund countenance might have been jovial, save for the ferocious 面 imparted by three livid scars, two on the left, and one on the 権利 味方する of his 直面する.
These two, it appeared, were no strangers to 手渡す-to-手渡す fights, and their cloaks, no 疑問, 隠すd curved, かみそり-辛勝する／優位d jambiyehs.
What could be their 動機 in に引き続いて him? 強盗? 暗殺? That might be it. He had a 特に bitter enemy—Hans Friedl of Vienna—not only jealous of his fame, but filled with undying 憎悪 because Blake had once exposed a ridiculous error he had made.
Twice before, Blake's life had been 試みる／企てるd by 明白に paid 暗殺者s, once in 中国 and once in New Guinea, and both times he had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd Friedl. But he had been unable to 証明する anything because he had been compelled to kill his 攻撃者s ーするために save his own life.
He began to wish that he had brought his favorite 武器—a Colt forty-five. But, as it still reposed in the 底（に届く） drawer of his wardrobe trunk, he could only rely on nature's 武器s.
He could, of course, call a policeman. But he had not been attacked, and could not even 証明する that he was 存在 followed. Besides, every native policeman now seemed suddenly and mysteriously to have disappeared. There were only a few straggling shopkeepers and their 従業員s about.
Keeping の近くに to the nearest of these, Blake, with an 成果／努力 to appear nonchalant, followed them out of the Suk al Attarin, and turned 権利 on the Sukten Nahhasi. He kept a 用心深い 注目する，もくろむ on the two villainous looking cutthroats who were に引き続いて him. It was during one of his quick ちらりと見ることs backward that the group he had taken to be 害のない shopkeepers suddenly jumped on him. A cloak was thrown over his 長，率いる, and he was borne to the ground by the sheer 負わせる of numbers.
Blake 即時に 攻撃するd out from the ground with 握りこぶしs and feet, flinging them in all directions, then tore the stifling 倍のs of the cloak from his 長，率いる and leaped 築く. They were on him again in an instant, like a pack of wolves around a stag, and he saw that the monocular and the scar-直面するd ruffian who had been に引き続いて him, had joined them—were 明らかに the ringleaders. He clipped the former on the jaw, sending him reeling against a 塀で囲む, then punched the latter in the belly, 二塁打ing him up in agony.
Yet the 半端物s would have been far too 激しい had it not been for the sudden 外見 of the newcomer. He was slender, of medium 高さ, and wore a closely-cropped, jet 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd. Save for his green turban, his 着せる／賦与するing was European. He sprang into the fray, laying about him on the 長，率いるs and shoulders of the 群衆 with a 厚い Malacca 茎, and shouting in Arabic: "Dogs and sons of dogs! Scum of the suks! I'll teach you to attack a friendly stranger!"
At this, Blake's 加害者s quickly took to their heels, 耐えるing with them the still unconscious monocular, and helping his groaning, scar-直面するd companion.
The newcomer helped Blake to 小衝突 his 着せる／賦与するing and put it in order.
"Yukliff—" began Blake gratefully, when the other interrupted.
"Don't thank me. It was the least I could do after this unwarranted attack by my countrymen. I am 荒廃させるd. I am ashamed that such a thing could occur on the public streets. And not one of my police officers in sight."
"Your police officers?" wondered Blake.
"許す me to introduce myself, effendi. I am Hagg Nadeem."
Hagg Nadeem! The 指名する was 伝説の. Blake had often heard tales of the mysterious 長，率いる of Cairo's secret police, という評判の not only to be an ulema, a Moslem 宗教上の man learned in ed din, the 約束 of Al Islam, and a hagg who had made the 宗教上の 巡礼の旅, but an Oxford 卒業生（する）, 井戸／弁護士席 詩（を作る）d in the arts and sciences of the occident, and a descendent of an 古代の line of Egyptian magicians who had communicated their esoteric knowledge from father to son since before the days of Mena, the first pharaoh.
He had regarded many of the tales of this man's 偉業／利用するs as pure 捏造／製作—utterly preposterous—and the man himself as a myth. Now he stood before him in the flesh, suave and smiling.
Blake returned his 感染性の smile.
"I've heard of you, Hagg Nadeem," he said. "I'm Ralph Blake, bug hunter."
"And I've heard of your brilliant work as a microbiologist, doctor," replied the hagg. "Will you join me in a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す of refreshment? There is a cafe nearby."
"I'll be delighted," Blake replied.
They 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the corner of the next 味方する street, and the Egyptian led the way into a （人が）群がるd, smoke-filled cafe, where a Moghrebi dancing girl swayed and wiggled her 井戸／弁護士席-一連の会議、交渉／完成するd curves to the wailing of hautboys, and strumming oudhs, the 動揺させる of tambors, and the throbbing of small 派手に宣伝するs.
The patrons of the place, Blake noticed, were mostly natives, many of them smoking 泡ing shishas and sipping small cups of 黒人／ボイコット, syrupy coffee.
"A （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する for two, Ali," Hagg Nadeem told the obsequious 長，率いる waiter. "And send Husayn."
Ali seated them on a cushioned divan behind a small circular （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and hurried to 召喚する the proprietor, who lost no time in coming.
"My poor place is 栄誉（を受ける）d, ya hagg," he said. "What is your 楽しみ?"
"Coffee for me. For my friend, perhaps, something stronger?"
He looked inquiringly at Blake.
"A 二塁打 arak, neat," Blake replied.
Hagg Nadeem proffered a curiously carved ivory cigarette 事例／患者, yellow with age and 明白に a 価値のある antique.
Blake took a cigarette. Hagg Nadeem followed his example, and a watchful waiter quickly held a light to each.
A moment later, the proprietor himself （機の）カム up followed by two more waiters, one bringing the coffee, the other the arak.
Blake 注ぐd four fingers of the powerful anise-flavored date brandy, and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd it off neat. A pleasant glow went through him as he splashed more of the （疑いを）晴らす, colorless アルコール飲料 into the tall glass.
"I needed that one," he told the hagg. "Now I'm ready to dawdle over the next in the 認可するd fashion."
"I やめる understand," smiled Hagg Nadeem. "A 勇敢に立ち向かう man 直面するs danger without flinching, but once it is past there is a reaction."
While the hagg talked, Blake suddenly felt a peculiar sensation come over him. At first he felt as if he were 縮むing to infinite smallness, while the smiling, bearded 直面する beside him assumed gigantic 割合s. The next instant, it seemed that it was he who was swelling to incredible size, that the hagg was scarcely larger than a mosquito, and had receded very far away.
Blake was not a toxicologist, but he knew the symptoms. Bangh, the subtle oriental 麻薬 that changes and distorts the senses! He had been 麻薬d either by the cigarette or the drink.
He clutched the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, tried to rise. But the cloth （機の）カム away in his 手渡すs, 流出／こぼすing coffee and アルコール飲料. He sank 支援する, inert, as consciousness left him.
BLAKE awoke with a splitting 頭痛, and a かわき which he knew could not have been engendered by four fingers of arak. He opened his 注目する，もくろむs and squinted around him. He was lying on a low divan, 覆う？ in embroidered silk pajamas that must have cost a small fortune. Silken coverlets and pillows spoke also of opulence. Antique rugs, every one a collector's piece, Bokharas, Kashgars, Kashans, Kermanshahs, Feraghans, Daghestans, and many others, 完全に covered the 塀で囲むs 同様に as the 床に打ち倒す.
The room was lighted by an antique oil lamp 一時停止するd from the 天井 by four golden chains, the oil 含む／封じ込めるing a perfume which scented the room with 激しい fragrance. The 天井 was decorated with ornate arabesques.
Blake sat up. His 長，率いる swam dizzily and a feeling of nausea attacked him. But this 徐々に 沈下するd, and he got to his feet. No door or window was 明白な, so he began systematically 製図／抽選 支援する one rug after another. The first two 明らかにする／漏らすd only 明らかにする expanses of 塀で囲む. The third showed the 出口 of what was 明白に an 空気／公表する-条件ing system, which accounted for the comfortable 気温 of the room as compared to the terrific heat of the outdoors.
Behind the fourth rug was a 激しい mahogany door. He tried the 扱う and 設立する it locked. Just as he was about to 続けざまに猛撃する on the door to attract attention, the lock clicked and the door swung outward.
A 巨大（な） negro, naked save for turban and loin cloth, held the door open. A light skinned Abyssinian girl held a tray on which was a steaming 巡査 マリファナ, a small cup, and a 一括 of cigarettes.
"Your coffee, sidi," she said.
Placing the tray on a small teakwood taborette inlaid with mother of pearl, she filled the cup with steaming, spiced coffee, and withdrew.
Blake heard the door softly の近くにd and locked.
After a second cup of coffee and half a cigarette, the American began to feel a bit better. He was about to go and 続けざまに猛撃する on the door once more, when he heard it open. This time a young Arab entered.
"Salaam aleykum," he said with a polite 屈服する. "Your bath is ready, sidi."
Blake followed the bath boy along a dimly lighted hallway, with stucco 塀で囲むs, mosaic tiled 床に打ち倒すs, and flickering alabaster oil lamps which hung from the 天井 at intervals of about ten feet.
The bath room again 反映するd the wealth and magnificence of his host, with its 塀で囲むs of 黒人／ボイコット marble and sunken tub of pale green tile. All metal fixtures were gold plated.
After a bath, shave and massage, Blake's bangh hangover had 事実上 disappeared, and he was ravenously hungry. The bath boy then opened the door of a connecting dressing room.
Here another young Arab had laid out his 着せる／賦与するs, neatly 圧力（をかける）d. 明白に, his abductors must have 得るd his baggage at Shepheard's, perhaps by 偽のing his 署名 on a 公式文書，認める and 支払う／賃金ing his hotel 法案. He 設立する his wallet and small change 損なわれていない, and the boy who had brought his 着せる／賦与するing produced his wrist watch.
Another door, 開始 into the hallway, swung wide, and the Abyssinian girl 発表するd: "Breakfast を待つs in the salamlik, sidi."
She 勧めるd him along the hallway once more, then 負かす／撃墜する a winding stairway into a large room, circled at the 最高の，を越す by a 審査するd balcony, and fully two stories in 高さ. It was furnished in oriental splendor.
A man was seated at the far end on a high cushioned divan behind a large taborette. As the American drew 近づく, he stood up to 迎える／歓迎する him. He was big and powerful of でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる. His features, however, save for the 注目する，もくろむs, were 隠すd by a corner of his kufiyeh.
"Salaam aleykum, ya shaykh," said the American.
"Wa aleykum salaam, Hakim Blake," the man replied. "Fadil," 動議ing him to a seat on the divan. His 発言する／表明する was pleasant and 井戸／弁護士席 modulated.
His guest seated, the big man 再開するd his own place on the divan and clapped his 手渡すs. A serving man entered, 耐えるing a tray on which was a plate of khubz, bread baked in flat 一連の会議、交渉／完成する loaves and 削減（する） in 狭くする （土地などの）細長い一片s, and a small dish of crystalline 激しく揺する salt.
The big man tore two small bites from one of the （土地などの）細長い一片s, and dipped them in the salt. He passed one to Blake with a pious "Bismillahi!" and ate the other, himself. Blake 受託するd and ate the bite of bread, and the serving man withdrew.
Blake was 井戸／弁護士席 aware of the "法律 of the salt". If a Bedouin ate bread and salt with a guest, he not only 示す that he was his friend, but that the guest was under his 保護. A Bedouin who broke the 法律 of the salt would consider his 直面する blackened, himself 不名誉d in the 注目する，もくろむs of God and man.
Once more the big man clapped his 手渡すs, and three more servitors entered with melons, fruits, eggs fried in butter, khubz, assorted pastries and coffee.
Not a word was uttered during the meal. When it was 完全にするd the host thanked God with a 熱烈な "Alhamdulillah!" which was echoed by Blake. After they had laved their 手渡すs in 冷静な／正味の water 注ぐd from the thin neck of an earthen 大型船 by a serving girl, two tall, ornate shishas, topped by glowing charcoal, were brought.
Blake placed the amber mouthpiece between his lips, and 吸い込むd the water- 冷静な／正味のd smoke while waiting for his host to speak. The latter did so after exhaling a wisp of blue vapor.
"The sun of my day is darkened," he said in Arabic, "and the moon and 星／主役にするs of my night are muffled in clouds."
Blake readily 解釈する／通訳するd this to mean that his host was afflicted by a 広大な／多数の／重要な 悲しみ, and that, perhaps, there was something he could do about it.
"Allah 認める you the 力／強力にする of peace," he replied, "but after, it may be that, inshallah, I can be of some small 援助."
Blake felt that this was his best course. No indignant questions as to why he had been 誘拐するd, no blustering about his 権利s as an American 国民, but a frank and friendly 申し込む／申し出 to try to help this man who had proffered undying friendship and 保護 によれば the custom of his race.
"May Allah return your 親切 a thousand 倍の," said the shaykh. "I 深く，強烈に 悔いる that I was compelled to use the only means left to bring you here. But, as you are aware, I had no choice left after your three 拒絶s—"
"My three 拒絶s!" interrupted Blake. "I don't やめる understand."
"I still have your written answers to my three letters, which were 調印するd 'Shaykh Subhan', though that is not my 指名する, requesting your 援助," said his host.
"But I never received or answered any requests for 援助," said Blake. "I'd like to see those letters."
The 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs of the shaykh regarded him 熱心に for a moment above the 隠すing kufiyeh.
"There is much in this that puzzles me, sidi," he said. "にもかかわらず the letters, I believe you. And you shall be shown them in 予定 course. But, at 現在の, we have before us a far more important 事柄—a 事柄 of life and death."
"Suppose you tell me about it," Blake 示唆するd.
"My daughter has lain like one dead for more than three months. Yet the learned hakims, the doctors of your race and 地雷, say she is not dead. She is my only child, the jewel of my home and the salt of my life. She does not speak or move or even breathe. She takes no food or water, yet does not waste away, nor does her 団体／死体 気温 change. One of our Arab hakims said she had been bewitched by a jinni, but, as every one knows, there are no jinn in these days.
"The Feringhi hakims are confounded, and can do nothing, but recommended your services. That is why, when I received those three 拒絶s, I had you brought here through the contriving of my lifelong friend, Hagg Nadeem."
"I'll 診察する your daughter. But first, where am I? And what about 研究室／実験室 器具／備品?"
"You are in my humble house on a 確かな oasis in the Arabian 砂漠, brought hither in my airplane. I cannot 明らかにする／漏らす more, as I do not wish you to know this 場所, or my 指名する. But if you 後継する in 傷をいやす／和解させるing my daughter, I 約束 to make you 豊富な beyond your most extravagant dreams. I had a 完全にする 研究室／実験室 任命する／導入するd here two months ago."
He clapped his 手渡すs, and a servitor appeared in the doorway.
"Send Marjanah," he 命令（する）d.
The servitor withdrew silently, and a few moments later, a portly, 有能な looking Soudanese woman appeared in white uniform.
"This is my daughter's nurse," said the shaykh, "who has cared for her since birth. She will 行為／行う you to her."
The old nurse led him up a winding stairway to the balcony that circled the 最高の，を越す of the large salamlik and was 審査するd from the 観察 of any one below by mashrabiyeh lattice work.
"Destooir!"
She shouted the 警告 to all 女性（の）s within 審理，公聴会 to 隠す their 直面するs, as a man other than their master approached. An instant later the door 直面するing them was swung open by a 抱擁する 黒人／ボイコット eunuch, 武装した with a scimitar and jambiyeh, and as tall and muscular as the one who had been on guard at Blake's door that morning.
Marjanah waddled past the eunuch into the harim and Blake followed. They passed several curtained doorways which exuded the scents of exotic perfumes and from which （機の）カム the subdued murmur of 女性（の） 発言する／表明するs. At the end of the 回廊（地帯）, a slave girl drew 支援する a curtain, and Blake followed Marjanah into the richly furnished boudoir of the shaykh's daughter.
Waddling up to the bed, the old nurse crooned: "Nuralayn, my little white dove, the 広大な／多数の／重要な hakim has come at last to 傷をいやす／和解させる you. Awaken, my little pigeon."
Nuralayn. Blake translated the 指名する automatically as he stepped 今後. Nur al ayn—Light of the 注目する，もくろむs. And, as he saw the slender, youthful 人物／姿／数字 that lay on the bed, he realized that the 指名する was 井戸／弁護士席 deserved. The thin silken coverlet failed to hide the lovely curves of budding young womanhood. Nor did the yashmak of lace and tiny strung pearls which the nurse had placed over the girl's 直面する, covering all but the 注目する，もくろむs and profusion of wavy, night-黒人／ボイコット hair which lay on the pillow, 隠す her exotic beauty.
"Light of the 注目する，もくろむs! She's a ノックアウト!" thought Blake. Then he 解任するd that his visit was 純粋に professional, and tried to 回復する from his surprise 十分に to 行為／法令／行動する the part.
He was 井戸／弁護士席 enough 熟知させるd with Moslem decorum to 差し控える from 解除するing the yashmak, however, he drew 支援する a corner of the silken coverlet, 選ぶd up the limp arm that lay next to him, and felt for the pulse. No heartbeats were discernible.
"Tell your master I'll need a stethoscope," he 知らせるd Marjanah.
"権利 here, doctor."
He turned at the sound of a new 発言する／表明する behind him, and saw a white 覆う？ nurse, her features 隠すd by a 外科医's mask. She had wheeled in a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, on which surgical 器具s lay in a porcelain tray. She was proffering the stethoscope.
Blake listened for heartbeats and sounds of breathing. Both were inaudible. He raised an eyelid, not unmindful of the beauty of the long, curling 攻撃するs. Then he raised the other. The 注目する，もくろむs were turned 上向き and inward, as if in 深い hypnosis.
Catalepsy, he thought. But what can have 原因（となる）d it?
"We'll take a 血 見本／標本," he said.
His 有能な assistant 手渡すd him a tuft of cotton and a 瓶／封じ込める of alcohol. When he had sponged the white 肌 just above the crook of the 肘, she 手渡すd him the needle with plunger 始める，決める. As it slowly seeped into the glass バーレル／樽 of the 器具, Blake saw that the 血 was rich, red, and healthy looking as that of a normal individual.
"Where's the 研究室／実験室?" he asked.
"I'll show you すぐに, doctor."
Marjanah held 支援する the door curtain as the nurse wheeled out the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, Blake に引き続いて. They passed the curtained doorways of the harim and the big eunuch, then circled the balcony, presently entering a room on the far 味方する. It was a clean, white-tiled 研究室／実験室 with the 最新の and best 器具／備品, lighted by a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of large windows that let in the sunlight. Looking out, he saw a rolling expanse of 砂漠 sand dunes, with the heat devils quivering above them in the hot 日光.
Blake 始める，決める to work at once, making the 決まりきった仕事 実験（する）s and examinations, but could find nothing wrong. The 血 seemed perfectly normal and he was about to 除去する the last slide from his 構内／化合物 microscope when a tiny, an unbelievable 人物／姿／数字 近づく the 中心 of the 減少（する） of diluted 血 he was 診察するing, caught his 注目する，もくろむ.
It was a living, moving, microscopic replica of the girl from whom he had just taken the 血 見本!
BLAKE was dumfounded. A tiny human 人物／姿／数字 smaller than a 血 血球, いっそう少なく than one twelve-thousandth of an インチ in 高さ! And one which perfectly 再生するd the form of the girl from whom it had been taken. What could it mean?
He blinked, and looked again. Perhaps this was a hallucination induced by the bangh with which he had been 麻薬d.
Now the 人物／姿／数字 was moving. It was raising its tiny 武器 toward him. One 手渡す pointed to its mouth. The other rubbed its stomach.
"Good God!" he exclaimed. "It's—she's hungry."
"I beg your 容赦, doctor."
His assistant, still masked, was standing at his 肘.
"Eh? Oh, nothing. I mean—our 患者 is hungry. She must be, after three months without food. 血 shows 餓死 symptoms—hunger toxins."
He didn't やめる know why he had said that. Something inside him, it seemed, was 警告 him not to tell this masked assistant of his what he had seen. A telepathic message, perhaps! The tiny 人物／姿／数字 in the water droplet had now laid its finger on its pouting lips.
He turned to his assistant. "Go and …に出席する the 患者. Let me know at once if she should show any 調印する of returning consciousness."
"Yes, doctor."
Alone, Blake turned his attention once more to the tiny 人物／姿／数字 in the 減少（する） of water. It was still signalling for food. But how could he 料金d this minute 存在?
He 追跡（する）d around, 設立する some sterile glucose, and mixing a small 量 with a little distilled water, 追加するd it to the droplet on the slide. As he 除去するd the dropper, he thought he saw a tiny creature smaller than a midge, circle 上向き from the slide and 飛行機で行く toward the 沈む.
Once more he 適用するd his 注目する，もくろむ to the microscope. The little 人物／姿／数字 had disappeared! Had he killed or 解散させるd it? Or had it sprouted wings and flown away?
He went over the slide very carefully, moving it to bring the field of the microscope around the 辛勝する／優位s of the 減少（する）, and 徐々に spiraling to the 中心. But there was no 調印する of the tiny individual he had seen before. He then made an examination with the polariscope, but could discern no trace of the glucose he had dropped.
As he worked, he was ますます aware of a slight rustling sound behind him. However, he was so 吸収するd by what he was doing that he paid no attention, until he suddenly heard a 深い bass 発言する／表明する say:
"Thanks for the 解除する, doctor."
He turned and saw, not a man, but a 工場／植物! At least, it 似ているd a 工場／植物. It was a 有望な green in color, though やめる unlike any 工場／植物 he had ever seen. Its grotesque, fluted, バーレル／樽-形態／調整d 団体／死体 was supported by six corkscrew 形態／調整d tendrils, each about three feet in length. Another fringe of tendrils grew from around the upper 縁, like the tentacles of an octopus. One of these, he 観察するd, was 大（公）使館員d to the 開始 of the water faucet. A second was twined about the 扱う. All others ended in large, spade- 形態／調整d leaves which were swaying gently in the 有望な sunlight, making the rustling sound which he had heard.
Up from the 中心 spiraled another tendril about an インチ in thickness. It was surmounted by a pear-形態／調整d 長，率いる, with grotesque features that looked remotely human. The 長，率いる was 栄冠を与えるd with fern-like leaves that curled 上向き and outward.
The creature was growing 速く, the 団体／死体 swelling like an inflated balloon, while the 長，率いる 拡大するd in 割合, and the leaves and tendrils lengthened.
Speechless with amazement, Blake watched it grow until the leaf 栄冠を与える touched the 天井. Then the tendril beneath the water faucet was 孤立した, and the one which gripped the 扱う turned off the water.
The 長，率いる, now larger than a bushel basket, spoke.
"You seem startled, doctor. But I 観察する that you are not afraid."
"Why should I be," Blake replied. "You are only a hallucination like the little 人物／姿／数字 I saw on the slide. It disappeared, and so will you."
"You are 表明するing a hope rather than a 有罪の判決," grinned the 抱擁する 長，率いる. "You don't like my looks, and so you hope I'll disappear. But tell me, why did you 減少（する） that glucose の上に the slide?"
"I, er, there was an 控訴，上告 for food. I didn't know what else to use for a microscopic creature."
"You did wisely," rumbled the 巨大（な）. "I was that microscopic creature. You 答える／応じるd to my 控訴，上告 for food, and I will not forget it. In fact, I am going to help you."
"Just who and what are you?" asked Blake. "And how could you change from a protozoan to a 巨大（な） 工場／植物?"
"Simple enough when you know how to 支配（する）／統制する natural 法律s," was the reply. "As to who and what I am—all in good time. For the 現在の you may consider me a jinni. That's what the Arabs have always called my people. No 疑問 you've read 'The Thousand Nights and a Night'."
"I regard those stories 純粋に as 作品 of the imagination," said Blake. "And, 率直に, I consider you a figment of the imagination. You have no real 存在, but are the result of suggestion, perhaps by that wily magician, Hagg Nadeem, brought about through hypnosis or 麻薬s. You are a hallucination; your 発言する／表明する is telepathic."
"Even for a scientist, you are 異常に 狭くする and dogmatic," rumbled the 深い 発言する／表明する. "If I weren't obligated to 認める you three wishes by the 倫理学 of my people, I might 差し控える from doing so on that 得点する／非難する／２０, even though you now blindly stand in deadly danger, arguing with me about whether or not I 存在する."
"If you are not a hallucination or a hypnotic suggestion, you might tell me who and what you are."
"A 完全にする explanation would be beyond your 力／強力にする to しっかり掴む," was the reply. "You don't believe in the jinn, and I didn't tell you I was a jinni—only that my people are so called by the Arabs, and surrounded with superstitious legends. In other lands they have been variously called elves, fairies, leprechauns, and a host of other 指名するs, when they 明らかにする／漏らすd themselves. I am a 訪問者 from another 惑星—the one you call 水銀柱，温度計."
"That's preposterous," said Blake. "There could be no life on 水銀柱，温度計, with its perpetually broiling day on one 味方する and its unchanging terrifically 冷淡な night on the other."
"Not life as you biologists know it here," was the 患者 explanation. "But life, にもかかわらず, infinitely more intelligent than anything on this 惑星. It has had to be, from the beginning, because of the difficulty of 生き残り under such 条件s. You, as a microbiologist, are aware that there are micro?ganisms on the earth that can live and 再生する in boiling water."
"認めるd," said Blake. "I've seen them."
"My people, 普通は, are sub-microscopic. We are smaller than 電子s—smaller, even, than photons."
"And I 推定する you traveled here from 水銀柱，温度計 on an 電子."
"Your guess is closer than you realize, but not やめる 正確な. My space ship was 牽引するd here by a controlled 陽電子, with the 速度(を上げる） of light," （機の）カム the stranger's 深い 発言する／表明する.
"And where is your space ship now?"
"Moored in one of the 分子s of this form which I have 一時的に assumed. I can always get it when I want it, can go 支援する 即時に to sub- microscopic smallness. When you 抽出するd me from the vein of that lovely creature whom I was 調査／捜査するing, I was smaller than a filterable ウイルス. However, I 速く built up a unicellular 団体／死体 the size of a microbe, 肉体的に, a protozoan. I knew you would be 利益／興味d in a strange protozoan—that, in fact, was what you were looking for and half 推定する／予想するing to find. But I knew, also, that you would be definitely more 利益／興味d in a 団体／死体 of microscopic size 形態／調整d like the girl. So, as a 選び出す／独身 独房d animal- cule, I assumed that 形態／調整. Like an amoeba, it was 平易な for me 速く to assume almost any 形態／調整."
"Why did you want to get my attention and communicate with me? And why were you '調査／捜査するing' the girl?"
"I'll answer your last question first, since it forms the background for the other. I am here on a 科学の 探検隊／遠征隊. It has been some time since any of my people visited your 惑星, and I was 委任する／代表d to check up on evolutionary 進歩 here. 初めは, I fell into the lily pond that surrounds the fountain in the 中庭. I 調査／捜査するd the protozoans and took 公式文書，認めるs. Then I 診察するd more コンビナート／複合体 creatures and the 工場／植物s that grew around and in the water.
"I was 調査／捜査するing a lotus flower when Nuralayn （機の）カム into the 中庭, sat on the 縁 of the fountain, and plucked the flower. Before placing it in her hair, she 吸い込むd its fragrance, and me with it. I was, at the moment, smaller even than one of the minute osmophores of floral aroma she drew in through her lovely nostrils.
"After she had returned to her room, I put her in a 明言する／公表する of 一時停止するd 活気／アニメーション, so she wouldn't be moving about and 乱すing me during the examination, which took やめる a long while. You humans are tremendously コンビナート／複合体 organisms, as you know. And there was a lot of checking to be done in order to 公式文書，認める what evolutionary changes, if any, had taken place since her ancestors were 調査／捜査するd."
"Reasonable enough," said Blake. "But that doesn't explain your その後の 活動／戦闘s. They seem 完全に illogical."
"And so they are if you 欠如（する） a sense of humor. I 観察する that yours is not over-developed. However, we jinn, as the Arabs call us, do have a 高度に developed sense of humor. We are fond of playing いたずらs, and frequently of assuming 形態／調整s which 脅す and mystify men. I had been grubbing along for many weeks and was ready for some 緩和 when you happened along.
"I didn't have to have that glucose. But it was tremendously useful to me, and I gave you the chance which many of my people have given yours, to do me a 好意, in return for which, if 成し遂げるd, you would be 認めるd three 好意s or wishes. As a biologist, you should be able to guess what I did after that."
"As a protozoan, you 吸収するd the glucose, a 高度に concentrated 有機の food 構内／化合物. You 拡大するd the 選び出す／独身 独房 you 住むd, or perhaps, multiplied the 独房 by fission, making a more コンビナート／複合体 organism."
"権利 the last time."
"Then you sprouted wings, flew to the 沈む, and there began your 現在の growth."
"By what 過程?"
"There is 非，不，無 which even begins to explain it, except 光合成."
"光合成 it is. I 要求するd only carbonic 酸性の gas, 空気／公表する, water and sunlight, ーするために build up the さまざまな 炭素 and 窒素 構内／化合物s of which this 実験の 団体／死体 is composed, and all were here in 豊富. It is true that there were a number of elements 欠如（する）ing, which I might have 利用するd, had they been 利用できる. But the 炭素 and 窒素 構内／化合物s are ample for my 目的. I can assume any 形態／調整 or color I wish, with them alone. And I don't even need to get my water from a tap. There's plenty of it in the 空気／公表する. The tap was easier, it was 利用できる, and I was feeling a bit lazy after my strenuous 調査s.
"But I perceive that you are worried about Nuralayn. She is 無事の and is now conscious and taking nourishment. I 除去するd the hypnotic （一定の）期間 after you put me on the slide. However, her 回復 has put you in deadly danger. I must 警告する you that—. Ah! Too late. It's here already."
Blake turned involuntarily at the sound of the 開始 of the 研究室／実験室 door. Standing in the hallway was the masked, white-覆う？ form of the nurse. The 権利 手渡す held a long-バーレル／樽d Luger, to which a silencer was 大（公）使館員d, and it was leveled at his 長，率いる. There was a coughing sound …を伴ってd by the click of the recoiling breech, and the 激しい 弾丸 smacked him between the 注目する，もくろむs, passing through his brain and out through the 支援する of his 長，率いる, 黒人／ボイコットing out all consciousness.
BLAKE'S lapse of consciousness, it seemed, had lasted for but an instant. For he saw the 暗殺者 still standing in the doorway, smoking gun in 手渡す, looking 負かす／撃墜する at his 団体／死体. The latter raised the white skirt, 明らかにする／漏らすing a pair of man's trousers, rolled up above the 膝s, and thrust the gun into a holster.
Behind him stood a man wearing a red tarboosh—the big, scar-直面するd man who had 影をつくる／尾行するd Blake in the bazaar. He said in guttural German:
"Did you get him, Doktor Friedl?"
"Between the 注目する，もくろむs, herr captain," was the 返答 of the white 覆う？ 人物／姿／数字, in the same tongue. "He won't cross my path again. But we must get away quickly. Raus!"
その上の 見通し of the two was 削減（する） off by the の近くにing of the door. From where they had stood they had not been able to see the 沈む or the photosynthetic 創造 of the Stranger.
So it was his mortal enemy, Friedl, who had had him 逮捕（する）d and brought here. Evidently, the Viennese bacteriologist had tried his best to 決定する the 原因（となる） of the girl's 昏睡, and had failed. As a last 訴える手段／行楽地, he had advised her father to send for Blake. But he had seen to it that the requests had never reached the man he envied and hated, and that (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むd letters of 拒絶 had come to the shaykh. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 Blake to come as a 囚人, not as a friend, 成し遂げる his 仕事, then 落ちる 平易な prey to his ピストル.
The 回復 of Nuralayn and Blake's 最大の関心事 in the 研究室／実験室 had given him the 適切な時期 he sought. As for the other, evidently a Nazi officer, his scars received in the customary student duels, Blake knew his presence in Arabia in disguise meant that some secret 計画（する）s directed against the Suez Canal or the Irak oil fields, or both, were 存在 carried out.
As these thoughts raced through Blake's mind, he suddenly remembered that he was supposed to be dead. Yet, here he was, standing 築く, and looking toward the door which had just の近くにd. It didn't make sense. He turned around and saw the 推論する／理由. His 団体／死体 still lay on the 床に打ち倒す as it had fallen, the 長，率いる lolled over to one 味方する. There was a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, blue 穴を開ける in the forehead, and the 支援する of the 長，率いる was a 血まみれの mess that made him shudder. He was dead! There could be no 疑問 of it. He tried to 選ぶ up a 実験（する） tube on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する beside him. His 手渡す, though it seemed 相当な enough to him, passed through it as if it had not been there at all.
So shocked was he by the swift sequence of events, and the 現実化 that he had passed into another 計画（する） of 存在—a 計画（する） in which, as a practical scientist, he had never believed—he had forgotten the presence of the Stranger. But the 深い, bass 発言する／表明する of the latter made him look up.
"I ーするつもりであるd to 警告する you," he said, "but your enemy 行為／法令／行動するd more 速く than I 心配するd. I am still ready, however, to 認める you three wishes, whenever you choose to 表明する them."
"What good are three wishes or any number of wishes to me, now?" asked Blake dejectedly. "I'm dead. This is the end."
"It is true that you are dead によれば the 基準s of the materialistic world into which you were born," said the Stranger. "But this is not the end."
"Just what and where am I?" asked Blake.
"You are now 住むing your astral 団体／死体, which …を伴ってd your other 有機の 爆撃する. It is just as 構成要素 as the one on the 床に打ち倒す, but in a different space, co?istant with the one you just left. Ordinarily, in the new space, you would not be able to see your 団体／死体, this room, or this photosynthetic 実験 I have built up—let alone hear its 発言する／表明する. However, I have 橋（渡しをする）d the gap for you between the space you are now in and the one I am at 現在の 住むing, by amplifying your 未開発の inherent 力／強力にする which your scientists call ESP, or extra sensory perception—a 力／強力にする of the subjective mind, or ego.
"But that will be enough explaining for now. I perceive your 熱烈な wish to return to the spatial 存在 you just left. Shall I 認める that wish for you, as number one? I can build a new 団体／死体 for you, or 修理 the old one. What is your 楽しみ?"
"I'd prefer the one I had."
"認めるd. That makes my work a bit いっそう少なく 複雑にするd. While I do this 修理 職業, I 示唆する that you go to the salamlik. Something is about to take place there which will be of かなりの 利益／興味 to you."
Blake turned and walking to the door, tried to open it. But the 扱う was like thin 空気／公表する to his touch.
"Walk through it, man," said the stranger. "Have I been talking to you for nothing?"
Blake went through the door as if it had not been there, 横断するd the balcony that circled the upper half of the salamlik, and descended the stairway.
The big man known to him as the shaykh was seated where he had last seen him. But now, his 直面する was not 隠すd. And Blake 即時に 認めるd the 強硬派 nose and 炎上ing hennad 耐えるd of Sidi Abdul Hafiz al Hasani, direct descendent of Mohammed, and the 長，率いる of his 砂漠 tribe. His picture appeared frequently in papers all over the world, and by some, he was regarded as more powerful than the king, himself.
Beside him sat Nuralayn. As there was no one else 現在の, her lovely features were 明かすd. The yashmak and scarf lay on the taborette before her. As he had seen her before, he had felt attracted to her, and had fought off the feeling. Now, as he 観察するd her, 有望な-注目する，もくろむd and vivacious, chatting with her father, the feeling returned with 圧倒的な 軍隊, and he realized that there was a 社債 between them which not even death could 切断する.
The shaykh said: "Can't you tell me which man with Allah's 援助（する）, brought about your marvellous 回復?"
"I wish I might, father. I did not see the strange hakim, yet, somehow I seemed to sense his presence. I sense it even now. I picture him as tall, slender and handsome, with dark brown hair that has been bleached at the 寺s by the sun. I dreamed of him as I lay there unconscious; I feel that he is here with us, now."
"But that is impossible," said her father. "He is up in the 研究室／実験室."
"によれば the learned hakims, my illness was impossible, also. I know only that when I awakened Marjanah was with me. Hakim Friedl （機の）カム in a few moments after, disguised as a nurse. He looked surprised when he saw me awake, and so when he told me that he had cured me I did not believe him. He told Marjanah to bring me some broth, and then went out rather hurriedly, as if he had just thought of some 事柄 he must …に出席する to at once."
"There is much in this 事件／事情／状勢 that confounds the 推論する／理由," said the shaykh. "I am beginning to have 疑問s of the 誠実 of my 宣言するd friend, Hakim Friedl. And it seems a strange coincidence that your 傷をいやす／和解させるing should take place with the advent of the new hakim, 反して, Friedl was here for two months, and could do nothing."
At this moment, one of the sharif's 巨大（な） negro guards appeared in the doorway and cried:
"Destooir!" Then he 発表するd: "Hakim Friedl and his servants, Abdullah and Selim."
As Nuralayn あわてて adjusted the yashmak and scarf, 隠すing her hair and the lower part of her 直面する, Blake turned and saw Friedl, now undisguised and wearing 熱帯の whites, enter the room. He was followed by the 抱擁する, scar-直面するd man who had 影をつくる／尾行するd Blake in the suk, and his companion, the little, wiry monocular. Blake 解任するd that Friedl had 演説（する）／住所d the big man known as Abdullah as 'captain', and 裁判官d that he must be a Nazi officer in disguise. What mischief could these two now be planning, here in the Arabian 砂漠?
FRIEDL, though slight in stature for a man, was やめる good looking. His smooth-shaven features were 正規の／正選手 in 輪郭（を描く）, and his manner was suave and polished.
"Fadil," 招待するd the shaykh politely, as they （機の）カム up. "Please be seated."
Friedl took the seat on the U-形態／調整d divan on the 味方する nearest Nuralayn. The others sat 負かす／撃墜する on the other 味方する.
"I have come to congratulate you, sidi, and to （人命などを）奪う，主張する my reward," said Friedl.
Abdul Hafiz replied: "Your congratulations I 受託する, and, Alhamdulillah, I thank God for the blessing He has seen fit to bestow upon his servant. But your について言及する of a reward puzzles me."
"Surely you have not forgotten that you 約束d me anything I might ask, in 事例／患者 I should 傷をいやす／和解させる your daughter," said Friedl.
"I have not forgotten," replied Abdul Hafiz. "But I have no proof that you 傷をいやす／和解させるd my daughter. It was only after Hakim Blake arrived that she 回復するd her health."
"Hakim Blake had nothing to do with her 回復," said Friedl. "He was not even in the room when she 回復するd her senses."
"Why not send for Hakim Blake and let him speak for himself, father?" 示唆するd Nuralayn.
"I have already done that," the shaykh replied. "I told Mahmood to go and 召喚する him as soon as he should 収容する／認める Hakim Friedl. Here he comes, now." He raised his 発言する／表明する. "収容する／認める Hakim Blake, Mahmood," he 命令（する）d.
The big eunuch （機の）カム in, and Blake saw that his 手渡すs were trembling and his 注目する，もくろむs were big with 恐れる.
"There has been a most calamitous happening in your 世帯, master," he said, his 発言する／表明する quivering. "Hakim Blake is dead, 発射 through the 長，率いる and lying on the 床に打ち倒す of the 研究室／実験室. And there is draped over him a strange and most horrible looking 工場／植物, the like of which I have never seen before. It looks like a 創造 of the jinn, and it has a big 長，率いる larger than a watermelon. It roared at me, and I believe it is about to devour the 団体／死体 of Hakim Blake."
Abdul Hafiz looked closely at the big negro, 観察するd the 表現 of 恐れる in his rolling 注目する，もくろむs and the trembling of his 抱擁する 手渡すs.
"What old wives' tale is this, Mahmood?" he asked ひどく. "No member of my 世帯 would 殺す a man with whom I have eaten salt. And you know as 井戸／弁護士席 as I that there are no jinn in these days."
"Only Allah is all-seeing and all-knowing," quavered Mahmood, yet 追加するd resolutely: "Perhaps the master will look for himself."
At this, Blake saw a look of understanding pass between Friedl and the scar-直面するd Abdullah. 同時に, the three men whipped out Lugers, covering Abdul Hafiz, his daughter, and the eunuch.
"No need to look, shaykh," said Friedl. "Blake is dead, and I killed him, as I will you, and all of your 世帯 if you don't do as I say. You have 辞退するd to 支払う／賃金 me the reward so I'll take it by 軍隊."
Ignoring the leveled ピストル, the shaykh looked at Friedl, and Blake saw that he was unafraid.
"I will die with 辞職 if it is the will of Allah," he said. "But I will die with sadness in my heart because I have entertained a 誤った friend. You have blackened my 直面する and 不名誉d me with my people by 殺すing a guest with whom I have eaten salt. Shoot us all, then, and have it over with. But you and your servants will not escape this house alive. At the first sound of a 発射, my people will 涙／ほころび you to bits—you and your henchmen."
"You are mistaken, shaykh," said Friedl. "All other members of your 世帯 are now the 囚人s of our men. If you need proof, look."
A man wearing the uniform of a Nazi corporal, and carrying an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 ライフル銃／探して盗む, stood in the doorway. At a 調印する from Friedl, he stepped aside and barked a guttural 命令（する）, その結果, a dozen 兵士s carrying ライフル銃／探して盗むs with 銃剣 直す／買収する，八百長をするd, marched in.
Friedl's companions now threw off their Arab disguises. The big scar- 直面するd man wore the uniform of a captain in the 飛行機で行くing service; the small man, who also discarded his 注目する，もくろむ patch, was a 中尉／大尉／警部補.
"Captain Speyer and 中尉／大尉／警部補 Hess," 発表するd Friedl.
"I'll take over, now, Herr Doktor," said the captain. "Shaykh, we have finished with subtlety. You, and all of your 世帯 are our 囚人s. We will use your 城 and your oasis as an 空気／公表する base and 無線で通信する 駅／配置する. 地下組織の hangars will be built. The caravan from the coast, which was 内密に landed several days ago, has just arrived with men, 道具s and 供給（する）s. Look out the window."
"The Saudi 政府 will not 服従させる／提出する," said the shaykh. "You and your men will be 殺害された or driven out."
"The puny 政府 of Ibn Saud will not be in 存在 much longer," sneered the captain. "He is only a puppet of the British, anyway. As soon as this base is ready, five thousand of our 計画（する）s will come. パラシュート（で降下する） 軍隊／機動隊s will quickly 逮捕（する） all of the smaller cities. The larger will, if necessary, be subdued or destroyed by 爆弾s. Egypt will be 鎮圧するd between Italian Libya and German Arabia. Then we will develop this country as it should be developed. The Suez Canal will no longer be a British 溝へはまらせる／不時着する."
Blake saw the whole 計画（する） 即時に. Arabia turned into a German 植民地. Italy 持つ／拘留するing Egypt. The British life-line broken—England 削減（する） off from India and Oceania, save by the long and 危険な 大勝する around the Cape, or the still longer one through the パナマ Canal. The British Empire partitioned の中で the 独裁者-nations. Then there would be nothing left, save the Americas, and that would mean a fearful struggle to the death for his own countrymen. He must do something about it—must try to save his country from the frightful ordeal of such a war. But how?
"You will go to your harim now, shaykh, where you will remain a 囚人," said the captain. "So long as you make no 抵抗 or 成果／努力 to escape, it will not be 侵害する／違反するd. I （人命などを）奪う，主張する only the reward 約束d the Herr Doktor, which you 拒絶する／低下するd to give—your daughter. Nuralayn will go with me to my ４半期/4分の1s."
Abdul Hafiz had been listening with 患者 辞職. But when this affront to the 栄誉（を受ける） of his daughter was について言及するd, his 直面する became a thundercloud of wrath, and the large vein on his forehead which 示すd him as a descendent of the Prophet, stood out like whipcord.
He rose to his 十分な 高さ, and said:
"You filthy Feringhi swine! My daughter is not for you!"
With the 速度(を上げる） of a striking serpent, surprising in a man of his size, his 手渡す flew to his belt—（機の）カム up with the keen, silver-機動力のある jambiyeh. Then he sprang straight at the captain, ignoring his leveled Luger.
The captain 解雇する／砲火／射撃d, point blank, just as Blake who, in his excitement had forgotten that he was 権力のない to 援助（する）, leaped at the officer and 試みる／企てるd to ひったくる the ピストル from his しっかり掴む. His leap carried him, not into the 中央 of the fray, but into a 冷淡な, whirling 黒人／ボイコット 無効の.
When he could see once more, he 設立する that, instead of standing in the salamlik, he was lying on his 支援する looking up at the 天井 of the 研究室／実験室.
ASTOUNDED at his sudden 移行 from the salamlik to the 研究室／実験室, Blake sprang to his feet. As he did so, he clutched at the 辛勝する／優位 of the porcelain-topped （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する for support. It 攻撃するd わずかに, and the 瓶／封じ込める of glucose he had left there some time before slipped off and fell to the 床に打ち倒す.
For a moment, the significance of this 事故 did not impress itself on his consciousness, so filled was his mind with what had taken place in the salamlik. Then he suddenly realized that he had moved a ponderable 反対する with his 手渡す. He was 支援する in his earthly 団体／死体 once more, and could give 戦う／戦い to Friedl and his companions.
He 急ぐd to the door, and turning the latch, 設立する it locked. He was about to 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 it with his shoulder, when the 深い 発言する／表明する of the Stranger 停止（させる）d him.
"I wouldn't try that, doctor."
Blake wheeled around, and looked for the 工場／植物 monstrosity which the Stranger had created some time before. It had disappeared 完全に, and he could see no 調印する of this strange （独立の）存在 from 水銀柱，温度計 in any other physical form. A low chuckle, however, told the American that he was nearby.
"Why wouldn't you try it—wherever you are?" he asked.
"Because," replied the 発言する／表明する of the Stranger, "you would only get yourself 発射 again, and I just got through 修理ing you. A splendid 職業, too, if I do say so, myself. That's 推論する／理由 number one. And, 推論する／理由 number two: the events which you 証言，証人／目撃するd in the salamlik took place more than a half hour ago. The struggle is all over. I had to let you get accustomed to your 団体／死体 and the new 独房s I 組み立てる／集結するd and 任命する／導入するd, before waking you. And that took about half an hour."
"Then you locked the door so I couldn't 急ぐ out?"
"正確に."
"But what happened after I—er—left?" "Captain Speyer's 弾丸 passed through Abdul Hafiz' kufiyeh and grazed his ear, but did him no 害（を与える）. Then 中尉／大尉／警部補 Hess struck the shaykh on the 長，率いる with the butt of his ピストル, （判決などを）下すing him unconscious. 兵士s carried him up to his harim and left him there. And Nuralayn, fighting her captors like a young wildcat, was taken to the ４半期/4分の1s of Captain Speyer."
"Hell's bells! Let me out of here!"
"Wait. Nuralayn has not been 害（を与える）d. And Speyer will be busy for a while with 軍の 事柄s. The caravan which arrived some time ago consisted of about two hundred Nazi 兵士s disguised as 砂漠 Arabs. The men of the shaykh's 世帯 have been 武装解除するd, and put to work, 建設するing 地下組織の hangars for the first (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of 計画（する）s that is to be 召喚するd by 無線で通信する as soon as construction is 完全にするd. Captain Speyer, disguised in kufiyeh and cloak, in 事例／患者 British airmen should pass over, is superintending the work."
"And I suppose the house is 十分な of Speyer's 武装した guards."
"権利. その上に, Friedl, who is 監督するing the 取り付け・設備 of the new 無線で通信する 駅／配置する, will remember about your 団体／死体 存在 here in the 研究室／実験室, and will bring 兵士s to 除去する it soon, as he wants the 研究室／実験室 for himself. You still have two wishes left, and I'll consider it a personal 好意 if you'll make them and get it over with. I have important 義務s of my own to …に出席する to."
A number of wishes flashed through Blake's mind. A gun. A 控訴 of 弾丸- proof armor. A disguise. A 連隊 of 兵士s. Then, he 反映するd, all of these things might or might not save Nuralayn and 敗北・負かす Doctor Friedl, Captain Speyer and their confederates. He must make his wish take in a lot of 領土.
"For wish number two," he said, "I want you to help me 敗北・負かす the 目的s of Captain Speyer, his confederates and associates."
"I felt that one coming," said the Stranger. "But I don't 非難する you. It's a 合成物 wish, and one not so easily gratified, even by me. I could, of course, bring 確かな 軍隊s to 耐える, and 即時に destroy Captain Speyer and his confederates. But that is not my way—it would be like a man ruthlessly 狙撃 a 害のない songbird or a helpless 国内の animal, unable to defend itself."
"I don't get the analogy," retorted Blake. "This bunch is more like a nest of poisonous snakes than a flock of 害のない birds or beasts."
"That is from your prejudiced viewpoint, only," said the Stranger. "I look on them more tolerantly. However, they are your enemies and you have 表明するd your wish, which I am ethically obligated to 成し遂げる. But, I must tell you from the start that the 結果 will be in 疑問 until the end. We jinn are powerful, but not omnipotent."
Suddenly, at the point from which the 発言する／表明する had been coming, Blake saw a human 人物／姿／数字 appear. It was an exact replica of himself, even to his 着せる／賦与するing and the sun-bleached hair at his 寺s.
"What the—!" began Blake in amazement.
"How do you like it?" asked the 人物／姿／数字, in the 深い 発言する／表明する of the Stranger, whirling around at the same time so he could get a 完全にする 見解（をとる）.
"What's the idea of mimicing my looks?" Blake asked. "And how did you do it so quickly?"
"All part of my 計画（する）," the Stranger told him. "I can't bring myself to destroy these conspirators, any more than you could bring yourself to shoot an unsuspecting man in the 支援する. It wouldn't be 冒険的な—would be 完全に too 平易な.
"As for materializing quickly, as a 事柄 of fact, I didn't. But, while I was materializing this 最初の／主要な 団体／死体, I remained invisible to you. It is not as 複雑にするd as yours, inside. However, as it will serve as a parent 団体／死体, it had to be endowed with a lot of extra 独房s."
"A parent 団体／死体? What do you mean?"
"Watch."
While Blake looked on, dumfounded, the 団体／死体 suddenly divided—became two 同一の 団体／死体s.
"Multiplication by fission," said the Stranger. "Although you 複雑にするd organisms can't do it, many protozoans of your world do it 権利 along. A parent becomes two daughters, or sons—it doesn't 事柄 which—for they are sexless. They, in turn, divide in two, and so on."
The 団体／死体 on the left had been speaking. Now, the 団体／死体 on the 権利 interrupted.
"Why tell him all that? He's a microbiologist."
Blake's astonishment 増加するd, as the 団体／死体 on the left replied:
"True. I'd forgotten that for the moment, I was so busy creating us. All 権利, get over there in 前線 of the window."
The 団体／死体 on the 権利 walked over and stood in 前線 of the window, 直面するing the door. The one on the left strode to the door, then wheeled about, 直面するing the other. In the 権利 手渡す blossomed a silenced Luger. It coughed once, and the 団体／死体 in 前線 of the window 崩壊（する）d, 演習d between the 注目する，もくろむs. It lay just as Blake had lain only a short time before, 明らかに dead.
"I don't know whether to call that fratricide, 親殺し, infanticide, or just plain 殺人," said Blake. "Why did you do it?"
His 二塁打 grinned at him from the doorway, as the 発言する／表明する of the Stranger replied through its lips:
"Had to have a 団体／死体, didn't we? The whole show would be given away, さもなければ. This 団体／死体, which will be carted off and buried by Speyer's men, will make them think you are dead. Also, it will help me to carry out some 初期の 計画（する）s I have in mind."
"But the other 団体／死体 spoke—showed 知能. It was alive, and you killed it."
"It 含む／封じ込めるd a part of my ego—or life essence," said the Stranger. "But I have taken that 支援する. It is nothing, now, but a lifeless 複合的な／複合企業体 of 事柄 without mind."
"Where did you get that ピストル?" Blake asked. "You didn't 分裂（する） that off from you by fission."
"True. I materialized it, as I did this 最初の／主要な 団体／死体. But it is much simpler. A ferric 構内／化合物 lubricated with a 炭素 構内／化合物. The 支配するs, also, are a 炭素 構内／化合物, the 弾薬／武器, 炭素 and 窒素 構内／化合物s with some 厚かましさ／高級将校連 and lead. The water 麻薬を吸うs in this place are a bit thinner because of the metals. The 残り／休憩（する） （機の）カム from the 空気／公表する and the H2O and CO2 in 中断 in it. I don't need it any longer."
He 投げつけるd it away from him, straight at the window, and Blake waited for a 衝突，墜落 of glass that would 誘発する the guards. But 非，不，無 （機の）カム. The 武器 消えるd before it reached the window.
"That will 追加する a bit to the thickness of the water 麻薬を吸うs," said the Stranger.
To Blake, it seemed more incredible that an individual with such 力／強力にするs should be absent-minded, than the marvellous 力／強力にするs, themselves. But the Stranger certainly showed 調印するs of absent-mindedness. Evidently he いつかs concentrated so 深く，強烈に on what he was doing that insignificant 詳細（に述べる）s, for the moment, were blanked from his consciousness.
At this moment, the tramp of ひどく shod feet sounded on the tiled 床に打ち倒す of the hallway outside.
"They are coming for the 団体／死体," said the Stranger. "I'll make us invisible. Say nothing and leave things to me."
AS the sound of 前進するing feet drew closer, Blake's companion suddenly disappeared from sight. So, also, did Blake. He couldn't even see his 手渡す held in 前線 of his 直面する, though he could see all other 反対するs in the room 明確に, save the Stranger.
The door latch 動揺させるd, there was a muffled exclamation, and then some one turned the 重要な, which was on the outside. The door swung open, and Friedl stepped in. He still wore his white 控訴, and on his 長，率いる was a cork helmet, 始める，決める at a rakish angle.
Behind him （機の）カム four goose-stepping guards.
"選ぶ up that carcass," 命令（する）d Friedl. "And take it—"
His words were 削減（する） short as his helmet was suddenly and violently jammed 負かす／撃墜する over his ears by an invisible 手渡す.
"Who did that?" he barked, looking accusingly at the four guards.
The nearest replied:
"We don't know. It was not one of us."
"It was a poltergeist," said the man next to him.
"Esel!" said Friedl, adjusting his helmet. "There is no such thing as a poltergeist. 選ぶ up this carcass and throw it to the jackals. Don't bother to bury—"
Again his order was interrupted, this time by something which 掴むd his ankles and jerked his 脚s out from under him. As he struck the 床に打ち倒す, both of his shoes were violently pulled off, then flung out through the doorway into the hall. His helmet, which had fallen off, was 選ぶd up and also, thrown into the hall.
"選ぶ it up yourself, Doctor Friedl," ordered the 深い 発言する／表明する of the invisible Stranger. "You are the 殺害者."
For a moment, Friedl lay there, dazed.
The four guards with cries of: "The poltergeist! It will get us next!" turned and fled.
緊急発進するing to his feet, Friedl 試みる／企てるd to follow them, but was caught by the scruff of the neck and jerked 支援する.
Again the 深い 発言する／表明する 命令（する）d:
"選ぶ up the 団体／死体. Take it out and give it decent burial—or you'll hear from me again."
Pale with 恐れる, Friedl stooped, 解除するd the 団体／死体 to his shoulder, and staggered out through the door with it. The door slammed shut behind him, and the Stranger, 持つ／拘留するing the latch, suddenly became 明白な once more, as did Blake.
"I don't like to destroy these creatures of puny intellect," mumbled the Stranger, grinning, "unless it is necessary. But いつかs it amuses me to chastise them a bit—when they deserve it."
"I kinda got a bang out of it, myself," 認める Blake. "What do you think he'll do, now?"
"Undoubtedly he now believes in poltergeists. He'll probably give the 団体／死体 decent burial, and try to exorcise the ghost which he believes attacked him. And now, to make us invisible once more, so we can clean up this 職業."
"By the way, how do you do it?" asked Blake, as both he and the Stranger seemed to 解散させる into thin 空気／公表する once more.
"Always the curious scientist," twitted the Stranger. "You want to know the how and why of everything. I do it by changing the reflective angles of 肌, hair and 着せる／賦与するing, so that they will no longer 反映する or 吸収する the 明白な light rays. Instead, they bend them. The 選び出す／独身 octave of light rays 明白な to the human 注目する，もくろむ now passes 完全に around this 団体／死体 and yours, without 存在 either 反映するd or 吸収するd. And now that we are both invisible once more, we'll go to Nuralayn. Come on."
The door swung open, and Blake started to walk through, but 衝突する／食い違うd with the Stranger.
"Here, this won't do," said the latter. "You'll be getting in my way. I'll just make the infra red rays emitted by our 団体／死体s 明白な to you, so that won't happen again. Stand still for a minute."
Blake stood still, and in a moment, the 輪郭（を描く） of the Stranger's 団体／死体 glowed a dull red. Also, he could now see his own 団体／死体 with the same weird coloring.
"The human 注目する，もくろむ is 極度の慎重さを要する, 普通は, to only one light octave out of fifty-five," said the Stranger. "I've 延長するd your 見通し a bit on the red end of the spectrum, so you can see rays which are invisible to other humans, though they could be seen by some insects, or 記録，記録的な／記録するd by a 適切に sensitized camera plate."
They circled the balcony, passing six guards 武装した with ライフル銃／探して盗むs and 地位，任命するd at さまざまな intervals on the way, and, at its さらに先に end, the Stranger paused before a door which stood open, and from which （機の）カム the sound of guttural German 発言する／表明するs.
"今後," said the Stranger, "we'll communicate by telepathy. Don't speak. Just think your speech, and I'll do the same. You will seem to hear me, and will understand, but it will not be perceptible to the minds of others."
He walked silently into the room, Blake at his heels.
Friedl, his usually immaculate 着せる／賦与するing disheveled, and smeared with 血 from the 団体／死体 he had been compelled to carry, was 注ぐing himself a stiff brandy from one of the captain's 瓶／封じ込めるs, his 紅潮／摘発するd 直面する 示すing that this had not been the first.
Captain Speyer, his Arab disguise discarded in 好意 of his uniform, was seated in an 平易な 議長，司会を務める, smoking a cigar.
"Stuff and nonsense," the captain was 説. "Poltergeist! And you call yourself a scientist and a practical man."
"But I tell you there is no other explanation," expostulated Friedl, after gulping the アルコール飲料. "The four men who now have 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 団体／死体 saw and heard what happened."
"And so you want me to get the chaplain to bury the 団体／死体, and lay the ghost. All 権利, I'll do it to humor you. （疑いを）晴らす out, now, and send the chaplain to me. Then get busy and help superintend the digging. I'll be さもなければ and more pleasantly 占領するd for the next hour or so. The fair Nuralayn is impatiently を待つing my presence in the next room."
He rose, and walked over to the taborette, where he helped himself to a brandy and soda.
"Have another with me before you go, Herr Doktor," he said, 注ぐing a neat four fingers for Friedl, "and wish me joy."
"I can use another," Friedl replied, 選ぶing it up.
The Stranger silently walked to the doorway which separated the two rooms of the captain's apartment, and drew 支援する the curtain for Blake to enter.
Nuralayn, bound 手渡す and foot, lay on a divan の中で the silken cushions. Although her 注目する，もくろむs showed that she had been weeping, the 涙／ほころびs still 粘着するing to her long, curved 攻撃するs, no sound escaped her, and there was a 反抗的な look in her 注目する，もくろむs as she struggled to 解放する／自由な herself from her 社債s. Her 着せる／賦与するing was torn and disarranged as if she had had a terrific struggle with her captors, and her beaded yashmak hung loose at one 味方する.
"You'll have to appear to her 自然に, so she won't think you a ghost," telepathed the Stranger. "Go over to the 長，率いる of the divan so she won't see you until you speak to her."
Blake 従うd, and an instant later, his 団体／死体 became fully 明白な.
"Don't be afraid, Nuralayn," he said softly. "It is I, Hakim Blake, come to 救助（する） you."
She looked up at him, her 注目する，もくろむs wide with astonishment, as he took out his pocket knife and 削減（する） her 社債s.
"My hakim," she said softly, as he chafed her wrists. "I knew you would come, even though they told me you were dead. You look 正確に／まさに as I saw you in my dreams, even to your hair that has been bleached at the 寺s by the sun."
She raised her 手渡す and softly 一打／打撃d his hair, and Blake, looking 負かす／撃墜する at her lovely 直面する, saw a starry light in her 注目する，もくろむs that drew him irresistibly. Suddenly, he took her in his 武器, 鎮圧するing her warm, red lips with his. She 答える／応じるd to his kiss with a passion that sent him into a seventh heaven of ecstasy, and, for the moment, the 危険，危なくする which menaced them both was forgotten. Then she went limp, and he saw that she had fainted.
"All 権利, break the clinch, and don't try to 生き返らせる her, now," telepathed the Stranger. "We'll have to work 急速な／放蕩な."
Blake put the girl 負かす／撃墜する, then turned and gasped in amazement. A living duplicate of Nuralayn was looking at him, and the infra-red 輪郭（を描く） of the Stranger had disappeared. 速く, the new 団体／死体 divided into two which looked 正確に／まさに alike. One spoke in a 発言する／表明する that 正確に／まさに mimicked that of Nuralayn.
"I am Naralayn," said the 人物／姿／数字. "I will take the place of Nuralayn."
"And while she does that," said the 深い 発言する／表明する of the Stranger, 問題／発行するing incongruously from the other 女性（の） 人物／姿／数字, "we'll take Nuralayn to her father."
"Nar al ayn. 解雇する／砲火／射撃 of the 注目する，もくろむs," Blake translated to himself. "Oh, boy! I'll bet this will be good!"
"It will," rumbled the Stranger. "Too bad you can't stay to 証言，証人／目撃する it. Bring your beloved, and we'll go."
As Blake 選ぶd up the unconscious Nuralayn, the Stranger once more （判決などを）下すd them both invisible, save for the infra-red which Blake could now see.
The Stranger opened the door which led into the hallway, and they went out, just as the 激しい tread of Captain Speyer sounded at the doorway which connected the two rooms.
OUT in the hallway the Stranger telepathed:
"I'll leave you, now, as I have some 事柄s to …に出席する to. Go straight to the harim, and when you have passed through the door, you and Nuralayn will become 明白な once more."
With these words the Stranger disappeared.
Silently, Blake trod past guard after guard, carrying his precious 重荷（を負わせる）, until he （機の）カム to the door of the harim, where two 兵士s stood guard with 銃剣 直す／買収する，八百長をするd. He walked between them without making a sound, then raised the curtain and stepped inside the hallway. As he did so, both he and Nuralayn became 明白な once more, and Mahmood, the eunuch, who had been dozing on a （法廷の）裁判 at one 味方する, sprang to his feet and cried: "Destooir!"
Then, suddenly 認めるing the two who had just come in, and believing Blake to be an apparition, he sank 負かす／撃墜する upon his 膝s, trembling violently with fright.
His first shout had brought a number of curious, 隠すd 直面するs to the curtained doorways. At sight of the two who had just entered, there were murmurs of surprise and incredulity.
"Get up and take me to your master," Blake ordered. "Can't you see that I am alive? Could a spirit carry the daughter of Abdul Hafiz?"
Shamefacedly, the eunuch got to his feet.
"Harkening and obedience, sidi," he said, then drew aside the curtain of the first doorway on the 権利 for them to enter.
As Blake stepped through the doorway, he was met and welcomed by the shaykh, himself, who had heard the commotion and was coming out to 調査／捜査する. The 倍のs of a white 包帯 showed on his brow beneath his kufiyeh, but he appeared as vigorous as ever.
"Alhamdulillah!" he exclaimed. "賞賛する God for one true friend の中で so many deceitful enemies!" He looked 負かす／撃墜する at the senseless girl in Blake's 武器. "Is she—" he began anxiously.
"She is 無事の, and has only fainted," Blake told him.
"Ya, Marjanah!" the shaykh shouted.
The big, 有能な nurse （機の）カム bustling out of Nuralayn's 控訴, and at sight of Blake's 重荷（を負わせる）, began alternately 賞賛するing Allah and cooing over her little white dove.
Blake placed the girl tenderly in her bed, and then left her to the ministrations of her 有能な nurse, 主張するing that the sharif come with him.
"She has had a terrible shock," he told the old man. "Let her 残り／休憩（する） for a while. You can come in to see her after she has 回復するd consciousness. It would not be wise to awaken her now."
"I 屈服する to your superior 知恵, Hakim Blake," Abdul Hafiz said. "Come to my apartment. We'll smoke a 麻薬を吸う and discuss the predicament in which we find ourselves. Perhaps there will be some way out of the 罠（にかける）."
Captain Speyer, about to enter the room where he believed Nuralayn to be lying, bound and helpless, was interrupted by a 非難する on the door of his apartment.
"Who's there?" he called.
"Sergeant Weiss with a 囚人."
The captain was annoyed by this interruption, yet curious as to who the 囚人 might be. He decided on a swift 調査.
"Bring the 囚人 in," he 命令（する）d.
The sergeant opened the door, and an old, gray bearded darweesh was 押し進めるd 概略で into the room by his two guards.
"Where did you get this, sergeant?" asked the captain.
"He just 棒 up to the gate on a white mule, and told the guard he wished to 支払う／賃金 a visit to the shaykh."
"So. Who are you, old man?"
"Shaykh Yahya of the Ahmediyeh Darweesh, excellency, at your service," the old man replied.
"Indeed. And pray, what service can you 成し遂げる for me?"
"I can 成し遂げる feats of jugglery and 魔法 to amuse your 世帯," said the old fellow. "Behold."
So 説, he plucked at the end of the sergeant's nose, and produced a silver coin. This he appeared to thrust up his own nostril, but a moment later brought out a long 黒人／ボイコット cigar. He rubbed this between his palms and 開始 them, 公表する／暴露するd a small ivory cigarette 事例／患者, which he 現在のd to the captain with a 屈服する. Then he paused, as if waiting for the officer's approbation.
The latter 星／主役にするd intently at him for a moment—then suddenly stepped 今後 and しっかり掴むing the long white 耐えるd, gave it a terrific jerk. It （機の）カム away in his 手渡す, and he followed up by knocking off the tall dervish hat, and stripping off a pair of 誤った eyebrows, 明らかにする／漏らすing a man who looked not much more than thirty-five, with a jet 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd.
"Hagg Nadeem," he said. "So you thought you could fool me with that childish disguise."
"I 収容する／認める I was doubtful," replied the hagg, returning his 厳しい gaze unflinchingly. "However, I did not 推定する／予想する to be brought before you—did not, in fact, 推定する／予想する to find you in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 here so soon."
"So—my 計画（する）s were known to you. Then why didn't you take 活動／戦闘 before?"
"You Farangh have a 説: 'Give a dog enough rope and he'll hang himself,'" replied the hagg.
"So you were not sure, and （機の）カム here in this ridiculous disguise to 調査／捜査する."
"Perhaps."
"Ah. You wish to be evasive. 井戸／弁護士席, we have means of making you talk. However, I 港／避難所't time to bother with you for the moment. Take him away, sergeant. Lock him up and 始める，決める two guards to watch him. He is a magician, and a master of illusion, so see that he plays no tricks on you. I'll …に出席する to him later. But first, to more 圧力（をかける）ing 商売／仕事."
As the hagg was dragged out, he turned once more to the door which led to his bedroom.
Passing through, he was amazed to see that his fair 囚人 was unbound, and reclining on the diwan, smoking one of his cigarettes.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, my dear," he said, 前進するing toward her. "However, we can （不足などを）補う for lost time now, can't we?"
"Of course, captain, if you wish it," she 答える／応じるd, with a 甘い submissiveness that astounded him. "Here, sit beside me and let me make you comfortable."
Scarcely crediting the 証拠 of his senses, the captain sat 負かす／撃墜する on the diwan.
She took one of his cigarettes and placed it between his lips. Then, ignoring the はしけ that stood on the taborette, she held a pink fingertip to the end of the cigarette, and it began to smoke and glow.
"What the—"
But she interrupted: "You've been 持つ／拘留するing out on me. How about a drink?"
"Sorry. I didn't know you used アルコール飲料." He started to rise, but she 押し進めるd him 支援する.
"Don't bother. I'll get it. Make yourself comfortable."
She went into the other room and returning with the brandy 瓶／封じ込める and glasses, 注ぐd a drink for each of them.
The captain took the proffered glass, and they clinked the 縁s together.
"To our love," he said.
"To our 燃やすing love," she replied, and touched her red lips to the liquid, その結果 a blue 炎上 sprang up on its surface. She palmed it, and the 炎上 went out.
The captain was goggle-注目する，もくろむd.
"Pretty tricks you have with 解雇する／砲火／射撃," he said. "Where did you learn them?"
"Pooh. Those were nothing," she replied. "Watch."
She took the drink of brandy into her mouth, and a moment later, exhaled blue 炎上s through her lips and nostrils.
"Good God, girl! You'll 燃やす yourself!" exclaimed the captain.
"Not at all," she replied. "Naralayn never 燃やすs herself."
"Naralayn! But I thought your 指名する was Nuralayn."
"A mistake," she replied. "And now that we have enjoyed a drink and a cigarette together, I'll run along."
"No you don't, young lady," he replied. "I see it all, now. You and your father's friend, Hagg Nadeem, have cooked up some magical tricks to 脅す me. But I am not easily 脅すd. You remain in this apartment with me. You are 地雷."
He sprang to his feet, 掴むd her in his 武器, and 圧力（をかける）d his lips to hers. But in that instant, he drew 支援する and 解放（する）d her with a howl of 苦痛. It was as if he had embraced a 存在 of white hot metal. His uniform was charred and smouldering; his 手渡すs and lips were blistered from the 激しい heat.
"You she-devil!" he roared between blistered lips, as he （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 out the 誘発するs. "You have gone too far." He whipped out his Luger, but before he could raise it to 解雇する／砲火／射撃, it too became white hot, 爆発するd in his 手渡す, and turned to a cloud of intensely hot gas.
As he recoiled, roaring with 苦痛, from the terrific heat of that cloud of gaseous metal, Naralayn suddenly disappeared—melted into nothingness before his 注目する，もくろむs.
The captain sagged 負かす／撃墜する on the diwan, then reached for the brandy 瓶／封じ込める with his left 手渡す; the other was useless. He took a 抱擁する pull at the 瓶／封じ込める, then another and another, until he had drained it. 投げつけるing it against the 塀で囲む, he got to his feet and staggered into the other room, bawling loudly for the guard. Two 兵士s （機の）カム running.
Captain Speyer 直面するd the first.
"Look at me," he said. "Have I been 燃やすd, or is this an illusion?"
"It is obvious that you have been 不正に 燃やすd, herr captain," said the 兵士. "Your uniform, your 直面する and your 手渡すs. I'll call Doctor Friedl."
"Get him quickly, for I am in 広大な／多数の／重要な 苦痛. The 黒人／ボイコット 魔法 of Hagg Nadeem has done this, and he'll not live long to 誇る about it."
While Captain Speyer was waiting for the doctor, a Galla slave girl wearing a white 隠す was 認める by the guard.
"井戸／弁護士席. What news from the harim? Speak up," said the captain.
"The white hakim is not dead," said the girl. "A short time ago he （機の）カム into the harim carrying the master's daughter, who had fainted. I was unable to get away to tell you until now, as I believe they 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う me of 秘かに調査するing for you."
"So Blake isn't really dead? More of Hagg Nadeem's 魔法, eh? We'll put an end to this, once and for all. Before this day is over they'll all be dead, and this time they won't come to life."
BLAKE had drunk a cup of coffee, and was smoking and chatting with the shaykh when Nuralayn, …を伴ってd by the hovering Marjanah, （機の）カム into the room, and running to her father, flung her 武器 around his neck.
Both wept with joy at this miraculous 再会 and Blake, feeling a lump rising in his throat, 注ぐd himself another cup of the blistering hot syrupy coffee and 負かす／撃墜するd it at a gulp. Then, while he puffed vigorously at his 泡ing shisha to hide his emotion, Nuralayn told her father all she remembered about her 救助（する）. When she had 結論するd she looked at the young scientist with proud love-filled 注目する，もくろむs and said:
"And now my hakim, there is something you would say to father."
"That's true," Blake replied. "I love your daughter, ya shaykh, and ask her 手渡す in marriage, if and when we get out of this alive."
Abdul Hafiz looked shocked and amazed.
"You are my best friend, Hakim Blake," he said, "for no other has done me such a 広大な／多数の／重要な 好意 during my lifetime. It 苦痛s me, therefore, to tell you that I cannot ever 同意 to such a marriage. A Feringhi cannot marry a Muslimah, and 特に, the daughter of a descendent of the Prophet. You know that would be contrary to our 法律s and customs."
"I 尊敬（する）・点 your feeling and your beliefs," Blake answered. "But, sidi, love is something which 認めるs no 障壁s. I—"
He was interrupted by the sudden and precipitate 入り口 of a squad of 兵士s, 長，率いるd by Sergeant Weiss.
"You are all under 逮捕（する）," he said. "掴む them, men."
As they sprang to their feet, Nuralayn, the shaykh and Blake were 掴むd by the 兵士s, who quickly bound their 武器 behind them. Marjanah, when she 試みる／企てるd to …を伴って her mistress, was 押し進めるd 支援する by the sergeant.
"We only want these three at 現在の," he said. "The others will be …に出席するd to later."
They were hustled 負かす／撃墜する to the 中庭, where Captain Speyer, wearing a new uniform, with 包帯s on his 手渡すs and gauze patches on his 直面する, sat at a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with 中尉／大尉／警部補 Hess on one 味方する and Doctor Friedl on the other, 側面に位置するd by two squads of 兵士s.
In 前線 of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, with his 手渡すs bound behind him, stood Hagg Nadeem.
As the other three 囚人s were 範囲d と一緒に the haag, Speyer ちらりと見ることd at each in turn with equal malignancy. It was obvious that he had not only been cured of his infatuation for Nuralayn, but that he hated her as 完全に as the others.
"I am a man of few words," he said. "All four of you have conspired to play tricks on me which no man could 許す, and which I have the 力／強力にする to punish. And, since you saw fit to 燃やす me, why you'll all get a dose of the same 薬／医学. I hereby 宣告，判決 you all to be 燃やすd at the 火刑／賭ける. That, 関わりなく the magical 力／強力にするs of Hagg Nadeem, will put a fitting end to your tricks."
At a 調印する from him, four men （機の）カム in 耐えるing a large 地位，任命する from which strong chains dangled. Others brought firewood and cans of ガソリン, and placing these in 準備完了, took up several 旗-石／投石するs and began excavating a 穴を開ける for the 地位，任命する.
Blake was wondering, at the moment, what had become of the Stranger. The latter, after agreeing to 実行する his second wish, had 完全に disappeared. Could he be somewhere nearby, waiting to come to their 援助? Or had he left them to their 運命／宿命?
The digging 進歩d 速く, and the 地位，任命する was soon tamped into place. The 支持を得ようと努めるd was heaped around it, and the four 非難するd 囚人s were 上げるd up on this and bound with the chains.
Sergeant Weiss was 開始 one of the ガソリン tins when suddenly the roar of a 抱擁する trimotored 計画（する） became audible. A moment later, the 無線で通信する 操作者 hurried 負かす／撃墜する from the 駅／配置する and 手渡すd a message to Captain Speyer.
After perusing it, the captain called to the sergeant.
"持つ／拘留する the 死刑執行," he said. "陸軍大佐 Grebner will be here in a few moments, to take 命令（する） of the 守備隊, and he 願望（する）s to see it."
The 計画（する） landed a few minutes later, on the smooth sand outside the 中庭 塀で囲むs.
All officers and men snapped stiffly to attention as the 陸軍大佐, followed by two 補佐官s, （機の）カム pompously through the 中庭 gate.
陸軍大佐 Grebner was a short, stocky man, with a tiny, bristling moustache and an underslung jaw. A 爆撃する-rimmed monocle dangled from a thin 黒人／ボイコット cord in his breast pocket. His 耐えるing reminded Blake of the strut of a bantam rooster.
"What's this I hear about an 死刑執行, captain?" he said. "Ah, four 囚人s bound to the 火刑／賭ける. And one a girl. 井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席. What dastardly 罪，犯罪s have they committed, and what is the 軍の necessity for this 死刑執行?"
"スパイ, and 共謀 to 燃やす the 命令（する）ing officer to death," replied the captain.
"You do look as if you'd been pretty 不正に singed," said the 陸軍大佐, 注目する，もくろむing the captain's 包帯s through his monocle. "How did it happen?"
"It was done through the 黒人／ボイコット 魔法 of Hagg Nadeem, after he （機の）カム here to 秘かに調査する on the 野営. I can 申し込む／申し出 no 論理（学）の explanation for the tricks that were played upon me and upon Doctor Friedl. Only a magician could explain them. All I know is that their results were unpleasant, and decidedly dangerous."
The 陸軍大佐 cocked an eyebrow, 直す／買収する，八百長をするd the monocle in his 注目する，もくろむ, and 星／主役にするd for a moment at the four chained 囚人s.
"Hm. Desperate looking characters," he said. "But I must remind you, Captain Speyer, that we don't 燃やす 囚人s at the 火刑／賭ける. A barbarous custom. We are a civilized race."
He let the monocle 落ちる from his 注目する，もくろむ and turned to the sergeant.
"除去する the chains," he ordered.
"Do you mean that you are going to let them go 解放する／自由な?" asked the captain, amazed.
"解放する／自由な? Of course not. We'll shoot them in the 認可するd civilized fashion. And we'll let their swift demise be a lesson to the 残り／休憩（する） of the natives, so there'll be no 再発 of such tricks against officers. Have every living soul in the 城 brought into the 中庭 to 証言，証人／目撃する the 死刑執行."
Captain Speyer saluted, and gave the necessary orders, while the 陸軍大佐, once more 直す／買収する，八百長をするing his monocle in his 注目する，もくろむ, watched the unchaining of the 囚人s with no more emotion than if he had been watching an 整然とした polish his boots.
WITH everyone 組み立てる／集結するd in the 中庭 the four 囚人s were lined up against the 塀で囲む. Every 兵士 with a ライフル銃／探して盗む was 圧力（をかける）d into the 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing squad. They formed two lines of a hundred men each, one line ひさまづくing in a semicircle, the other standing in a わずかに wider semicircle behind them.
As he stood 直面するing this 二塁打 三日月 of ライフル銃／探して盗むs, Blake's heart sank. 明白に, the Stranger had 砂漠d him—left him to his 運命／宿命. Now he must not only go through the unpleasant ordeal of dying once more—in 新規加入, he must 証言，証人／目撃する the violent death of the person he held most dear in all the world, 同様に as her father and Hagg Nadeem.
The 陸軍大佐 himself, standing to one 味方する, gave the orders.
Cartridges clicked into the 議会s at his 命令（する）. ライフル銃／探して盗むs were raised, and the four doomed 囚人s suddenly 設立する themselves looking into two hundred deadly 黒人／ボイコット muzzles.
Then suddenly, an astonishing thing happened. The ライフル銃／探して盗むs began to writhe in the 手渡すs of the 兵士s as if alive. 星／主役にするing in astonishment, Blake saw that they were not ライフル銃／探して盗むs, but serpents, 抱擁する, 厚い-団体／死体d pythons, their powerful constrictor muscles showing beneath their flashing 規模s as they turned on the men who held them.
In an instant, the entire company was struggling, 叫び声をあげるing, rolling about on the ground in a mad 絡まる of 脅すd men and squirming, slithering serpents, each slowly but surely pinning a man in its 鎮圧するing 倍のs.
Captain Speyer, standing beside the 陸軍大佐 and his 補佐官s, with 中尉／大尉／警部補 Hess and Doctor Friedl, suddenly went berserk.
"More of Hagg Nadeem's 魔法!" he shrieked. "The 古代の 黒人／ボイコット 魔法 of Egypt. They turned 棒s into serpents, why not guns? But this 黒人／ボイコット magician shall not live to 誇る of it."
He whipped out his Luger, leveled it at Hagg Nadeem. But before he could pull the 誘発する／引き起こす, it, too, became a serpent, smaller than the others but more deadly—an African cobra. It twined its tail about his wrist, then struck once, 急落（する），激減（する）ing its fangs into his cheek.
The captain 崩壊（する）d, and writhed on the ground in agony, while Doctor Friedl and 中尉／大尉／警部補 Hess looked on helpless, afraid to draw their own ピストルs lest they, too, should turn to serpents and destroy them.
Standing 支援する 近づく the （犯罪の）一味 of 脅すd and awed natives and members of the harim with an 整然とした on each 味方する of him, 陸軍大佐 Grebner watched the scene impassively through his gleaming monocle. It did not seem to excite, or even 利益／興味 him, and Blake, noticing this, wondered if he and his two 補佐官s had been hypnotized.
Then the scientists and his fellow 囚人s suddenly saw another amazing 変形. The serpents coiled around their helpless 犠牲者s began to turn to ropes, and every 兵士 現在の lay on the ground, bound and helpless, save the 陸軍大佐, his two 整然としたs, Dr. Friedl and 中尉／大尉／警部補 Hess. Even the captain's cobra had drawn his 手渡すs behind his 支援する, where they were tightly bound to a 宙返り飛行 around his ankles, and had turned to a stout rope.
Blake knew that this could not be the 魔法 of Hagg Nadeem. He knew that the Stranger must be somewhere nearby, and momentarily 推定する／予想するd to hear his 深い chuckle. Perhaps he was invisible. Or it might be that he was one of the people standing in the 中庭. In any event, he decided that it was about time to take some 活動／戦闘, remembering the Stranger's （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令 to help himself if he wished to be helped.
"Come on," he shouted to the awed, 星／主役にするing natives. "掴む and 貯蔵所d these others. Make them all 囚人s."
They needed no second 招待. Mahmood, the eunuch, leaped at Doctor Friedl from behind, 掴むd his ピストル, and pinioned his 武器 behind him. Other stout retainers of Abdul Hafiz quickly subdued 中尉／大尉／警部補 Hess. But when, led by Blake, they 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d the 陸軍大佐 and his 補佐官s, they suddenly were not there. In their places stood a tall, scrawny Bedouin between two large camels.
Blake stopped, 直面するing the camel driver.
"So, it was you!" he exclaimed, "I thought you'd gone away and forgotten me."
"You did me an 不正," replied the camel driver, in the 深い 発言する／表明する of the Stranger. "Entering the 計画（する） of the 陸軍大佐, making him and his 補佐官s my 囚人s, and impersonating all three as we flew toward the 城 took some time. I have been やめる busy on your に代わって."
By this time, the shaykh, Nuralayn and Hagg Nadeem had come up.
"Wallahi!" exclaimed the hagg, looking closely at the Stranger. "I know you now. I am of the people who have known yours for a thousand years."
"A seventh son of a seventh son for more than a thousand 世代s," replied the Stranger. "I 認める you, Hagg Nadeem, as a member of one of the families that have always co?erated with my people, and who have その為に earned the 評判 of 存在 黒人／ボイコット magicians."
"Astagfurullah!" exclaimed the shaykh. "I take 避難 with Allah! A jinni!"
"The same, O cousin of the Prophet," rumbled the Stranger. "And fortunately for you and yours, a friend of your friend, Hakim Blake. I should have said, your 未来 son-in-法律, Hakim Blake."
"But that is impossible, O 首長 の中で the jinn," said the shaykh. "Our 法律s—"
"Need not be 侵害する／違反するd," interrupted the Stranger. "With Allah all is possible. You 反対する to him on 宗教的な grounds. Yet, if he were to 証言する to the まとまり of Allah—"
"If he were to 証言する, I could 受託する him into my family."
"Then it is simple. Blake, my friend, since you are a Unitarian, I'm sure you can 証言する with 有罪の判決, and bless the Prophet without equivocation."
"La illallah ilullah. Mohammed ur rasul ullah. Salah alahu aleyhi wa selem," 証言するd Blake.
"And that settles that," said the Stranger. "Now, Hagg Nadeem, you have only to 負担 your 囚人s on these camels, with the help of the shaykh's men, and take them to メッカ. You'll find the 陸軍大佐 and his two 補佐官s lying bound in their 計画（する）."
"But, all these men and only two camels!" exclaimed Hagg Nadeem. Then he turned with a surprised: "Subhanullah!" For, instead of two camels there were now sixty-four. While they talked, the two had been 速く multiplying by fission.
The hagg turned and 屈服するd to the Stranger.
"May Allah return your 親切 a thousand 倍の, O prince of the jinn," he said.
"And after, what shall I do with the camels."
"They will …を伴って you to the city gate—the Bab el Ma'la," the Stranger told him. "After that, there will be no camels."
As Hagg Nadeem hurried off to give orders about 負担ing his 囚人s for the trek across the 砂漠, the Stranger turned to Blake and smiled when he saw him standing with his arm about the slender waist of Nuralayn.
"And now, friend Blake," he said, "what is your third wish? I've other 事柄s to …に出席する to, so think 急速な／放蕩な."
"And I," replied Blake, "thanks to you, have everything a man could wish for, and more than I could ever have hoped for. My third wish, then, is to wish you luck, and a 安全な and pleasant 旅行 home when your 調査 is ended."
The Stranger, without another word, faded from 見解（をとる）. The shaykh hurried away to 補助装置 Hagg Nadeem in 監督するing the loadings of his 囚人s on the camels. Blake, looking at the nearest of these, was astounded to see it wink at him. The Stranger, he mused, or at least one of his 子孫s, was still 近づく him, carrying out his wish—no, not one, sixty-four of them.
Together, he and Nuralayn turned and entered the 城.
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