As the idea in its full significance gained
hold on their imaginations the three men turned to stare blankly at one
another.
"That is annihilation!" Curtis whispered.
"On a wholesale scale," agreed Darrow calmly. "It means the death of every
living thing from the smallest insect to the largest animal, from the
microbe to the very lichens on the stones of Trinity. I agree with the way
you look." He laughed a little. "But the case isn't so bad as it sounds,"
he went on. "If the crust of the earth were to collapse, that would be
annihilation, too. But it isn't likely to happen. There are several things
to think of."
"What, for the love of Pete!" gasped Curtis. "Any small efforts at
muck-racking this refrigerator trust would be thankfully received."
"In the first place, as you know," explained Darrow," his power seems to
be limited in certain directions. He apparently can stop vibrations only
of certain defined wave-lengths at one time. It may be that he is unable
to stop heat vibrations at all."
"You'll have to do better than that," growled Curtis.
"The rest is faith--on your part," replied Darrow. "For I'll guarantee
that even if Monsieur X has this power, I'll stop him before he exercises
it."
"Guarantee?" inquired Curtis.
"There's nothing to prevent my moving to California or Mombassa if I
thought myself in any danger here," Darrow pointed out. "It would be very
easy for me quietly to warn my friends and quietly do the grand sneak.
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