Richard Maples

“ Ashe didn't hear me pull up to the house because the radio was going full blast. I hit the light switch in the hallway and the brightness flared against the lengthening afternoon shadows, spotting him and the blonde on the living room couch.
The blonde looked as if she'd come from a burlesque runway. Ashe dumped her on the floor and staggered to his feet. He'd changed his appearance again. Now he looked a strikingly handsome twenty-five. He came forward to throw a heavy arm around my shoulder.
"Glad to see you, Ted," he mouthed. "Ran out of money. Must have more. Small loan...." ”

“ It was Sergeant Thompson. "Mr. Potter, you shouldn't let this get you down. People's kids get in scrapes all the time. Tomorrow you'll have a talk with the judge and everything will turn out okay."
I jerked my elbow away. "In other words, you think I'm batty, too!"
"No," he said, gripping my elbow again and starting me toward the door. "It's been hot and you just need some rest."
"Thompson," I said, dragging myself to a halt, "I know it sounds nuts, but this Ashe character really exists. Help me find him and you can cut yourself a slice. It'll be big time!" ”

“ You see, they've arrested a gang of kids for shoplifting. One of them is Tommy, your son."
I jumped up. "Arrested Tommy!"
"Now wait, Ted. Don't go off half-cocked. It's a break. Don't you see? You can cover delinquency with the lid off now. You'll be writing as a parent in the same boat with other parents...."
I could still hear his frantic noises after I'd slammed the door behind me and run the length of the corridor.
At the police station, I had the distinct feeling they'd been waiting for me. I knew most of them, especially the big red-headed guy who beckoned me into a rear office. ”

“ But the door flew open and Tommy came clomping through the hallway and into the front room. He's a big kid for his age, mentally and physically. He spotted the old man right away.
"Gollee!" he breathed excitedly. "Who's the creep?"
"Never mind," Nan said, quickly recovering her composure. "He's had an accident. Just get some money from your father and go to the drugstore for more bandages. I'll need them."
I gave him a buck and he ran out the kitchen way, slamming the back door so hard, the whole house shook. ”

“ After all, a poor, homeless alien being couldn't very well be expected to understand our manners and feelings. Yet this one did. All because he'd been touched by my friendship.
"Ashe," I said, feeling the the warmth of good will, "I'm happy to hear you say that. Bygones are bygones. The important thing is springing Tommy." [75]
"Exactly," he said. "We'll go and explain everything to the police. But we'll do it in grand style. This is your big show. We must have Jones and the Mayor. We must have photographers, reporters, television, radio—everything!"
NAN RETURNED. "The girl will be all right. ”

“ I said roughly, "you nuts? Beating up an old man!"
He appeared to be desperately searching for an explanation—something to say. Then, abruptly, without having uttered a sound, he reeled away and shambled hurriedly down the street.
My first inclination was to give chase. But the old man groaned and I turned to help him. That was when I had it—a virtual brain storm.
This whole episode, I could see, was a perfect answer to the damnable criticisms leveled at my series on juvenile delinquency. More than that, it was an absolute vindication! ”

“ He shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Tommy grabbed my arm and cried, "Please don't leave me, Dad!"
I pulled away from him, feeling as if I'd dropped him off a cliff.
Right outside the station, I met Nan. She was pale and breathless. Jones had phoned the news. She wanted to go to Tommy immediately. [74]
I guided her to the car and pushed her inside. "Listen here," I said tensely, "for once, don't make a fuss. Just help me find Ashe. He's the one who can free Tommy."
SHE BEGAN to laugh. "That's a hot one!" she gasped. "That's really a hot one!" ”

“ Thompson pulled out his handkerchief again and carefully lowered himself into the chair behind the desk. "You don't seem to understand, Mr. Potter. Your boy is in trouble. He's been identified as leading a gang of kids who spent most of the morning shoplifting in stores all over town."
"That's bull," I said. "How could my boy do a thing like that? He's only twelve. Who identified him, anyway?"
"The shopkeepers and the other members of the gang." [73]
FOR ONE awful moment, I felt a great cavity of doubt. ”

“ Jones and I busted up. I'm playing on your team now!"
His face got all flushed. "My job isn't a game and I don't belong to any team. Get wise, will you? Stay in your own back yard for once. It could stand a lot of weeding!" He pushed me out the door then—so hard, I almost fell.
STANDING there, feeling the heat press in on me, I tried to dope out the next move. My car was still at Jones' place, so I'd need a cab. I turned toward the drugstore at the end of the block where I could phone. Walking along, I recalled Ashe had taken a cab earlier in the evening. ”

“ As a last resort, they'd put him into one of their wonderful machines and thrown the switch. At that agonizing instant, he'd imagined himself to be water scraping over the edge of a sharp rock. Then he'd come to, drifting through space. And, much later, he'd touched Earth. Once landed, he'd taken on many shapes, through the years—mainly, however, of people who'd died.
EVEN AS HE talked, I was carefully sliding my chair back. If I could reach the phone [71] in the hallway without being noticed, it would be fairly simple to get help. ”

“ He stumbled back and thudded against the wall. "The police have picked up Tommy," I said flatly. "He's been charged with the shoplifting you did today."
He sobered instantly. He jerked the blonde to her feet, booted her out, slammed the door and came back to me. "Ted, I'm shocked to hear this. Tell me about it quickly. We must do something right away."
The blonde had begun to howl and scream curses. I could hear doors and windows opening all the way down the street. "You monster!" Nan spat, and hurried outside. Presently the girl quieted down.
"Ted," Ashe whispered, "I'm ashamed of myself. ”