MYSTERY AT MESA FLAT
By Ivar Jorgensen
A small desert town didn't seem a likely
place to encounter murder—especially one that
had been planned on a world light years away!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
June 1956
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The murder was committed ten minutes before the Otarkian ship liftedfor the long trip back to the mother-planet. It was discovered tenminutes after blast off. The killer—a great lout of an upper-hillman,signed on the last moment to fill a sudden vacancy—bragged of the killto his sergeant.
Bragged grinning. "He was crouched behind a rock peeking out at theship. I came behind him—very quiet. I broke his neck and—and didother things. He never knew what happened."
The guard was rushed immediately before the Commander—into the dreadPresence. The Commander's eyes were terrible but his voice remainedsoft. "You know by what a slim thread our invasion plans hang?"
"Yes, Commander."
"You know that utter secrecy has been our key from the start?"
"Yes, Commander."
"I just wanted to make sure before I execute you in the name of theSupreme Otarkian Council."
"Yes, Commander."
The Commander drew his gun and aimed accurately. The guard died bravely.
And that was that.
But there was worry. The Commander consulted with the Second. "It wouldbe wise to return."
The Second calculated time. "It would be high noon back there before wecould set down."
"We could wait for darkness."
"True."
"But fifteen hours of daylight would have elapsed."
"It is a lonely place."
"But if a trap were set."
The Second considered. "When the body is discovered—what will itreveal? Nothing definite. No chain of logic could point to us."
The Commander frowned. "But success depends so completely upon secrecy.If the experiment is successful—"
"It will be, sir."
"I hope so. Hold your course for home...."
The body of Mack Styles was found at two o'clock that afternoon. By TomBrazier and Frank Brooks, in a secluded spot on the Arizona desert.After he hadn't reported in they had gone out in a jeep to check up.They saw Mack's jeep nosing up out of a pocket as though peering at awhite alkali flat just beyond.
They rounded the pocket and found Mack and both of them got suddenlysick and strove to hide their shock from each other.
Brazier said, "Jesus!" The word was both a curse and a prayer.
"What could have hit him?"
"Look at his legs. Broken—mangled. Like through a machine!"
"A gorilla could do that."
Brazier forebore the obvious retort and walked out onto the alkaliflat. He stopped in its center and turned slowly, his eyes searching.They found nothing. He went to the edge of the flat and began circlingit slowly. In four places there were marks in the dust. The marksformed the four corners of a huge square. Something might have setdown there but you couldn't be sure. Probably dust-marks left by theswirling wind-devils that danced across the desert like miniaturecyclones.
"There's a town over there."
Tom Brazier looked up quickly. Frank Brooks had come to stand by hisside and was pointing off through a declivity in the rocks.
"Damned if there isn't. Ever see it before?"
"I think so. Isn't it the same town that lies about two miles off theNotche