BAKER WAS PROMPT. HE arrived with an air of let’s-get-this-over-as-quick-as-possible. He nodded perfunctorily as Ellerbee introduced his wife. He scarcely looked at Sam Atkins.
“I hope you’ve got your demonstration all set up,” he said. He glanced at the darkening sky. “It looks like we might get some heavy rain this afternoon.”
“We’re all ready,” said Ellerbee. “Sam will drive over to that little hill on his farm, and we’ll go out behind the barn.”
On the knoll, Baker accepted the crystal cube without looking at it. Clenching it in his fist, he put his hand in his pocket. Fenwick guessed he was trying to avoid any direct view and thus avoid the possibility of hypnotic effects. This seemed pretty farfetched to Fenwick.
Through field glasses Sam Atkins was seen to get out of his car and
