"Get them off," he begged after one look. "I can see you that way, sort of."
Bullets had ripped through the garments and the rents disclosed large patches of _nothingness_ inside. The result was both indecent and terrifying. Hurriedly she slipped them off.
"I can't see myself and I don't feel cold at all," she mused. "Are we dead?"
"I don't think so," he decided. "I don't know what's happened to us, but if we can't see ourselves or each other they sure as hell can't see us either. And we're going to damn well take advantage of it. Their radar station, first."
They floundered out into a snowstorm, keeping together by the sound of their voices and an occasional touch of hands.
"I wish we had feet like snowshoes," he remarked, trying to break the spell of spookiness with conversation.
He felt a tug, a spreading, and found himself stepping lightly over the drifts.
"Judas!" he said in awe. "If we're dead, which place is this?"
The confidential agent from Imperial Headquarters confronted the garrison's commandant. "You are a disgrace to the Imperial Army," he snorted. "You have the mentality of an Ainu."
"Radar station destroyed. Coastal guns useless. Ammunition set afire. Supplies stolen. Sentries killed. But, instead of taking proper measures against these Yankee saboteurs who have very evidently sneaked ashore--due to more of your incompetence--you send us fables to cover your own deficiencies. Ghost hands. Ghost Yankees. All fables. Bah!
"That is as absurd as the idea of my own pistol rising from its holster by itself and turning upon me."
"Excellency," shrieked the overwrought officer. "Don't say such things on this island!"
The agent stared in horror-struck rigidity as his gun jerked itself clear, rose, and pointed. The gun spat twice, then floated rapidly across the room and placed itself gently in the commandant's trembling hand.
The headquarters bodyguard rushed in and jumped at conclusions as they saw their superior's body. Their crossfire cut the unfortunate commandant almost in half.
The major who was second in command stuck his head in the doorway for one horrified look. But when something unseen in that room of death laughed harshly in triumph he dashed hastily out again, screaming frantic orders....