The Plan That Failed

“But now,” said Kemp, with a side glance out of the window, “what are we to do?”

“But now,” said Kemp, glancing sideways out the window, “what should we do?”

He moved nearer his guest as he spoke in such a manner as to prevent the possibility of a sudden glimpse of the three men who were advancing up the hill road—with an intolerable slowness, as it seemed to Kemp.

As he spoke, he moved closer to his guest to keep him from catching sight of the three men coming up the hill road. To Kemp, they seemed to be moving unbearably slowly.

“What were you planning to do when you were heading for Port Burdock? Had you any plan?”

“What were you planning to do when you were heading for Port Burdock? Did you have a plan?”

“I was going to clear out of the country. But I have altered that plan rather since seeing you. I thought it would be wise, now the weather is hot and invisibility possible, to make for the South. Especially as my secret was known, and everyone would be on the lookout for a masked and muffled man. You have a line of steamers from here to France. My idea was to get aboard one and run the risks of the passage. Thence I could go by train into Spain, or else get to Algiers. It would not be difficult. There a man might always be invisible—and yet live. And do things. I was using that tramp as a money box and luggage carrier, until I decided how to get my books and things sent over to meet me.”

“I was going to leave the country. But I’ve changed my plan somewhat since seeing you. Now that the weather is hot and I can be invisible, I thought it would be wise to head south. My secret was known, and everyone would be looking for a masked man bundled up in clothing. Steamships sail from here to France. My idea was to get aboard one and risk the crossing. From there, I could take a train to Spain or go to Algiers. It wouldn’t be difficult. In either place, a man could always be invisible and still live. And do things. I was using that tramp to carry my money and luggage. He was helping me until I decided how to have my books and things sent over to meet me.”

“That’s clear.”

“That’s clear.”

“And then the filthy brute must needs try and rob me! He has hidden my books, Kemp. Hidden my books! If I can lay my hands on him!”

“And then the filthy brute had to try to rob me! He has hidden my books, Kemp. Hidden my books! If I can get my hands on him!”

“Best plan to get the books out of him first.”

“Best to get the books from him first.”

“But where is he? Do you know?”

“But where is he? Do you know?”

“He’s in the town police station, locked up, by his own request, in the strongest cell in the place.”

“He’s locked up in the town police station. He asked to be put in its strongest cell.”

“Cur!” said the Invisible Man.

“Coward!” said the Invisible Man.

“But that hangs up your plans a little.”

“But that delays your plans a little.”

“We must get those books; those books are vital.”

“We have to get those books. Those books are essential.”

“Certainly,” said Kemp, a little nervously, wondering if he heard footsteps outside. “Certainly we must get those books. But that won’t be difficult, if he doesn’t know they’re for you.”

“Of course,” said Kemp, a little nervously. He wondered if he heard footsteps outside. “Of course we have to get those books. But that won’t be difficult if he doesn’t know they’re for you.”

“No,” said the Invisible Man, and thought.

“No,” said the Invisible Man, and thought.

Kemp tried to think of something to keep the talk going, but the Invisible Man resumed of his own accord.

Kemp tried to think of something to keep the conversation going, but the Invisible Man started speaking again on his own.

“Blundering into your house, Kemp,” he said, “changes all my plans. For you are a man that can understand. In spite of all that has happened, in spite of this publicity, of the loss of my books, of what I have suffered, there still remain great possibilities, huge possibilities—”

“Stumbling into your house, Kemp,” he said, “changes all my plans. You are a man who can understand. Despite all that has happened, despite the publicity, the loss of my books, and what I have suffered, great possibilities remain. Huge possibilities...”

“You have told no one I am here?” he asked abruptly.

“You haven't told anyone I'm here?” he asked abruptly.

Kemp hesitated. “That was implied,” he said.

Kemp hesitated. “That was implied,” he said.

“No one?” insisted Griffin.

“No one?” insisted Griffin.

“Not a soul.”

“Not a single person.”

“Ah! Now—” The Invisible Man stood up, and sticking his arms akimbo began to pace the study.

“Ah! Now...” The Invisible Man stood up, put his hands on his hips, and began pacing the study.

“I made a mistake, Kemp, a huge mistake, in carrying this thing through alone. I have wasted strength, time, opportunities. Alone—it is wonderful how little a man can do alone! To rob a little, to hurt a little, and there is the end.

“I made a mistake, Kemp, a huge mistake, trying to do this alone. I have wasted strength, time, and opportunities. It is amazing how little a man can do alone! He can steal a little and hurt people a little, and that is all.

“What I want, Kemp, is a goal-keeper, a helper, and a hiding-place, an arrangement whereby I can sleep and eat and rest in peace, and unsuspected. I must have a confederate. With a confederate, with food and rest—a thousand things are possible.

“What I want, Kemp, is someone to keep watch, a helper, and a hiding place. I need a way to sleep, eat, and rest peacefully without anyone suspecting me. I must have an accomplice. With an accomplice, food, and rest, a thousand things are possible.

“Hitherto I have gone on vague lines. We have to consider all that invisibility means, all that it does not mean. It means little advantage for eavesdropping and so forth—one makes sounds. It’s of little help—a little help perhaps—in housebreaking and so forth. Once you’ve caught me you could easily imprison me. But on the other hand I am hard to catch. This invisibility, in fact, is only good in two cases: It’s useful in getting away, it’s useful in approaching. It’s particularly useful, therefore, in killing. I can walk round a man, whatever weapon he has, choose my point, strike as I like. Dodge as I like. Escape as I like.”

“Until now, I’ve proceeded without a clear plan. We have to consider everything invisibility means and everything it doesn’t mean. It offers little advantage for eavesdropping and such things, because one makes sounds. It’s not much help in breaking into houses and such things, though it may help a little. Once you’ve caught me, you could easily imprison me. But on the other hand, I’m hard to catch. In fact, invisibility is only good in two cases: getting away and approaching someone. That makes it particularly useful for killing. I can walk around a man, whatever weapon he has, choose my spot, and strike as I like. Dodge as I like. Escape as I like.”

Kemp’s hand went to his moustache. Was that a movement downstairs?

Kemp raised his hand to his mustache. Was there movement downstairs?

“And it is killing we must do, Kemp.”

“And we must kill, Kemp.”

“It is killing we must do,” repeated Kemp. “I’m listening to your plan, Griffin, but I’m not agreeing, mind. Why killing?”

“We have to kill,” repeated Kemp. “I’m listening to your plan, Griffin, but I’m not agreeing to it. Why kill?”

“Not wanton killing, but a judicious slaying. The point is, they know there is an Invisible Man—as well as we know there is an Invisible Man. And that Invisible Man, Kemp, must now establish a Reign of Terror. Yes; no doubt it’s startling. But I mean it. A Reign of Terror. He must take some town like your Burdock and terrify and dominate it. He must issue his orders. He can do that in a thousand ways—scraps of paper thrust under doors would suffice. And all who disobey his orders he must kill, and kill all who would defend them.”

“Not random killing, but carefully chosen killings. The point is, they know there is an Invisible Man, just as we do. And that Invisible Man, Kemp, must now establish a Reign of Terror. Yes, no doubt that’s startling. But I mean it. A Reign of Terror. He must take a town like your Burdock and terrify and control it. He must give orders. He can do that in a thousand ways. Slips of paper pushed under doors would be enough. And he must kill everyone who disobeys his orders. He must also kill everyone who would defend them.”

“Humph!” said Kemp, no longer listening to Griffin but to the sound of his front door opening and closing.

“Humph!” said Kemp. He was no longer listening to Griffin, but to his front door opening and closing.

“It seems to me, Griffin,” he said, to cover his wandering attention, “that your confederate would be in a difficult position.”

“It seems to me, Griffin, that your partner would be in a difficult position,” he said, to hide the fact that his attention had wandered.

“No one would know he was a confederate,” said the Invisible Man, eagerly. And then suddenly, “Hush! What’s that downstairs?”

“No one would know he was an accomplice,” the Invisible Man said eagerly. Then he suddenly said, “Quiet! What’s that downstairs?”

“Nothing,” said Kemp, and suddenly began to speak loud and fast. “I don’t agree to this, Griffin,” he said. “Understand me, I don’t agree to this. Why dream of playing a game against the race? How can you hope to gain happiness? Don’t be a lone wolf. Publish your results; take the world—take the nation at least—into your confidence. Think what you might do with a million helpers—”

“Nothing,” said Kemp, and suddenly began speaking loudly and quickly. “I don’t agree to this, Griffin,” he said. “You must understand, I don’t agree to this. Why dream of fighting against the human race? How can you hope to find happiness? Don’t be a lone wolf. Publish your results. Take the world, or at least the nation, into your confidence. Think what you could do with a million helpers...”

The Invisible Man interrupted—arm extended. “There are footsteps coming upstairs,” he said in a low voice.

The Invisible Man interrupted, stretching out his arm. “There are footsteps coming upstairs,” he said quietly.

“Nonsense,” said Kemp.

“That’s nonsense,” said Kemp.

“Let me see,” said the Invisible Man, and advanced, arm extended, to the door.

“Let me see,” said the Invisible Man, and walked toward the door with his arm outstretched.

And then things happened very swiftly. Kemp hesitated for a second and then moved to intercept him. The Invisible Man started and stood still. “Traitor!” cried the Voice, and suddenly the dressing-gown opened, and sitting down the Unseen began to disrobe. Kemp made three swift steps to the door, and forthwith the Invisible Man—his legs had vanished—sprang to his feet with a shout. Kemp flung the door open.

Then things happened very quickly. Kemp hesitated for a second, then moved to intercept him. The Invisible Man flinched and stood still. “Traitor!” cried the Voice. Suddenly, the dressing gown opened, and the Unseen sat down and began to undress. Kemp took three quick steps toward the door. At once, the Invisible Man sprang to his feet with a shout. His legs had vanished. Kemp flung the door open.

As it opened, there came a sound of hurrying feet downstairs and voices.

As it opened, there was the sound of hurried footsteps and voices downstairs.

With a quick movement Kemp thrust the Invisible Man back, sprang aside, and slammed the door. The key was outside and ready. In another moment Griffin would have been alone in the belvedere study, a prisoner. Save for one little thing. The key had been slipped in hastily that morning. As Kemp slammed the door it fell noisily upon the carpet.

Kemp quickly shoved the Invisible Man back, jumped aside, and slammed the door. The key was ready on the outside. In another moment, Griffin would have been alone in the belvedere study, a prisoner. But there was one small problem. The key had been put in hastily that morning. As Kemp slammed the door, the key fell noisily onto the carpet.

Kemp’s face became white. He tried to grip the door handle with both hands. For a moment he stood lugging. Then the door gave six inches. But he got it closed again. The second time it was jerked a foot wide, and the dressing-gown came wedging itself into the opening. His throat was gripped by invisible fingers, and he left his hold on the handle to defend himself. He was forced back, tripped and pitched heavily into the corner of the landing. The empty dressing-gown was flung on the top of him.

Kemp’s face turned white. He tried to grip the door handle with both hands. For a moment he stood pulling. Then the door opened six inches. But he managed to close it again. The second time, the door was jerked a foot open, and the dressing gown wedged itself into the gap. Invisible fingers gripped his throat. He let go of the handle to defend himself. He was forced back, tripped, and fell heavily into the corner of the landing. The empty dressing gown was flung on top of him.

Halfway up the staircase was Colonel Adye, the recipient of Kemp’s letter, the chief of the Burdock police. He was staring aghast at the sudden appearance of Kemp, followed by the extraordinary sight of clothing tossing empty in the air. He saw Kemp felled, and struggling to his feet. He saw him rush forward, and go down again, felled like an ox.

Halfway up the staircase stood Colonel Adye, the chief of the Burdock police, who had received Kemp’s letter. He stared in shock as Kemp suddenly appeared, followed by the extraordinary sight of empty clothes thrashing through the air. He saw Kemp knocked down and struggling to get up. He saw him rush forward and fall again, struck down like an ox.

Then suddenly he was struck violently. By nothing! A vast weight, it seemed, leapt upon him, and he was hurled headlong down the staircase, with a grip on his throat and a knee in his groin. An invisible foot trod on his back, a ghostly patter passed downstairs, he heard the two police officers in the hall shout and run, and the front door of the house slammed violently.

Then suddenly, he was struck violently. By nothing! It seemed that a huge weight had leapt on him. He was thrown headfirst down the stairs, with a grip on his throat and a knee in his groin. An invisible foot stepped on his back. Ghostly footsteps pattered down the stairs. He heard the two police officers in the hall shout and run. Then the front door of the house slammed violently.

He rolled over and sat up staring. He saw, staggering down the staircase, Kemp, dusty and disheveled, one side of his face white from a blow, his lip bleeding, and a pink dressing-gown and some underclothing held in his arms.

He rolled over and sat up, staring. He saw Kemp staggering down the stairs, dusty and disheveled. One side of Kemp’s face was white from a blow, and his lip was bleeding. He held a pink robe and some underwear in his arms.

“My God!” cried Kemp, “the game’s up! He’s gone!”

“My God!” Kemp cried. “It’s over! He’s gone!”