certainly visited our earth on a previous occasion.” The voice was vibrant and Churchillian. He looked around at them gravely. “The only alternative I can imagine is that they have examined the earth through incredibly powerful telescopes. But I can imagine no third possibility. Can you?”
Carlsen looked across at Fallada. He could see that Fallada was baffled and for the moment unsure of himself.
Schliermacher said suddenly: “But this is completely incredible.”
“Why, Professor?”
Schliermacher was evidently so excited that he had difficulty in speaking. He tapped the map with his finger.
“You see… this is Greece, but it is not modern Greece.”
Bukovsky interrupted acidly: “That is to be expected, surely?” He ignored the Prime Minister’s stare of rebuke.
Schliermacher, stammering slightly, said: “You don’t understand me. You see, this is very strange. Look.” He leaned over Bukovsky. “Do you know what this is?”
Bukovsky said: “I presume it’s an island.”
“Yes, an island. But it is the wrong shape. This is the island of Thera — we call it Santorin now. On a modern map, it is shaped like a crescent moon. Because about 1500B.C.it was blown apart by a volcano. This map was made before the volcano exploded.”
The Prime Minister said: “You are telling us this map was made before 1500B.C.?”
“Sure, that’s what I’m telling you.” Schliermacher was so excited that he was forgetting his awe. “But you see, there is a lot that I don’t understand. This is Knossos, on Crete. This is Athens. No human being at that period could have made such a map.”
Jamieson said: “Precisely. No human beings could have made it, but these creatures could, and did. Rawlinson, pass me the whisky. I think this calls for a celebratory drink.”
As Rawlinson pushed the tray down the table, Fallada asked quietly: “Would you tell me what we are supposed to be celebrating?”
Jamieson smiled at him benignly. “Gentlemen, I should explain that Dr Fallada thinks these creatures are dangerous. And for all I know, he could be right. But I also believe that this map represents one of the greatest advances in historical knowledge of our time. And as you all know, I regard myself as a historian rather than as a politician. So I think we might be justified in raising our glasses to Commander Carlsen and the Stranger .” He began to pour whisky into half a dozen glasses.
M’Kay said: “I think that’s a damn good idea. In fact, I’ve already given orders for the Stranger to be thoroughly examined.” He turned to Bukovsky. “I presume that’s being done?”
Bukovsky reddened. “No.”
M’Kay asked evenly: “Why not?”
“Because I agree with Fallada that these creatures might be dangerous.”
M’Kay began: “Now, look here —”
Fallada snapped: “They are dangerous. They’re vampires.”
M’Kay said scornfully: “So’s my grandmother.”
The others all began to speak at once. Jamieson said: “Gentlemen, gentlemen”. His voice had a calming effect. “I think there’s no need to get excited about this. We’re here to discuss this fully, and” — he turned to Fallada — “everyone has a right to give their point of view. So let us forget our differences for a moment and drink Commander Carlsen’s health.” Fallada continued to frown as he accepted his whisky. Jamieson raised his glass. “To Commander Carlsen and his epoch-making discovery.”
Everyone drank, while Carlsen smiled with embarrassment. Jamieson said: “I should add, Commander, that this is only one of several maps found on the Stranger . I want Professor Schliermacher to take charge of the examination of this material.”
Schliermacher, his face red, said huskily: “I am deeply honoured.”
Jamieson smiled at Fallada. “Doctor, do you remember the story of the Piri Reis maps?” Fallada shook his head sullenly. “Then let me tell it to you. If I remember correctly, Piri Reis was a Turkish
Carlsen looked across at Fallada. He could see that Fallada was baffled and for the moment unsure of himself.
Schliermacher said suddenly: “But this is completely incredible.”
“Why, Professor?”
Schliermacher was evidently so excited that he had difficulty in speaking. He tapped the map with his finger.
“You see… this is Greece, but it is not modern Greece.”
Bukovsky interrupted acidly: “That is to be expected, surely?” He ignored the Prime Minister’s stare of rebuke.
Schliermacher, stammering slightly, said: “You don’t understand me. You see, this is very strange. Look.” He leaned over Bukovsky. “Do you know what this is?”
Bukovsky said: “I presume it’s an island.”
“Yes, an island. But it is the wrong shape. This is the island of Thera — we call it Santorin now. On a modern map, it is shaped like a crescent moon. Because about 1500B.C.it was blown apart by a volcano. This map was made before the volcano exploded.”
The Prime Minister said: “You are telling us this map was made before 1500B.C.?”
“Sure, that’s what I’m telling you.” Schliermacher was so excited that he was forgetting his awe. “But you see, there is a lot that I don’t understand. This is Knossos, on Crete. This is Athens. No human being at that period could have made such a map.”
Jamieson said: “Precisely. No human beings could have made it, but these creatures could, and did. Rawlinson, pass me the whisky. I think this calls for a celebratory drink.”
As Rawlinson pushed the tray down the table, Fallada asked quietly: “Would you tell me what we are supposed to be celebrating?”
Jamieson smiled at him benignly. “Gentlemen, I should explain that Dr Fallada thinks these creatures are dangerous. And for all I know, he could be right. But I also believe that this map represents one of the greatest advances in historical knowledge of our time. And as you all know, I regard myself as a historian rather than as a politician. So I think we might be justified in raising our glasses to Commander Carlsen and the Stranger .” He began to pour whisky into half a dozen glasses.
M’Kay said: “I think that’s a damn good idea. In fact, I’ve already given orders for the Stranger to be thoroughly examined.” He turned to Bukovsky. “I presume that’s being done?”
Bukovsky reddened. “No.”
M’Kay asked evenly: “Why not?”
“Because I agree with Fallada that these creatures might be dangerous.”
M’Kay began: “Now, look here —”
Fallada snapped: “They are dangerous. They’re vampires.”
M’Kay said scornfully: “So’s my grandmother.”
The others all began to speak at once. Jamieson said: “Gentlemen, gentlemen”. His voice had a calming effect. “I think there’s no need to get excited about this. We’re here to discuss this fully, and” — he turned to Fallada — “everyone has a right to give their point of view. So let us forget our differences for a moment and drink Commander Carlsen’s health.” Fallada continued to frown as he accepted his whisky. Jamieson raised his glass. “To Commander Carlsen and his epoch-making discovery.”
Everyone drank, while Carlsen smiled with embarrassment. Jamieson said: “I should add, Commander, that this is only one of several maps found on the Stranger . I want Professor Schliermacher to take charge of the examination of this material.”
Schliermacher, his face red, said huskily: “I am deeply honoured.”
Jamieson smiled at Fallada. “Doctor, do you remember the story of the Piri Reis maps?” Fallada shook his head sullenly. “Then let me tell it to you. If I remember correctly, Piri Reis was a Turkish
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