"I can't believe you set up a meeting with a contact here of all places," Napoleon groused.
"I did not make these arrangements, the contact chose it. What is wrong with this place? It seems like a typical small town and nothing more." Illya was a bit confused by his partner's remark.
"You have no idea where we are then?"
"Other than a town called Grover's Mill, no. Enlighten me if you would?"
"This is the place where the Martians invaded earth."
The Russian was taken aback by that," Do not be ridiculous, no such thing has ever happened!"
"Well not a real invasion,"Napoleon smiled." The town was made famous thanks to Orson Welles' radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds. It was depicted as the epicenter of a Martian invasion on October 30, 1938. The town and the nation were in a panic from the broadcast, thinking it was rea. Murderous Martians had invaded Earth, their unlikely first landfall was here in Grovers Mill, outside Princeton.
Some of the local people put their families in their cars and drove out of town. I remember hearing the broadcast as a kid and I remember this part word for word…it scared the hell out of me."
"Good heavens, something's wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. Now it's another one, and another. They look like tentacles to me. There, I can see the thing's body. It's large, large as a bear and it glistens like wet leather. But that face, it ... Ladies and gentlemen, it's indescribable!" Napoleon mimicked the speaker. "It was perfect to scare people the night before Halloween."
"How could people have been that gullible?" Illya asked.
"Well it was 1938, radio was the important form of entertainment for people who didn't have access to the theatre or the picture shows," Napoleon shrugged. At that exact moment Solo froze as a glistening hand with long fingers like wet leather grabbed hold of his shoulder.
He spun round, drawing his gun and aimed at the creature that was indeed as large as a bear. It had a bulbous head, no nose, large black eyes and a tiny mouth. Illya too turned, his eyes wide, still he drew his weapon, aiming at it as well.
"Wait wait, don't shoot, don't shoot!" A muffled voice spoke. The creature reached up, slipping its head from its body. It was a mask of course.
"You Solo and Kuryakin?"
"Yes," they answered in unison, but breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm Louis Savino, I'm the contact you're supposed to meet. I have information...for a price."
"How about we go somewhere a bit less obvious Louis, say that alleyway?" Napoleon pointed across the street.
The agents followed behind the costumed man donned his mask again, once there in the alley he removed it again.
"So we need a taste of what you have to offer before we pay," Illya said.
"All right," Louis said. "Wait if I give you a little, it won't make sense. How much you willing to pay me anyway?"
"How much do you want?"Solo asked.
"How about a thousand bucks. That'll be enough for me to get out of this podunk town, start a new life and find a decent job, not involving wearing a stupid costume."
"That is a bit pricey," Illya said. "Tell us what you know and you have our word we will give you at least half that, and if your information is worth it, then you will have your asking price."
"Fair enough," Louis craned his neck to make sure no one else was around." There's a small THRUSH satrapy in Princeton and the people there are spying on the scientists at the university. Some sort of secret government project they're trying to get their hands on."
"Do you know what project?"Napoleon asked.
"No details other than it involves Atomic research."
The asking price was paid and the agents watched as their alien friend stripped off his costume and left it where it lay in the alley before dashing off to his new future.
Kuryakin gathered it up and carried it to their car.
"A souvenir for this one tovarisch?"
"No, I can use it for a costume at April's Halloween partner…"
Napoleon pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers as he shook his head...
