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The Invisible Man
Chapter 24. THE HUNTING OF THE INVISIBLE MAN
For a moment Kemp was too shocked to make Adye understand the quick things that had just happened.
They stood on the landing, Kemp speaking quickly, the strange bandages of Griffin still on his arm.
But soon Adye began to understand something of the situation.
"He's mad," said Kemp.
"He isn't human."
"He's completely selfish."
"He thinks of nothing but his own good, his own safety."
"I heard such a story this morning of cruel selfishness."
"He has hurt men."
"He'll kill them unless we can stop him."
"He'll cause a panic."
"Nothing can stop him."
"He's going out now - very angry."
"He must be caught," said Adye.
"That's certain."
"But how?" cried Kemp, and suddenly became full of ideas.
"You must start at once."
"You must put every man you have to work."
"You must stop him from leaving this area."
"Once he gets away, he may go through the countryside as he wants, killing and hurting people."
"He dreams of a reign of terror!"
"A reign of terror, I tell you."
"You must watch trains and roads and ships."
"The soldiers must help."
"You must send a message for help."
"The only thing that may keep him here's the thought of getting back some books of notes that he thinks are valuable."
"I'll tell you about that!"
"There's a man in your police station - Marvel."
"I know," said Adye, "I know. Those books - yes. But the tramp."
"He says he doesn't have them."
"But Griffin thinks the tramp has them."
"And you must stop him from eating or sleeping."
"Day and night the countryside must be looking for him."
"Food must be locked up and made safe, all food, so that he'll have to break in to get it."
"The houses everywhere must be closed against him."
"I hope we get cold nights and rain!"
"The whole countryside must start hunting and keep hunting."
"I tell you, Adye, he's a danger, a disaster."
"Unless he's caught and held, it's terrible to think of the things that may happen."
"What else can we do?" said Adye.
"I must go down at once and start organizing. But why don't you come? Yes - you come too! Come,"
"And we must hold a kind of war meeting and get Hopps and the railway managers to help."
"By Jove! It's urgent. Come along and tell me as we go. What else can we do? Put that stuff down," said Adye.
In another moment Adye was leading the way downstairs.
They found the front door open and the policemen standing outside staring at empty air.
"He's got away, sir," said one.
"We must go to the central station at once," said Adye.
"One of you go down and get a cab to come up and meet us - quickly. And now, Kemp, what else?"
"Dogs," said Kemp.
"Get dogs. They don't see him, but they smell him. Get dogs."
"Good," said Adye.
"It's not widely known, but the prison officers over at Halstead know a man with bloodhounds. Dogs. What else?"
"Remember," said Kemp.
"His food shows."
"After eating, his food shows until it's digested."
"So he has to hide after eating."
"You must keep searching."
"Every thicket, every quiet corner."
"And put all weapons - all things that could be weapons, away."
"He can't carry such things for long."
"And what he can grab and hit men with must be hidden away."
"Good again," said Adye.
"We'll get him yet!"
"And on the roads," said Kemp, and stopped.
"Yes?" said Adye.
"Powdered glass," said Kemp.
"It's cruel, I know. But think of what he might do!"
Adye breathed in sharply between his teeth.
"It's not fair play. I don't know. But I'll have powdered glass made ready. If he goes too far."
"The man isn't human anymore, I tell you," said Kemp.
"I'm as sure he'll start a reign of terror - as soon as he gets over the feelings of this escape - as I'm sure I'm talking to you."
"Our only chance is to be ahead of him."
"He has cut himself off from his own kind."
"His blood is on his own head."