The Smog (15 page)

 

 

“Message from Dr. Palfrey and Stefan Andromovitch from Pale Valley, United States.

 

“To: Heads of States.

“Experiments now concluded by Professor Stephen Storr into the concentration of noxious gases in the earth's atmosphere show highly encouraging results. An additive to all gasolines, all forms of petroleum fuels and natural and coal gas fuels will release a gas which will negative noxious concentrations during the next few days. Sufficient for all major cities will be available within one week. Strongly recommend immobilising all motor vehicles and oil-driven trains if the concentration in any city or town reaches danger point.

“Good reason to believe that further experiments will introduce an additive to all fuels which will in future greatly reduce even today's normal toxic concentrations.”

 

Joyce Morgan read the message, her heart racing, and began to send it out with the help of the young man in the Control Room. Within minutes it was being read by the Chairman of the Presidium of Soviet Republics, by the President of the United States, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, by heads of state throughout the world.

Grace Drummond read it as she sat, convalescing, in a nursing home belonging to Z5.

Newspaper editors read it and rushed it into print.

Every television and radio channel carried the message, word for word, at regular intervals during that golden day.

Everyone at Pale Valley watched a television relay, that afternoon, in a small theatre at the back of the chalet. When it was over, Palfrey moved to the front of the theatre, and said almost apologetically: “I hope I may have a few minutes to talk to you all. We know now that many of your efforts to find the answer to air pollution were thwarted by Philip Montefiore. We know that his mind as well as his body was infirm, that as he could not live a normal life, he turned his hatred on the world. It was he who blew up Sane Manor, and who began the holocaust.

“But we know also what Professor Storr has done to make amends for the first terrifying miscalculations that caused the catastrophes. He hoped to solve the problem without the world knowing he was responsible, only to fail utterly, killing many thousands of people. But it must be said that without him the problem could not have been solved. And I have learned, while I have been here, how many of you have been dedicated to the same task. I am—ah—fortunate. I have the facilities to make sure that the world knows of this, and shall use these facilities to the full. And for a start I shall see that this little speech of mine is relayed to everyone who works in any of the Storr plants and depots.”

Everyone began to clap.

Storr suddenly found himself surrounded by those who worked for him, by Costain, Marion and Griselda, young Collins.

Then Palfrey said: “And the world will soon know the part that David Costain played in this modern miracle. David—”

But David Costain and Marion had slipped away.

Later, Palfrey was alone with Andromovitch, who had received an amiably worded telegram of congratulation from Moscow, and who was sitting back, enormous and relaxed, on the patio. The aircraft engines were being given a final check, and the flight home would start within an hour.

Costain came in.

“Well, David,” Palfrey asked him. “Do you still feel publicity shy?”

“Always was and always will be,” Costain answered. “Er—I hope you won't think I'm letting you down, but there's a lot of work I can do here and I'd like to stay. I've been asked to take young Philip's place on the staff. Will that be all right?”

“My dear chap,” said Palfrey, “if any man in the world has the right to do exactly what he wishes, you do.”

 

Costain and Marion stood with Storr, Griselda and Harrison, watching the two aircraft take off. Both circled once, high above Pale Lake, and then flew between the mountain peaks towards the world beyond.

When they had disappeared, Costain turned with Marion towards the new world he had found.

 

[
1
]
In 'The Oasis'.

 

Published or to be published by

House of Stratus

 

Dates given are those of first publication

Alternative titles in brackets

 

'The Baron' (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)

'Department 'Z'' (28 titles)

'Dr. Palfrey Novels' (34 titles)

'Gideon of Scotland Yard' (22 titles)

'Inspector West' (43 titles)

'Sexton Blake' (5 titles)

'The Toff' (59 titles)

 

along with:

 

The Masters of Bow Street   This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey's account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel's Act in 1829.

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Meet the Baron 
   (The Man in the Blue Mask)
    
   (1937)
   
2. The Baron Returns 
   (The Return of the Blue Mask)
    
   (1937)
   
3. The Baron Again 
   (Salute Blue Mask)
    
   (1938)
   
4. The Baron at Bay 
   (Blue Mask at Bay)
    
   (1938)
   
5. Alias the Baron 
   (Alias Blue Mask)
    
   (1939)
   
6. The Baron at Large 
   (Challenge Blue Mask!)
    
   (1939)
   
7. Versus the Baron 
   (Blue Mask Strikes Again)
    
   (1940)
   
8. Call for the Baron 
   (Blue Mask Victorious)
    
   (1940)
   
9. The Baron Comes Back 
   (1943)
   
10. A Case for the Baron 
    (1945)
    
11. Reward for the Baron 
    (1945)
    
12. Career for the Baron 
    (1946)
    
13. Blood Diamond 
    (The Baron and the Beggar) (1947)
    
14. Blame the Baron 
    (1948)
    
15. A Rope for the Baron 
    (1948)
    
16. Books for the Baron 
    (1949)
    
17. Cry for the Baron 
    (1950)
    
18. Trap the Baron 
    (1950)
    
19. Attack the Baron 
    (1951)
    
20. Shadow the Baron 
    (1951)
    
21. Warn the Baron 
    (1952)
    
22. The Baron Goes East 
    (1953)
    
23. The Baron in France 
    (1953)
    
24. Danger for the Baron 
    (1953)
    
25. The Baron Goes Fast 
    (1954)
    
26. Nest-Egg for the Baron 
    (Deaf, Dumb and Blonde)
     
    (1954)
    
27. Help from the Baron 
    (1955)
    
28. Hide the Baron 
    (1956)
    
29. The Double Frame 
    (Frame the Baron)
     
    (1957)
    
30. Blood Red 
    (Red Eye for the Baron)
     
    (1958)
    
31. If Anything Happens to Hester 
    (Black for the Baron)
     
    (1959)
    
32. Salute for the Baron 
    (1960)
    
33. The Baron Branches Out 
    (A Branch for the Baron)
     
    (1961)
    
34. The Baron and the Stolen Legacy 
    (Bad for the Baron)
     
    (1962)
    
35. A Sword for the Baron 
    (The Baron and the Mogul Swords)
     
    (1963)
    
36. The Baron on Board 
    (The Mask of Sumi) (1964)
    
37. The Baron and the Chinese Puzzle 
    (1964)
    
38. Sport for the Baron 
    (1966)
    
39. Affair for the Baron 
    (1967)
    
40. The Baron and the Missing Old Masters 
    (1968)
    
41. The Baron and the Unfinished Portrait 
    (1969)
    
42. Last Laugh for the Baron 
    (1970)
    
43. The Baron Goes A-Buying 
    (1971)
    
44. The Baron and the Arrogant Artist 
    (1972)
    
45. Burgle the Baron 
    (1973)
    
46. The Baron - King Maker 
    (1975)
    
47. Love for the Baron 
    (1979)
    

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. The Death Miser 
   (1932)
   
2. Redhead 
   (1934)
   
3. First Came a Murder 
   (1934)
   
4. Death Round the Corner 
   (1935)
   
5. The Mark of the Crescent 
   (1935)
   
6. Thunder in Europe 
   (1936)
   
7. The Terror Trap 
   (1936)
   
8. Carriers of Death 
   (1937)
   
9. Days of Danger 
   (1937)
   
10. Death Stands By 
    (1938)
    
11. Menace! 
    (1938)
    
12. Murder Must Wait 
    (1939)
    
13. Panic! 
    (1939)
    
14. Death by Night 
    (1940)
    
15. The Island of Peril 
    (1940)
    
16. Sabotage 
    (1941)
    
17. Go Away Death 
    (1941)
    
18. The Day of Disaster 
    (1942)
    
19. Prepare for Action 
    (1942)
    
20. No Darker Crime 
    (1943)
    
21. Dark Peril 
    (1944)
    
22. The Peril Ahead 
    (1946)
    
23. The League of Dark Men 
    (1947)
    
24. The Department of Death 
    (1949)
    
25. The Enemy Within 
    (1950)
    
26. Dead or Alive 
    (1951)
    
27. A Kind of Prisoner 
    (1954)
    
28. The Black Spiders 
    (1957)
    

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Traitor's Doom 
   (1942)
   
2. The Legion of the Lost 
   (1943)
   
3. The Valley of Fear 
   (The Perilous Country)
    
   (1943)
   
4. Dangerous Quest 
   (1944)
   
5. Death in the Rising Sun 
   (1945)
   
6. The Hounds of Vengeance 
   (1945)
   
7. Shadow of Doom 
   (1946)
   
8. The House of the Bears 
   (1946)
   
9. Dark Harvest 
   (1947)
   
10. The Wings of Peace 
    (1948)
    
11. The Sons of Satan 
    (1948)
    
12. The Dawn of Darkness 
    (1949)
    
13. The League of Light 
    (1949)
    
14. The Man Who Shook the World 
    (1950)
    
15. The Prophet of Fire 
    (1951)
    
16. The Children of Hate 
    (The Killers of Innocence; The Children of Despair)
     
    (1952)
    
17. The Touch of Death 
    (1954)
    
18. The Mists of Fear 
    (1955)
    
19. The Flood 
    (1956)
    
20. The Plague of Silence 
    (1958)
    
21. Dry Spell 
    (The Drought)
     
    (1959)
    
22. The Terror 
    (1962)
    
23. The Depths 
    (1963)
    
24. The Sleep 
    (1964)
    
25. The Inferno 
    (1965)
    
26. The Famine 
    (1967)
    
27. The Blight 
    (1968)
    
28. The Oasis 
    (1970)
    
29. The Smog 
    (1970)
    
30. The Unbegotten 
    (1971)
    
31. The Insulators 
    (1972)
    
32. The Voiceless Ones 
    (1973)
    
33. The Thunder-Maker 
    (1976)
    
34. The Whirlwind 
    (1979)
    

 

(Writing as JJ Marric)

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Gideon's Day 
   (Gideon of Scotland Yard)
    
   (1955)
   
2. Seven Days to Death 
   (Gideon's Week)
    
   (1956)
   
3. Gideon's Night 
   (1957)
   
4. A Backwards Jump
    (Gideon's Month) (1958)
   
5. Thugs and Economies 
   (Gideon's Staff) (1959)
   
6. Gideon Combats Influence 
   (Gideon's Risk) (1960)
   
7. Gideon's Fire 
   (1961)
   
8. A Conference for Assassins 
   (Gideon's March)
    
   (1962)
   
9. Travelling Crimes 
   (Gideon's Ride)
    
   (1963)
   
10. An Uncivilised Election 
    (Gideon's Vote)
     
    (1964)
    
11. Criminal Imports 
    (Gideon's Lot)
     
    (1965)
    
12. To Nail a Serial Killer 
    (Gideon's Badge) (1966)
    
13. From Murder to a Cathedral 
    (Gideon's Wrath)
     
    (1967)
    
14. Gideon's River 
    (1968)
    
15. Darkness and Confusion 
    (Gideon's Power) (1969)
    
16. Sport, Heat & Scotland Yard 
    (Gideon's Sport)
     
    (1970)
    
17. Gideon's Art 
    (1971)
    
18. No Relaxation at Scotland Yard 
    (Gideon's Men) (1972)
    
19. Impartiality Against the Mob 
    (Gideon's Press) (1973)
    
20. Not Hidden by the Fog 
    (Gideon's Fog) (1975)
    
21. Good and Justice 
    (Gideon's Drive) (1976)
    
22. Vigilantes & Biscuits 
    (Gideon's Force)
     
    (1978)
    

 

These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

 

1. Inspector West Takes Charge 
   (1942)
   
2. Go Away to Murder 
   (Inspector West Leaves Town)
    
   (1943)
   
3. An Apostle of Gloom 
   (Inspector West At Home)
    
   (1944)
   
4. Inspector West Regrets 
   (1945)
   
5. Holiday for Inspector West 
   (1946)
   
6. Battle for Inspector West 
   (1948)
   
7. The Case Against Paul Raeburn 
   (Triumph for Inspector West)
    
   (1948)
   
8. Inspector West Kicks Off 
   (Sport for Inspector West)
    
   (1949)
   
9. Inspector West Alone 
   (1950)
   
10. Inspector West Cries Wolf 
    (The Creepers)
     
    (1950)
    
11. The Figure in the Dusk 
    (A Case for Inspector West)
     
    (1951)
    
12. The Dissemblers 
    (Puzzle for Inspector West)
     
    (1951)
    
13. The Case of the Acid Throwers 
    (The Blind Spot; Inspector West at Bay)
     
    (1952)
    
14. Give a Man a Gun 
    (A Gun for Inspector West)
     
    (1953)
    
15. Send Inspector West 
    (1953)
    
16. So Young, So Cold, So Fair 
    (A Beauty for Inspector West; The Beauty Queen Killer)
     
    (1954)
    
17. Murder Makes Haste 
    (Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman)
     
    (1955)
    
18. Murder: One, Two, Three 
    (Two for Inspector West)
     
    (1955)
    
19. Death of a Postman 
    (Parcels for Inspector West)
     
    (1956)
    
20. Death of an Assassin 
    (A Prince for Inspector West)
     
    (1956)
    
21. Hit and Run 
    (Accident for Inspector West)
     
    (1957)
    
22. The Trouble at Saxby's 
    (Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death)
     
    (1957)
    
23. Murder, London - New York 
    (1958)
    
24. Strike for Death 
    (The Killing Strike)
     
    (1958)
    
25. Death of a Racehorse 
    (1959)
    
26. The Case of the Innocent Victims 
    (1959)
    
27. Murder on the Line 
    (1960)
    
28. Death in Cold Print 
    (1961)
    
29. The Scene of the Crime 
    (1961)
    
30. Policeman's Dread 
    (1962)
    
31. Hang the Little Man 
    (1963)
    
32. Look Three Ways at Murder 
    (1964)
    
33. Murder, London - Australia 
    (1965)
    
34. Murder, London - South Africa 
    (1966)
    
35. The Executioners 
    (1967)
    
36. So Young to Burn 
    (1968)
    
37. Murder, London - Miami 
    (1969)
    
38. A Part for a Policeman 
    (1970)
    
39. Alibi for Inspector West 
    (1971)
    
40. A Splinter of Glass 
    (1972)
    
41. The Theft of Magna Carta 
    (1973)
    
42. The Extortioners 
    (1974)
    
43. A Sharp Rise in Crime 
    (1978)