Slothrop sticks his head out in the long tunnel and hollers, in his most English accent, “Major Marvy sucks!”

“Up this way!” Sounds of galloping GI boots, nailheads smacking the concrete and a lot of other ominous metal too going snick… snick…

“Now,” beams mischievous Glimpf, setting the hoist in motion.

A fresh thought occurs to Slothrop. He puts his head back out and hollers “Major Marvy sucks NIGGERS!”

“I think we should hurry,” sez Glimpf.

“Aw, I just thought of a good one about his mother.” Slack has been disappearing inch by inch from the bight of cable between the hoist and the bar stock, which Glimpf has rigged to topple across the doorway, hopefully about the time the Americans show up.

Slothrop and Glimpf light out through the opposite exit. About the time they reach the first curve in the tunnel, all the lights go out. The ventilation whines on. The phantom voices inside it gain confidence from the dark.

The bundle of Monel falls with a great crash. Slothrop touches rock wall, and uses the wall then for guidance through this absolute blackness. Glimpf is still someplace in the middle of the tunnel, on the tracks. He is not breathing hard, but he is chuckling to himself. Behind are the hollow staggerings of the pursuit, but no light yet. There is a soft clang and sharp “Himmel” from the old professor. Sounds of yelling have grown louder and now here are the first flashlights, and it’s time to get out of the bathtub—

“What’s happening? For Christ’s sake…”

“Come here.” Glimpf has collided with some kind of miniature train, just visible now in outline—it was used once to show visitors from Berlin around the factory. They climb aboard the tractor in front, and Glimpf fiddles with switches.

Well here we go, all aboard, lights must’ve been all that Marvy cut, sparks are crackling out behind and there’s even a little wind now. Good to be rolling.

Ev’ry little Nazi’s shootin’ pool or playin’ potsy

On the Mittel-werk Ex-press!

All the funny Fascists just a-twirlin’ their mustaches

Where we goin’? Can’t you guess?

Headin’ for the country just down the tracks,

Never heard o’ shortages or in-come-tax,

Gonna be good-times, for Minnie and-Max,

On the Mittel-werk Ex-press!

Glimpf has switched on a headlamp. From side-tunnels booming by, figures in khaki stare. Whites of eyes give back the light for an instant before flicking past. A few people wave. Shouts go dopplering Hey-eyyy-y-y-y like car horns at the crossings going home at night on the Boston and Maine… . The Express is rolling at a fair clip. Damp wind rushes by in a whistle. In the lamp’s backscatter, silhouettes of warhead sections can be made out, stacked on the two little flatcars the engine’s towing. Local midgetry scuttle and cringe alongside the tracks, nearly out of the light. They think of the little train as their own, and feel hurt whenever the big people come to commandeer it. Some sit on stacks of crates, dangling their legs. Some practice handstands in the dark. Their eyes glow green and red. Some even swing from ropes secured to the overhead, in mock Kamikaze attacks on Glimpf and Slothrop, screaming, “Banzai, banzai,” before vanishing with a giggle. It’s all in play. They’re really quite an amiable—