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tion dl waa ee But—most.of all he -talked_pt. himself; that he was @ man marked for death. We watched through the rearview mirror. The carload of Muslims was gaining on us. took the far, left lane of the freeay and the Muslims inched alongside to our right. Fear struck my heart; I knew they meant business. I expected any moment to see their car window lower and a volley of shots blaze toward us. I drove like a madman but the Muslims Kept| pace. | Used Cane as “Gan” Then Malcolm acted. He; reached on the floor of my car: and picked up a walking cane I had been carrying since a hare inj several nonths ago. Malcolm then lowered the back. window of my car and lifted the. cane is if it were a shotgun and. aimed it at the Muslims who were then almost directly’ alongside us. The Muslim driver suddenly reduced his spped and fell into traffic behind us. I swerved across the freeway and headed for the nearest exit. The Muslims became tangled in traffic and could not follow us up the exit ramp. We were then about five minutes from the airport and our rendezvous with the’ police detail was still a half hour away. The Muslims had seen Malcolm check out of the hotel; they saw him put his bag in my car; they had followed us down the freeway toward the airport. We were certain they knew where we were going. We were determined not to enter. the airport terminal without) ion. 7 ee ee [pepe prateg at a roadside cafe to wi away the minutes before the scheduled meeting with the police. Malcolm, though tense, chatted with the white waitress who recognized him immediately. Meanwhile, I called Lt. Phillips and discov- ered that the police detail was already at the airport waiting or us. Malcolm and I were ushered into the terminal by eight plainclothesmen. The TWA security men were also on hand. As Malcolm was purchasing his ticket, two Black Muslims came into the terminal marching in lock step. As if in military cadence. “Those afe-Rtrs¥ms,”” one of the policemen said excitedly. “I recognize one of them, They call him Jingles.” ~ “Watch them,” Malcolm said quickly. “They are decoys. They were sent here to divert attention while the real killers do their work. Look for black men dressed like laborers or some-! thing like that. That is the way the killers will be dressed. Those two men there are decoys.” oo it was this precise use of isbed y. decoys that efuitijanked Officers el The two Muslins marched directly toward us. The police moved forward to intercept them. The Muslims executed a half right, then a half left, therby outflanking the officers. The two Muslims then took up observation posts come 56 feet from us as police formed a protective cover. TWA officials rashed Malcolm and me into a small office and then led us to his plane through the under- ground cabbage chute. I saw Malcolm onto the plane and said goodby. - | “I am atumarked man,” Malcolm said to me. ‘I'm ready to die. I just don’t want them to hurt my family.” ' “Malcolm and I had missed death by inches and we knew it. Now Maleolm is dead. As I write this, unrest contorts the Negro community from coast to eoast. Fear and panic have invaded the Black Muslim organization here, and I am certain there will be trouble jwhen the Muslims meet in ‘Chicago for their annual convention this weekend. | Whatever happens, J am further ‘eonvinced that the Black Mus- lims are doomed. In death, Malcolm X has accomplished t he could not do in | wha eco not do é , BY North American Newspaper Alliance COMET A DST net 7