o like to climb ropes hand
over hand. So over and down into the silent city we went, drawing up
pole and rope after us, hiding them in the shadows of the wall.

Like shadows we stole along the streets, and after long minutes heard
the unmistakable feet of the Shinros. They came with that ghastly
mechanical rhythmic tread, eyes staring, backs burdened. I guessed that
now their burdens were materials for the defense of the wall. We
followed, and not far distant from the breach of the explosion of the
disk ship, found our chance. They were accompanied by four of the
hopping Jivros, and upon the back of each a young Zerv sprang, silent as
stalking cats, striking them down, crushing their skulls with vibro-gun
barrels.

Holaf and I set to work immediately on the mindless Shinros, injecting
shots of the red fluid into their veins one by one, varying the shots to
gauge the effect. But it was potent stuff, and before I had the third
man under the needle, the first was speaking in a hoarse, angry voice.

"What has happened to me, what--what?"

Holaf said: "These are almost all graft jobs, were once captives and
normal men. The result, if this shot works, is going to be a thoroughly
angry man, fighting mad for the blood of the Jivros." Then he raised his
voice to the newly revived Shinro.

"You were made into a beast of burden by the Jivro insects! Tonight you
will get your revenge. This shot of sense we are giving you will last
only till daylight, so your life does not matter--it will revert to the
beast in the morning. Go and spend your time where it will hurt the
Jivros most--spill their blood. Their power is ending this night! This is
the beginning of the end for all the Jivro parasites of our race. What
we begin tonight will not stop till every Jivro in the ancient Schree
group of planets is dead and gone!"

As we completed our injections, the column stood waiting, but a column
of sane men, ready to shed Jivro blood for their revenge.

"Go as if to get more burdens of stone to repair the wall. When the
Jivros show themselves, kill, get weapons, do not stop killing until
they are gone or you are dead. You have but this night; make the most of
it."

The column plodded off, in the same apparent condition we had first met
them. But in their brains was boiling, enraged sanity, in a condition of
complete rebellion, of murderous intent.

"They'll sell their lives for something worthwhile, tonight," said Holaf
into my ear