n back to the
first, while two white figures detached themselves from the main group
and went to the nearby case of coordinated brains. An object held in a
specially formed type of pan was lifted out and carried to the first
table; and Carse sensed a crisis in the attitudes of the working men.
This, he knew, was the first great, step. A brain was being re-born.
The fingers of men, and one man in particular, were fashioning a
miracle.

How could he hope to understand? He could only hang on the movements
of that group of figures, and feel relief as he saw them settle into
smoothness again. Evidently the first crisis was past. A few minutes
more were spent at the first table; then once more Dr. Ku Sui went to
the second, and another object was carried from the coldly gleaming
case.

And in a long, deep pan standing on short legs beside the case,
something gray and shapeless and warm was placed.

The first phase came to an end when there were five similar things in
the open pan, and nothing, except the liquid and a multitude of
spidery, disconnected wires, in the case that but shortly before had
harbored the brains of five scientists....

* * * * *

A pause. Relaxation. Tests. The black-clad figure spoke to one in
yellow in a tone of pleased relief.

"Successful so far, Master Leithgow! We may congratulate ourselves on
the consummation of the first step. It has been done, I believe, well
within the time limit."

"Yes, Dr. Ku; yes. And now--how long will be needed to finish?"

"That is up to you. Normally, I would require a month. In that time
all could be done safely, with small chance--"

"Too long!" said Leithgow.

Carse intervened:

"Why too long, Eliot?"

The old scientist went over close to him, and, in a lowered voice,
explained:

"Ku Sui would develop immunity to the V-27 in a month. Two weeks of it
would give him part immunity. Even ten days might. He has to be
re-gassed four times a day."

"But, letting him come out of it every night and resting normally?"
the Hawk objected.

"I have allowed for that. The gas would still be in his system.
No--nine or ten days is the limit." He raised his voice again to reach
the Eurasian. "Can you complete the work within nine days, Dr. Ku?"

Ku Sui considered it. At last he said:

"That is a lot to ask, Master Leithgow. But--it might be possible.
However, it would mean prodigies of sustained, concentrated labor;
work and skil