urprised.

"Bind him? Isn't he going to run this thing?"

"No."

"_You're_ going to, Carse?"

"Yes. I don't quite trust Dr. Ku. The asteroid's controlled on the
same principles as a space-ship: I'll manage. Please hurry, Ban."

"Cap'n., suh! Already got the Master Scientist!" called Friday from
the radio panel. The Hawk strode swiftly to it and clamped the
individual receivers over his ears.

"M. S.?" he asked into the microphone. "You're there?"

"Yes. Carse? What's happened?"

"All's well, but I'm in a tremendous hurry: I've only got time, now,
to tell you we're on the asteroid with Dr. Ku prisoner, and that I'm
undertaking to transplant the coordinated brains into living human
bodies.... What? Yes transplant them! Please, M. S.--not now:
questions later. I'm calling primarily to learn whether you have any
V-27 on hand?"

Eliot Leithgow, in his distant laboratory, paused before replying.
When his voice sounded in the receivers again, it was excited.

"I think I see, Carse! Good! Yes, I have a little--"

"We'll need a lot," the Hawk cut in tersely. "Will you instruct your
assistants to begin preparing as much as they can in the next hour? Yes.
And your laboratory--clear it for the operations, and improvise five
operating tables. Powerful lights, too, M. S. Yes--_yes_--right--all
accessories. Have someone stand by your radio; I'll radio further
details while we're on our way."

"Right, Carse. All understood."

The Hawk remembered something else. "Oh, yes, Eliot--is everything
safe in your vicinity?"

"There's a small band of isuanacs foraging around somewhere in the
neighborhood, but otherwise nothing. They're harmless--"

"But possibly observant," finished Carse. "All right--I'll clear them
away before descending to the lab. Until later, Eliot."

* * * * *

Carse switched off the microphone and turned to catch Friday's shocked
expression. Carse looked inquiringly at his dark satellite.

"What's wrong?"

"Lordy, suh," the Negro whispered, "Dr. Ku could hear all you said!
He'll know where Master Leithgow's laboratory is!"

The Hawk smiled briefly. "No matter, Eclipse. I'm quite sure the
information will avail him nothing. For this ride to the laboratory
will be his last ride but one." He turned. "We're starting at once.
Ban, you've bound him well?"

"If he can get out of those knots," grinned Wilson, "I'll kiss him on
the mouth!"

The Eurasian's nostrils disten