e. Over this
shadowed portion a faint, unearthly glow clung close, the result of
the terrific friction of the ascent. In miniature, in the regular
screens, was Satellite III, but a distorted miniature, for its
half-face appeared concave in shape, and dusted with the haze of its
atmosphere.

* * * * *

The Hawk was visibly relieved. He turned to the silent Ku Sui.

"I must congratulate you, Dr. Ku," he said, "on the operation of the
asteroid. It's as smooth as any ship. And now, your cigarro. Ban, have
you one?"

Wilson produced a small metal case from which he extracted one of the
long black cylinders.

"You will have to put it in my lips, please," murmured Dr. Ku. "Thank
you. And a light? Again thanks. Ah...." He drew in the smoke, exhaled
a fine stream of it from his delicately carved nostrils. "Good." Then
he looked up pleasantly at the Hawk.

"And my congratulations to you, Captain. Not only on your expert
maneuvering of my asteroid, but on everything: your resourcefulness,
your decision, your caution. I have long admired these qualities in
you, and the events of to-day, though for me perhaps unfortunate,
increase my admiration. My own weak resistance, my attempt to
frustrate your plans in connection with the brains--how miserable in
comparison! It would seem, Captain, that you cannot fail, and that you
will indeed succeed in giving the brains new life, so swiftly do you
move. Yes, my congratulations!"

He drew at the cigarro, and the smoke wreathed gently around his
ascetic saffron face. A faint, queer glint was visible under the long
lashes that half-veiled his eyes as he continued:

"But I have a question, Captain. A mere nothing, but still--"

"Yes, Dr. Ku?"

"The living bodies into which you propose to transplant the
brains--where are they?"

Hawk Carse's face was stern and his voice frigid as he answered:

"Fortunately, those bodies are right here on the asteroid."

"Here on the asteroid, Captain? I don't understand. What bodies are
here?"

"The bodies of your four white assistants, whom I have safely
confined, and one of your robot-coolies, also confined. I did not
intend to use these five, but, because you put a premium on time by
your attempted destruction of the brains, it cannot be helped."

* * * * *

Dr. Ku Sui's impassive demeanor did not change. He did not seem in the
least surprised. He puffed quietly at the cigarro a