"Through the ethero-magnum George Marnik has in his laboratory here--the most powerful receiving and transmission instrument I've ever seen, greater even than the ethero-magnum we have on Venus!" "So _that's_ how he kept always a step ahead of the Patrol," Carston mused. "The scientists he used to kidnap from space-liners--he must have forced them to perfect scientific inventions here!" "Yes," the Venusian girl nodded, "but I haven't told you the most important part, Luhor's plan. If he succeeds, there will be no peace. He has taken the men to the asteroid where Marnik's new fleet of space vessels are to be assembled. But worse than that--_they are also to fit gigantic rockets to the asteroid itself_! It is very dense, and greatly pitted, which simplifies things. With the rockets of this new metal he can guide the asteroid's course! It will be the terror of space, literally invulnerable, with banks of immense electro-cannon and atom-blasts, and cradling a swarm of the new Spacers!" Ernest Carston could only hold his head in his hands. Earth's greatest enemy had died in Marnik, but a greater, more ruthless one had arisen in Luhor! "Go on, Aladdian, please," Mark's tones were reassuring. "Luhor does not suspect that I contacted his mind. He believes all of you have died in the wastes--I got that from his mind, too. Since he will return, because Vulcan's to be the seat of his empire, and he wants me, we have time to plan how we are going to receive him. He's persuaded that the only living being on Vulcan now is a defenseless girl." She smiled enigmatically. "But that asteroid! That hellish threat to Earth!" Carston was beside himself. "And to Venus, and Mars," Aladdian reminded him gently. "It will take months for those rockets to be installed, Earthman. He will be here long before that, I am certain of it--as only a woman can be certain." She raised her eyes and gazed at the doorway. * * * * * Framed at the entrance to the dining-room, Cynthia Marnik stood looking somberly and dry-eyed. Aladdian rose swiftly and went over to her. "My dear ..." the Venusian said softly, a world of compassion in her voice. Cynthia smiled wanly and took the tumbler of water that Carston extended to her. She drank dazedly and then sat down with the inexpressible weariness of one whose world has come tumbling down about her head. Aladdian darted to the kitchen and upon returning made the Earth girl drink a cup of concentrate, then led her away, to her bedroom. "You must sleep," Aladdian was saying softly, monotonously, with a hypnotic cadence in her voice. "I wonder if it will be safe to arm the men?" Carston questioned thoughtfully, his mind grappling with the problem. "That's a chance we'll have to take," Mark Denning replied. "A few among them are not really hardened criminals, but are _politicals_, as you know. I think they will all fight for us, provided we can offer them freedom when, and if, we win."