"Yes. Back when the Kalquoi first came to our system, someone discovered that high-frequency Udellian waves kept them from changing shape or swallowing up things. And if the amplification was strong enough, the waves would even shatter the crystals, the Kalquoi bodies. That was the whole idea behind the shaft: to destroy the Kalquoi if they tried to attack Sandoz." "And what happened?" Nelva shrugged slim shoulders. "I'm not enough of a tech in that field to tell you, really. But as I understand it, it turned out that the shaft was one of those things that works fine when you hold the size down to a laboratory model." "But when they increased the size it wouldn't work?" "That's right," Nelva nodded. "It seems that when the transmitter got beyond a certain size, the amount of power it took climbed way out of proportion--so much so the available broadcast relay equipment couldn't even activate the shaft, let alone make it effective against the Kalquoi." "So?" "So the Kalquoi came, and Sandoz--all Callisto--was abandoned." Nelva lifted her hands in a small, sad gesture. "That's all I know, Clark. Every bit." Dane nodded slowly. Nelva said, "I'm afraid that's the way it may turn out with all your questions. There won't be any answers--not real answers; not the kind that can help you. That's why I'm so anxious to see to it Security doesn't find you." Dane pondered her words for a long, dragging moment. Finally he asked, "Where's that carrier you picked me up in?" The girl shot him a quick glance. "The carrier--?" And then: "Why, on the roof here, I guess. But of course it's just short-range--" "Do you think we could get to it?" "Perhaps." Nelva studied him thoughtfully. "Surely you're not really thinking of trying to get away from Security in a carrier, are you?" Dane grinned, a trifle thinly. "You never can quite tell about me, can you?" He let the grin develop into a chuckle. "How do we get up there, anyhow?" "There's a pneumolift. Right through this door...." But though Nelva led the way, a shadow lay across her face that might have been irritation, or bafflement, or both. It was strangely quiet in the building, it seemed to Dane. Especially considering there was a full-scale Security search for him in progress. He tried not to think about it. He was tense enough as it was, without letting his imagination run riot. Obliquely, he stole a glance at Nelva Guthrie, beside him in the lift. The shadow across her face had vanished. Now the girl seemed almost placid. It was as if, in her eyes, everything was going precisely according to plan. * * * * * Dane smiled to himself a little at the thought ... wondered how long she'd be able to hold to her complacency. The pneumolift eased to a halt. Warily, Dane followed Nelva out ... moved after her through the shadows to the carrier station. Still no guards, no interruption. A carrier, poised in its launching-rack, sleek-lined and graceful.