"Don't worry," Brian told him grimly. "Serono is no friend of mine, either. Where's this ladder?" "Just over the edge on this side." Crystal laid her hand on Brian's arm. "Good luck." She started to smile encouragingly, but she couldn't quite make it. "Brian--" Her voice choked up. "Oh, Brian, be careful--" It was almost a sob. Then she was in his arms. He held her for a moment and buried his face in the soft, silver glory of her hair. "I'll be all right. You take care of yourself till I get back. I won't be long, then we'll get this mess cleaned up." He disengaged himself gently. Crystal watched in silence as Brian clambered over the edge and disappeared into the blackness of the shaft. Minutes dragged slowly by. "Oh, I hope he makes it," Crystal murmured. "He probably will. Mr. Hanson is a very resourceful man." The soft, quiet voice was just behind her. Crystal turned in slow, hopeless terror. "Serono--" McHague's breath sucked in in a startled gasp of horror. "Zeburzac!" "But, of course. I wanted to be here to wish Mr. Hanson _bon voyage_. I hope he has a pleasant flight--although it will be a short one." "What do you mean?" McHague whispered. "Why, McHague, my dear friend, you didn't think I would overlook a simple thing like this?" "You knew?" "Oh, yes. I visited this place several times. I supposed you might be leaving me some time, so, of course, I made arrangements." The silky softness of Serono's voice, changed to a sinister rasp, "That ship will be blown apart fifty seconds after it takes off!" "No--" Crystal screamed, "Brian!" She turned and stumbled toward the shaft, then staggered back as a tremendous, roaring rush of flame fountained madly upward behind the screaming flight of the escaping ship. The exhaust trail towered magnificently into the night, arching gracefully over as the ship swung smoothly into its first acceleration orbit. "Brian ... Brian--" Crystal sobbed hopelessly. The burning streak of fire traced steadily across the sky--then abruptly it ended in a bursting nova of flaming incandescence. The light faded slowly into the twilight darkness. "He's gone," McHague whimpered. Serono laughed softly. "Oh, don't sound so disappointed, McHague. You'll soon be with him." The dry click of Serono's artificial hand crisped in McHague's ears. "No... no... Serono... wait... wait a minute--" McHague babbled. Half paralyzed with terror, he sidled desperately away from the hideous weapon in Serono's hand. "He held a gun on me.... I had to--" McHague's stumbling words trailed off as he read "Death" in Serono's eyes. His terrified scream ripped out as he turned blindly and plunged down the yawning blackness of the shaft. Serono's dry chuckle stirred like the rustling wings of a bat. "And now, Crystal James--" He turned. There was nothing but the impassive stillness of the jungle; the girl was not in sight. * * * * *