There was something doing there, all right. This was no pipedream of Kuhli's--not when he was willing to steal a supply of drugs and strike out on his own into the treacherous jungle. Reese tightened his lips and, started to run toward the nearby colony at a dead trot. He hoped Lois was all right; he'd never forgive himself for leaving her if anything had happened to her. * * * * * He entered the circle of domes. No one seemed to be around. That was peculiar. There should always be a few idling colonists resting up before continuing their task of clearing the jungles. Finally he spotted Lloyd Kramer, one of his best friends. He and Kramer had decided together to join and had come out to _Damballa_ on the same ship. "Lloyd! Lloyd!" Reese ran toward the big man, who was standing stiffly outside his hut, staring elsewhere. "Hey, Lloyd!" Kramer turned. Reese said, "I just saw old Kuhli heading through the forest with a packload of benzo. He says there's some trouble in the Colony. What's up? How's Lois? Is she all right?" A puzzled frown appeared on Kramer's face. "Who are you?" he said in a deep rumbling, voice. "I do not recognize you." "What? You crazy, Lloyd? I'm Jim Reese!" "_Jim ... Reese?_" Kramer repeated the words as if they were some totally alien name. "Where did you come from, Jim Reese?" "I--what the devil is this, Lloyd?" Reese backed away suspiciously. "What's happened to you? Where is everyone?" "You do not know," Kramer said. "Therefore you were not here when the conversion took place. Therefore I must capture you." He lunged. Reese got out of the way just as Kramer's six-four body came thundering toward him. He had known Lloyd long enough to be aware of the big man's fight-patterns; he could side-step easily enough. "Lloyd! You out of your head?" "You must be captured," Kramer repeated. He turned and swung his giant fists. Reese managed to parry one blow but a massive right crashed into his belly and knocked him gasping back against the thick bole of a _ghive_ tree. He clung to the sticky bark for a second, sucking in breath. Then, as Kramer advanced again, Reese yanked out his hunting-knife. Kramer was unarmed. "Lloyd, I don't know what's gotten into you but if you take another step closer to me I'm going to slice you up. You must be crazy!" Kramer drew back, staring in puzzlement at the gleaming saw-toothed blade in Reese's hand. He froze some three yards away. He said aloud, "What should I do, Dr. Tersen? He has a knife." And in a cold, unfamiliar voice, he answered himself: "Keep him there at all costs--your life, if necessary. I will send help." "Yes, Dr. Tersen," Kramer said in his own voice. Reese frowned. Tersen? He remembered someone of that name--some scientist involved in a scandal a few years back on Earth. But what he was doing here on _Damballa_ and what sort of control was he exerting over Lloyd Kramer?