Morris turned and gripped warmly the hand of each of his companions in turn. Then he stepped forward. Two guards flanked him. The Captain of the Guard rasped a command. The little band marched down the avenue and out of sight; silence surged in to hush the stir of footsteps. Somewhere a barrier clanged metallically. "A disintegrating machine!" moaned Shaughnessey. "A damned disintegrating machine! Suppose we _did_ have it? What good would it do us? It wasn't portable. We couldn't use it to fight Garroway's hordes. Dirk's just thrown his life away for nothing--" "Please, Brian!" begged Hardesty. His hands were knotted at his sides, the knuckles as white as his lips. Meacher's eyes were ghastly. Only Vurrth displayed no emotion, but the sinews of the Venusian's throat were taut cords of strain as he, with the others, waited. Slow seconds passed on sluggish feet. Then, after a million aeons, came the dreaded signal. From afar sounded the thin, persistent hum of pulsing current; the strong lights of the prison-block dimmed briefly ... glowed ... dimmed again ... and glowed.... * * * * * Brian Shaughnessey, strong fighting man that he was, raised a hand to his eyes. Neil Hardesty's breath broke in a shaken murmur. Meacher whimpered, and Vurrth's massive fists tensed at his thighs. Again a door opened ... again footsteps approached the prisoners. There was a look of gloating malice on Garroway's swarthy face. He said, "Open the cell, guards. Let them out now." Hardesty whispered, "It ... it is over?" "It is over. Your friend has vanished ... disappeared into whatever hell awaits rebels." The Overlord smiled. "It was a most interesting exhibition ... most. Through the glazed pane we saw him standing, panic-stricken, frozen with terror. Then the current was turned on. Before our eyes, he vanished as a mist--" "I don't believe it!" growled Shaughnessey. "Morris was afraid of nothing; man, beast, nor devil--" "And ... _and we_?" broke in Fred Meacher fearfully. "Go free," said Black Garroway, "as I promised. But have a care! If ever I hear a word of complaint or suspicion raised against any of you again, you will share his fate. It is only through my graciousness you live." "We understand," said Neil evenly. "Come, friends." He led the way from the cell as a guard unlocked the door. When the four had almost reached the end of the prison corridor, Garroway called after them. "Oh ... one thing more! I almost forgot to thank you, Meacher!" Shaughnessey said, "Huh? What's that? Why? What's he got to thank _you_ for, Fred?" Meacher's pale eyes rolled, suddenly panicked. "Me? I ... I don't know what he's talking about--" Black Garroway's heavy laughter filled the hall.