Sean masked the effort as he trundled the hamper by the guards. It might arouse suspicions if they thought he was disclosing undue stress. He was sweating as he worked the hamper step by step down the long stairway leading to the street. He was desperately afraid that the hamper would overbalance and topple Shel Lur's body out on the landing before the two guards near the main gate. But Marcia strained her tiny body against the hamper, relieving some of the drag. The Kraks did not even glance at them. Outside with the door closed, Sean straightened, blew a breath of relief through his tight lips. Of a sudden, Marcia pulled his head, kissed him firmly on the lips. Sean jerked away abruptly. "Don't you like me?" she asked petulantly. "I like you." "How about Mike?" Marcia shrugged. For a moment, Sean wanted to take her tiny body and shake some sense into it; but then he remembered that it was she who had given him the key to the enigma of the Krak's invulnerability. Trust a woman to find a man's Achilles heel! He grinned wryly, and asked: "Which way to Mike's laundry?" Marcia pointed, still pouting a little. * * * * * Mike saw them first as they pushed the hamper into the spraying room. His dark face, the dark hair crowning it like a thick cap, lighted at the sight of Marcia, and harshened when he saw Sean. Mike moved quickly toward them, his eyes fixed on Marcia's face. His arms were outstretched. Sean was looking at Marcia out of the corner of his green eyes. At Mike's approach she moved closer to Sean, tugged at his arm. "Marcia!" Mike said, and his voice carried his heart with it. "I was scared stiff when they took you. How...?" Mike's dark eyes saw Marcia's fingers flexing on Sean's arm. He took a step forward, his bulging muscles rippling, his dark eyes snapping. Sean, wordlessly, dumped over the hamper. Shel Lur's body spilling out on the damp floor stopped him instantly. Mike O'Hara stared at the body of the Krak, then at Sean's smiling lips. "Dead." Sean's voice was quiet. "Dead?" Their soft voices brought other Earthlings crowding from the various parts of the spraying room. They, too, stared at the dead bulk of the pink-skinned Krak. "How?" Mike breathed the word like a prayer. Sean jerked a thumb at Marcia. "Marcia did it, and showed me how." Marcia broke in: "But I don't know how I did it, Sean." Sean shrugged as Mike moved closer to Marcia. "Oh, Marcia," Mike said softly. "You found the way." His arms reached out as if to clasp her, but she ducked under them, put her arm around Sean's waist. Sean's fingers pushed her arm loose, but Mike was a fury before him. "So," Mike growled. "I must think of Jane. I must forget Marcia." He sniffed loudly. "Well, friend, how about Maureen? I suppose she'll greet Marcia with open arms?" He paused a moment.