"When he comes, R4 will doubtless call for his flame guns and dispense with the matter at once," Ralph said with resignation. "It was by those weapons that civilization was overthrown--rays of invisible heat that withered all it touched. However, since the beginning of their indubitable security here, they retain only a few of these guns which they must connect to the main power transmitter. I saw it happen once when I was a boy, during a brief rebellion." Suddenly Rod remembered the power building which he had seen on the way to the compound. The rays were operated by the same power that ran the city. He remembered 83 saying he was impervious to heat. If he could reach the power plant, destroy it, then the Capeks would be weaponless. And with the greater strength that 83 had bestowed--he had two arms now and he had learned much--they might have a chance against the machines. There were but a hundred of them. How many had been accounted for already? But how could he leave with them swarming at the only exit? And they would get the humans if he left. He whispered to Ralph of his scheme. It might be that he could do something in time.... "If you got through," Ralph said, "I think I could hold the door. It will take time for them to unjam the machines there. It's our only chance. Go!" Then Rod thought of the rear chamber. It might be suicide, but he must try. "Do what you can until I return," he said. "You can always surrender; they would probably not harm you if you gave up." "We prefer to die here," said Ralph. Vee came to his side. She held the hatchet Daro had dropped. Rod rolled into the other room. He went to the wall, tapped it, inspected it closely. It was of metal but did not sound very thick. He backed up, arms and neck cord behind him out of the way. He hurled himself against the wall. It smashed before him and he careened into the street behind the building. There was no machine in sight. Rod darted down the pavement, turned into the next street. Far in the distance, he could see the crowd before the building he had left. He shot across the thoroughfare and into the next, glided swiftly to the power plant. He paused at the door, heard again the drone of massive dynamos. There came a cry from within and several Capeks rushed out, the afternoon sunlight glittering upon their number plates. Rod hurled one heavily to the pavement, eluded the others and darted into the building. It was a monstrous room, walls studded with glowing tubes, machinery covering the floor. The Capeks--there were six of them--came at him again but he dodged. He began smashing every tube in sight. He sped along the wall, one arm rigidly outstretched, breaking tubes as he passed. Holding the Capeks off with his other hand, he encircled the room, shattered every tube. But the light of the ceiling continued to glow. The power was unimpaired.