“Don’t move,” a low voice commanded. “Not an inch! _Careful!_” [Illustration: “Don’t move! Not if you value your lives!”] But Tony’s reaction was involuntary as he whirled. Almost beside him, but out of easy reach, was Commander Desquer. In his hand was a carbon-gun, and another was in his holster. The man’s glittering eyes watched Tony icily from under the shaggy penthouse brows. “Careful!” Desquer repeated. “Your brother wasn’t.” “Where is he?” “There.... He isn’t hurt. He’ll wake up in a few minutes. Just stunned. My gun wasn’t loaded, but his was. So—” Desquer grinned and passed his palm over his shaved scalp. “Revive him. Quick!” he barked as Tony hesitated. * * * * * The latter silently went to where Jimmy lay huddled against the wall of the temple. He knelt beside the boy and began to slap his cheeks. He glanced up once to see the Commander watching him narrowly. Desquer said, “Where’s the Earth Star? You got it?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tony grunted. “No? Then let me explain. That televisor call that took me to the surface—it was from a man named Zadah, the secretary of a certain Rajah. He told me all about you. Offered me a fortune if I got the jewel back for him. Well—I intend to. I’m sick of the Legion, and this is my chance to buy my way out and live like a prince. So—where’s the stone?” Tony told him, but his remark was unprintable. Desquer’s thick lips twisted in a sneer. “Very well. But I’ll get it, remember that.” “A lot of good it’ll do you now.” “I’ll get out of here. But first we’re going to destroy that machine of Thotmes. Your brother’s waking up. Bring him along. We’re heading for the pyramid.” Grimly Tony hoisted the half-unconscious Jimmy to his feet and supported him. “We’re unarmed. There are scores of priests—” “You’re going to stay unarmed,” Desquer snapped. “I can handle a gun better than any three men. _Allons!_” Tony grunted and started out, carrying most of Jimmy’s weight on his shoulders as the boy slowly recovered from the blow that had stunned him. His lips were a tight, pale line. Both he and Jimmy were completely in Desquer’s power, and the man was so completely an egotist that he had not hesitated to carry out his own plans even in the face of a doom that threatened the entire Earth. Ruthless Desquer was—but of his icy courage there could be no doubt. Nor of his greed! Tony sensed something of the driving power within the man, the desolate years of loneliness in Sub-Sahara, a prison worse for Desquer, perhaps, than for any other man there. They moved toward the pyramid, keeping to the shadows. Tony and Jimmy preceded their captor, conscious always of the gun leveled unerringly at their backs. There was neither sign nor movement to indicate the presence of the Atlanteans. “How do you expect to get to the machine?” Tony asked finally. “It’s guarded.”