"Below," said Muldoon. "He went below a little while ago. I don't think the old man feels so good. He looked sort of funny. Kind of a sick expression around his mouth. And his eyes were glazed, like he was sort of dopey, or something." "Well, let us send for him. We will need his advice. And bring Borisu from his cell, too. We must attempt to communicate with the Magogeans by radio. We will need Borisu to interpret for us." Lieutenant MacDonald said, "Yes sir. Right away, sir," and hurried from the room. Warren, closely scanning the vision plate, muttered, "Six ... eight ... a dozen of them. If they're friendly, all right. But if they're hostile--" "You have turned on the force-shield?" asked Dr. Kang. "No, but I'll do it now." The skipper pushed the black button. "_That_ should take care of any tricks they try to pull. Say--" His voice broke in a sudden exclamation of astonishment. "Say, _that's_ funny! Where did _that_ come from?" "That? What?" demanded Gary. "Why--why, it looked like a life skiff. Matter of fact it looked like one of the _Liberty's_ auxiliary craft. It just scooted across the vision plate for a minute and then--I'll try to pick it up again." Warren twisted the scanning device deftly, succeeded in centering it upon the foremost of the approaching Magogean spacecraft. He leaned forward, studying intently the scene revealed. "By God, it _is_ a life skiff! But what's it doing this far out in space? And where did it come from?" He got his answer, but from an unexpected source. For suddenly the audio crackled into activity. The voice of Lieutenant MacDonald came to them from midships. "Captain! Captain Warren!" "Yes? Yes, what is it?" "It--it's Professor Bryant, sir." "Bryant? What about him?" "He's lying in the brig ... unconscious!" "You mean--you mean Borisu attacked him? Seize the traitor! Bring him here immediately." MacDonald's voice was anguished. "I can't, sir. That's what I'm trying to tell you. The cell door is open ... one of our auxiliary craft has been stolen from its cradle ... and Borisu--_has escaped_!" CHAPTER XV Life Everlasting "The life skiff!" thundered Hugh Warren. "That was Borisu. He's escaped to his own fleet!" "And ruined," groaned Muldoon, "everything. Now they know who we are, where we came from, and what we want!" MacDonald spoke again from below. "Dr. Bryant, sir--he's coming around. Shall I--?" "Bring him up here," ordered Lane. "And for God's sake, hurry!" The audio clicked off. Gary turned to his companions. "Whatever we're going to do, we've got to do fast. Now they've got wind of our scheme, we may _never_ accomplish it. And if we don't--" He let the sentence dangle. But all knew as well as he what must follow if their mission failed. Minutes later, a dazed Dr. Bryant appeared in the turret, supported on the shoulder of the young space lieutenant. He shook his head in sorrowful reply to Gary's unspoken query.