There was one that persisted above all the others, but it was not the scrape of feet against steel floors, nor the bumping of closing and opening ports. Rather, it was the sound of a voice, so distant as to be scarcely audible. It tapped at the threshold of his consciousness for minutes before he admitted it was more than imagination. He turned his eyes toward one after the other of his companions, wondering if they had heard it. Then for the first time he distinguished words. "Men of Earth," the faint voice called. Underwood stood up suddenly. Terry jerked his head about. "You heard it, too?" he asked. Underwood nodded. "I could have sworn someone was in this room talking. Listen, now--it's getting louder." While they stared at each other questioningly, there came a sudden wavering of light in the center of the room. They glanced at the illumination panel, but nothing was wrong there. Still the distortion of light in their midst took on vague shape. It wavered and writhed, as if it were an image on a sheet being tossed in the wind. Then it assumed questionable solidity. It was human in form, taller than a man and copper-skinned. "Jandro!" Underwood exclaimed. The image faded and wavered again. "How can it be?" murmured Phyfe. The image was not a thing of reality, Underwood knew. It was no more than conjuration within their own brains, yet the experience appeared identical to all of them. That Jandro was in some strange manner communicating with them, Underwood had no doubt, but the means were utterly beyond comprehension. "I do not know whether you can hear me or not," the voice of Jandro spoke in their minds. "Listen to me if you can. I see and hear you, and your actions indicate you are aware of my presence. I am communicating by means of the _abasic_ senses. I know now that you neither possess nor understand the _abasic_ organs. It had puzzled me that you did not use them. "What you are or who you are, I cannot guess. You are not men, of course, for men cannot live without the _abasa_. Proof that you did not possess it was provided when you allowed yourselves to be trapped and captured. I could not understand it, for I perceived your enemies the instant your ship touched the surface of the planet. "Our ancient myths and legends speak of creatures such as you, animals who could survive without the _abasa_, but never were they spoken of as having the intelligence you display. Whatever you have done, you have dispelled our one great legend--not only is metal not reserved for the non-existent gods, it is also permitted to such creatures as you. "Therefore, I will bargain with you. I will teach my people to know and value the ancient science and the metal culture that they have been denied. You will help me in exchange for my help in overpowering your enemies. Are you willing to do that?" "Where are you? How can you do this?" Underwood demanded. * * * * *