Ahead was a traffic jam. Basil turned into a side street where he made better time. It was taking him forever to get there. But finally his destination was just ahead. The office building where the S. S. had its local office. There was a parking space. Basil swerved toward it and braked to a stop. He reached past Irene and opened her door. "Get out and run for it," he said. The screech of tires almost drowned his voice. He looked over his shoulder. A car had pulled up beside his in the street. He saw George Ladd behind the wheel, alone. Frantically, Basil pushed Irene out and followed her, taking her hand as they ran toward the building entrance fifteen feet away. "We've got to make it," he said. "We've got to...." There was no sound, no light, from the weapon George Ladd pointed at them. Basil sprawled forward. Before he hit the sidewalk, flame burst from his hair, his clothing. Irene stopped, forgetting her danger or not knowing it. She bent down by Basil, reaching to help him. She remained in that position for a long second while her hair and clothing burst into flames, then crumpled against him. Horrified pedestrians drew back from the bodies, the stench of seared flesh. In the street a motor roared into life. The car with George Ladd sped away. * * * * * Earl turned away from the window. "George Ladd just brought my car back," he said. "I guess he isn't coming in. He's walking into the woods toward the tube entrance." Nadine nodded casually. Within his mental prison Earl worried. What had Ladd done? He wouldn't dare to kill Basil. The worst that could happen would be that Basil would be taken before the Cyberene and made him into a mind-slave too. There were footsteps in the hall. The door opened. It was Dr. Glassman, his lips set in a grim line. "Dr. Frye," Glassman said. "Basil came to me with a story of something going on he didn't like. He accused you and Dr. Holmes of some scheme to sabotage the Brain." "That's utter nonsense," Earl heard himself say. "Why, I can't understand--" Nadine began. "I thought so too," Glassman said, "until I received a telephone call from the police just now. Basil and Irene were killed a few moments ago while on their way to try to get the Secret Service to listen to what I refused to hear." "Oh," Nadine said without expression. Earl said nothing. He was too stunned to think. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this," Glassman went on grimly. "You may both consider yourselves relieved of your duties until the Secret Service has investigated thoroughly. Save your explanations until I've called them." Earl tried to warn Glassman. He forced his lips open to call to him--and a wave of searing throbbing pain lashed at him, forcing him back behind the gray fog. Through the mental haze he saw George Ladd in the doorway, a thirty-eight Colt automatic in his hand--something Glassman would understand. "Come with me, Dr. Glassman," Ladd said expressionlessly.