"Neither, really. We don't know what's wrong. Their minds suddenly ceased to function." Hartson Brant leaned forward. "You mean they're unconscious?" Steve shook his head. "Not in the usual sense. It's as though all their thoughts and memories had suddenly been scrambled. Did you ever see a teletype machine in operation, particularly one that suddenly went haywire?" Rick had. "The news machine did that over at the Whiteside _Morning Record_. It was typing out clear copy, then suddenly there wasn't anything but gibberish." "That's it," Steve agreed. "And it's the best analogy I can think of for what happened to the two scientists. When a teletype goes haywire, one moment everything is clear and perfect, the next everything is scrambled. All the letters are there but they no longer make words. The scientists talk words--common, everyday words--but the words don't make thoughts or sentences. Just sounds." "How awful," Mrs. Brant murmured. Barby looked horrified. Rick searched his memory for anything similar he had ever read about or heard of, but there was nothing. From the expressions on their faces, his father and Scotty were equally puzzled. "Well, even though I have absolutely no evidence of foul play, I decided not to take chances," Steve went on. "I got one of the scientists to go along with my plan. He shares my concern, simply on the basis that no known disease would affect human beings in this way, and two scientists of the same team being stricken with an unknown ailment is too much coincidence." "He's wise," Hartson Brant agreed. "He also has a family. The other scientist does not. He's a crusty old bachelor who thinks the whole thing is nonsense and insists on staying right where he is." "How do we fit in?" Scotty asked. "You said you needed all of us." "That's right. I want to relocate the project at Spindrift." "Using the co-operative scientist as the basis for a new staff?" Rick inquired. "Yes. We went through some of the most complicated maneuvers you ever saw to got him out of Washington with his family. I'm certain his movements cannot be traced. So his presence here will be a complete secret. But it isn't just the scientist. I'm also asking you to take in his family, consisting of his wife and daughter." "Of course we will," Mrs. Brant said warmly. Steve turned to Barby. "I think you'll enjoy it, because the girl is just your age, and she's a very friendly and pleasant young lady." Barby looked pleased and excited. "What's her name?" "Janice. Janice Miller." "Is the scientist Dr. Walter Miller by any chance?" Hartson Brant asked quickly. "Exactly right. Do you know him?" "Not personally. We've never met, but a few years ago we carried on a very extensive correspondence on the subject of energy levels in nuclear isomers." Steve grinned. "I won't pretend to know what you're talking about. But I'm glad you'll have something in common. Will you and your staff join him to make up a new project team?"