He mentioned the nearby radio station but declared that he had been unable to locate it despite a careful search. Dismissing this he turned to other topics, displaying a vast knowledge of all departments of scientific achievement and, despite his depressing personality, holding his bearer's attention so closely they forgot the passage of time until the clock struck ten. "Time for daily injection," said the doctor. "Do you use Andrev's solution too, sir?" "Naturally," replied the other, lighting one cigarette from the butt of another. Manthis hurried into the laboratory. A few moments later he reappeared in the doorway and called to Jack in an agitated voice. As the younger man joined him he closed the door and turned a white face to him. "The drug is almost gone," Manthis said. "Didn't you obtain a new supply?" * * * * * "We--I forgot it," admitted Jack, feeling his own face grow pale. "The shock of running across Solinski at the laboratory upset me." "Well, that's all right, then. It gave me a turn, but we have plenty of time." The doctor laughed shakily. "Run down to the nearest drug store. There should be a supply there. Better take a flashlight." He pushed open the door, then shrank back. Leaning against the jamb was the Russian. His manner had changed subtly. His thin lips spread from ear to ear in a wolfish grin. His fingers clicked like castanets. "Ah," he purred. "So you have used up the last of your solution?" "What's that to you?" The doctor was gripped by cold unreasoning fear. "Only that you will be unable to obtain more. Since my first meeting with your daughter I have had my men collect all the Cannabis Indica in the city." "Your men!" Manthis was thunderstruck. "Certainly, you old fool. Do you think I'm a bungling theorist like yourself? Who do you think is operating that short-wave station? I am. Who do you think put the world to sleep? I did. Who do you think will wake it? I will." Solinski's figure appeared to expand. He took deep drafts from his cigarette. The smoke seemed to impel some terrific force into his gaunt frame. "So it was your voice I heard!" cried Manthis bitterly. "And those awful tales about you were true. A hashish smoker! A person whose mind is rotting, in control of the world!" He seemed about to leap at the other, and his chubby figure, in that attitude, would have seemed ludicrous if it had not been tragic. "It shall not be!" he shouted. "Now see here, Doctor"--Solinski assumed a friendly tone--"you're making a grave mistake. I have something to offer better than you ever dreamed of." "What do you mean?" "Just this. How would you like to be assistant to the King of the World?" * * * * * "Crazy already," sneered the doctor, squinting up at his tormentor. "Crazy or not, when the world awakes I will be its king."