"Back in the twentieth century, they were using just this principle to cure cancer. They bombarded the cancer with radioactive atoms--overcrowding the atoms with neutrons beyond their ability to hold them for very long--and the atoms ate away the cancer. I think they treated other diseases too, with some success. Goiter, for one. And, if I recall rightly, the atoms could build up blood cells or eliminate them. "But this block and the cones seem to be the ultimate perfection of that idea. Maybe atoms possess some degree of intellect, for all we know. We'll never really be sure. They do have a power of attraction, and appear to be drawn to the danger spot as though magnetized to it." They were silent, thoughtful. "Yeah," said Mussdorf at last. "It begins to trickle through. Gunn wasn't in harmony with that black beast, so he went out of existence immediately. Gunn was human and the other wasn't." Emerson nodded, and his eyes widened. "My God!" he whispered. "This block and the cones could make a man immortal!" Mussdorf gagged; laughed suddenly. "Then why did that thing let us cart it off right from under its nose? Why, he even helped us." "I wish I knew," muttered Emerson, troubled. "I wish I knew." Mussdorf scowled; looked at him sideways, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry I went off my nut back there," he mumbled. "The thought of all the dough this thing was worth sort of slapped me haywire. Why, just to be free of space cancer, Val--and hell! They'll give us pensions for this job. I'm sorry." "Skip it," said Emerson. "That black thing was enough to make us all jittery. He seemed a good enough egg, though. But I was a little disappointed in him. He sure was bluffed when I touched that lever. Boy, he turned tail fast enough." "Maybe he was just what he looked like, Val," murmured Nichols thoughtfully. "An animal--left by the real builders of the Cones to turn it over to someone like us, with a use for it." "Sure," nodded Mussdorf. "That's what he was. Car's hit it. Just a big animal who knew enough to work the things, and no more." * * * * * Irgi was alone, and cold. It would get steadily colder for him, without the block to feed his body. But Irgi kept smiling. He would be a hero someday. There would be a statue to him.