It was the sweat of agony trickling down his forehead and over his eyes and cheeks that woke Emerson. He opened his eyes, then clamped them shut as his body writhed in pain. "Oh, Lord!" he whimpered, bloodying his mouth where his teeth sank into his lips. In every fibre of his body sharp lancets cut and dug. In arms and legs and chest and belly they twisted and tore. Into the tissues beneath his skin, all along the muscles and the bone, the fiery torment played. He could not stand it; he could not-- He flipped his head to right, to left; saw the others stretched out and strapped even as he. They were unconscious. What right had they to ignore this agony? Why didn't they share it with him? He opened his lips to shriek; then bit down again, hard. Nichols screamed suddenly, his body aching. It woke the others. They too, bellowed and screamed and sobbed, and their arms and legs writhed like wild things in a trap. "Got to get free," Emerson panted, straining against the wristbands. The hard muscles of his arms ridged with effort, but the straps held. He dropped back, sobbing. "That fiend," yelled Mussdorf. "That ten-eyed, octopus-legged, black-hearted spawn of a mismated monster did this to us. Damn him! Damn him! If I ever get loose I'll cut his heart out and make him eat it." "Maybe--maybe he's vivisecting us," moaned Nichols. "With rays or--or something--aagh! I can't stand it!" "Hang on, kid," gritted Emerson, fighting the straps. "I think it's lessening. Yeah, yeah--it is. It doesn't hurt so much now." Mussdorf grunted astonishment. "You're right. It is lessening. And--hey, one of my arm buckles is coming loose. It's torn a little. Maybe I can work it free." They turned their heads to watch, biting their lips, the sweat standing in colorless beads on their pale foreheads. Mussdorf's thick arm bulged its muscles as he wrenched and tugged, panting. A buckle swung outward, clanging against the tabletop as it ripped loose. Mussdorf held his arm aloft and laughed harsh triumph. "I'll have you all loose in a second," he grunted, ripping straps from his body. He leaped from the table and stretched. He grinned into their faces. "You know, it's funny--but I feel great. Huh, I must've sweated all the aches out of me. Here, Gunn--you first." "Thanks, Karl. We're still pals, aren't we?" When Gunn was free, Mussdorf came to stand over Emerson, looking down at him. His eyes narrowed suddenly. He grinned a little, twisting his lips. "Maybe you fellows ought to stay tied up," he said. "In case that--that thing comes back. He won't blame us all for the break we're making." "Not on your life," said Emerson. But Mussdorf shook his head, and his lips tightened. "No. No, I think it's better the way I say." "Don't be a fool, Mussdorf," snapped Emerson savagely. "It isn't your place to think, anyhow. That's mine. I'm commander of this force. What I say is an order." Mussdorf grinned dryly. Into his eyes came a glint of hot, sullen anger.