Tremendous latent energy in this harmless-looking white light! A cold light--with a latent power diabolic. Falling upon a distant object--touching anything of material substance--the energy of its vibrations was loosed. "If that touches a building," Alan exclaimed, "this building, for instance--why, these walls in a moment would be trembling--quivering, shaking until presently they would fall--" The principle was known even in my own age. This cold, white light, with its inconceivably rapid vibrations, would in a moment set up similar vibrations in anything it rested upon! Nothing of material substance could for more than a moment hold its form under the lash of such inconceivable trembling! With this beam we could rock the city--smash through its roof--bring death to every living thing upon which we could get the light! The whole apparatus was carefully insulated. It would not operate here because of the world aerial power. The insulation was to protect it now. It could not be operated with this insulation. If we removed it, our power would instantly destroy the filaments and coils, and in a moment or two detonate the battery. The world-power would have to be shut off during its operation. There had been a consultation of the world governments fifteen minutes ago when in code our city government had asked that the world power be discontinued. We now had the decision. At the Trinight Hour--three hours after Midnight this night--the huge Scotland plant would go dead for sixty minutes. No more time than that could be given us. Most of the air-liners--and all the civic lighting and ventilating and traffic systems--had emergency batteries for sixty minutes. Beyond that limit the whole world would go into disaster. Sixty minutes, beginning two hours from now! It gave plenty of time to assemble the apparatus and mount it in a swift ship. Lea was to be beside the man who would be chosen to control the projector. * * * * * Now Alan and I sat whispering, for upon us had come the realization that this would mean Nanette's death. I said: "But Nanette--this is death for Nanette!" "Edward!" An audible answer! A microscopic aerial voice here in the workshop room-corner! Alan heard it also. And it came again: "Edward!" Hushed accents! Imperative! Vehement! Nanette's voice! "Edward, don't move! Don't look surprised! I know you're there--you and Alan--I've heard you talking." Tiny voice, materializing from the air! Alan murmured something, but I gripped him. We sat tense. It came again. "Don't show surprise! It may be that they have an image of you at some other receiver! I'm alone here now--just for this moment." I said softly: "Shall I speak? This is Ed--can you hear me?" "Yes, Edward. They've been listening--Jonas was in here, at an aerial, eavesdropping on you. They've lifted their barrage for this one finder. Located you--they've been listening to the men there with you--Lea's weapon."