"The Council has come to realise that the people of Earth will keep returning as long as they are able. Since we have developed a high mental science rather than the physical ones, sooner or later our secret would be discovered." "What do you plan on doing?" "The minds of Earthmen indicate a fondness for what they call pets. We have used that weak emotion as a means for their destruction. We'll be carried back to Earth where, by careful infiltration, we can cause destructive wars. Eventually it is planned that everyone on Earth will be destroyed, thus removing our danger at its source." "What will--" At that moment he was interrupted by a clamor at the outer space-lock. A quick check disclosed an angry group of men led by Commander Kellews and the Exec. Boyette cursed his stupidity in overlooking what should have been a glaring fact. The alien creatures had such a high degree of telepathic development that his had called for help when threatened. Only the quick action of the truth serum had prevented its fellow creatures from locating him instantly. Their control over the rest of the crew could even lead to his death if he were careless. Quickly hiding the recorder Boyette went to the lock and opened it. The entire crew came pouring in, each man accompanied by one of the aliens. "What have you been up to, Doctor?" demanded Commander Kellews belligerently. Boyette glanced around at the ring of hostile faces and replied, "Just some work in the lab, sir." "Where's the animal you had?" asked Snead. Boyette pretended surprise. "Why, in my lab." "Bring him along," instructed the Skipper and Boyette was hustled into the lab with as many men as could squeeze their way in. The drugged alien was beginning to stir feebly and the others showed their agitation with short barks as they swarmed around him. Boyette tensed. He'd have to make a break for it against impossible odds, if they discovered that he possessed their secret plans. He concealed a sigh of relief when the investigation again was applied through the Commander and the Exec. "What were you doing, Doctor?" Kellews asked. "Just examining the animal, sir." Suddenly he felt inspired, "I thought what nice pets they'd make back on Earth and wanted to find out if their physical structure would permit space-travel." The men's faces relaxed. Boyette knew his answer couldn't have been more satisfactory in view of the alien Council's plans. Still, he'd have to find some way of releasing the crew from its hypnosis before he dared reveal his discovery. He knew that the beasts' power over men depended upon full concentration. The aliens were meticulously clean and at the same time very similar to Earth canines in physical structure. The Skipper--under compulsion from the alien attached to him--still seemed dissatisfied. "What's wrong with the creature now?" Kellews persisted. "I injected a mild sedative to quiet it for examination."