"And now," Mark addressed Palanth, "we must begin to land the spacers, I have the radio beam. The sooner everyone has been given the sleep-freeze antidote, the better. Internationals first, they are our best fighters, just in case the Council has another trick up its sleeve. Then we must find some way of increasing the spacers' resistance to the disintegrating beam--the alloy used on robots' case shell is the clue--they're impervious to atom-blast. Weather stations next--robots to be detailed on that and machinery stations to turn out mechanical robots and more machinery ... tools, weapons for defense ... we're really fighting for time." "I know. But even then, I can think of nothing that can stop Terra's fleet if it ever comes to Europa. It's practically invulnerable, or Venus and my own Mars would have shaken off the Council's domination long ago!" "I have an idea Palanth! It's far from clear, but if it works.... It has to do with radiant energy--even the Fleet couldn't withstand that." "Radiant energy! Have you lost your mind? Who can control a radiant energy vortex? Besides, we have no means of releasing it. Stop dreaming Mark!" "It isn't a dream," Mark shrugged wide shoulders. "But come, let's take a look at the scientific exodus--I'm certainly glad to be rid of them, hope the Panadurs can cope with that tribe." "What do you suppose the Panadurs _really_ want with them, Mark?" "Probe their minds of course. Panadurs have surpassing intellects, but they have neither tools nor scientific techniques. I suppose they want to learn all they can from our 'sleeping beauties,' in order to achieve their own inventions. Panadurs are thumbless, unable to make tools, thus their development has been purely along mental lines. Since their metabolism requires no food, as they are able to absorb energy _directly_, they have by-passed all domestic arts and sciences." The steadily increasing noise from the tiers below, had now become a cacophonous din, as more and more Internationals came to life. * * * * * The Panadur Leader bending over a scientist for the nth time, probed, delved and searched the innermost recesses of the quiescent brain under the scalpel, but at last he straightened with a baffled expression. The Europan cavern was a vast catacomb under the glaucous radiance of the radio-active walls that spread a green stela on the faces of the sleeping scientists, flanking the walls in lengthening rows. The Panadur knew what had been done, he had even tried the delicate process, but the secret of transferring a living brain, minus its personality and the seat of entity, remained unsolved. Not one of the scientists brought from the _Stellar Virgin_ possessed the secret technique, and many Panadurs had sacrificed themselves in vain as their brains died under the atomo-knife.