Dasinger took an ointment tube from his pocket, removed its cap, squeezed a drop of black, oily substance out on a fingertip. "Mind rolling up your sleeve a moment?" he asked. "Just above the elbow...." "What for?" "It's because of the way those hypno sprays work," Dasinger said. "Give your victim a dose of the stuff, tell him what to do, and it usually gets done. And if you're being illegal about it, one of the first things you tell him to do is to forget he's ever been sprayed. This goop is designed for the specific purpose of knocking out hypnotic commands. Just roll up your sleeve like a good girl now, and I'll rub a little of it on your arm." "You're not rubbing anything on my arm, mister!" Duomart told him coldly. Dasinger shrugged resignedly, recapped the tube, and dropped it in his pocket. "Have it your way then," he remarked. "I was only ..." He lunged suddenly towards her. Duomart gave him quite a struggle. A minute or two later, he had her down on the floor, her body and one arm clamped between his knees, while he unzipped the cuff on the sleeve of the other arm and pulled the sleeve up. He brought out the tube of antihypno ointment and rubbed a few drops of the ointment into the hollow of Duomart's elbow, put the tube back in his pocket, then went on holding her down for nearly another minute. She was gasping for breath, blue eyes furious, muscles tensed. * * * * * Suddenly he felt her relax. An expression of stunned surprise appeared on her face. "Why," she began incredulously, "he _did_ ..." "Gave you the spray treatment, eh?" Dasinger said, satisfied. "I was pretty sure he had." "Why, that-- At his beck and call, he says! Well, we'll just see about ... let me up, Dasinger! Just wait till I get my hands on that bony partner of yours!" "Now take it easy." "Take it easy! Why should I? I ..." "It would be better," Dasinger explained, "if Egavine believes you're still under the influence." She scowled up at him; then her face turned thoughtful. "Ho! You feel it isn't that he's a depraved old goat, that he's got something more sinister in mind?" "It's a definite possibility. Why not wait and find out? The ointment will immunize you against further tricks." Miss Mines regarded him consideringly for a few seconds, then nodded. "All right! You can let me up now. What do you think he's planning?" "Not easy to say with Dr. Egavine. He's a devious man." Dasinger got himself disentangled, came to his feet, and reached down to help her scramble up. "They certainly wrap you up with that hypno stuff, don't they!" she observed wonderingly. Dasinger nodded. "They certainly do!" Then he added, "I'm keeping the doctor and his little sidekick locked up, too, until we get to the planet. That leaves you and me with the run of the ship." Duomart looked at him. "So it does," she agreed. "Know how to use a gun?" "Of course. But I'm not allow-- I don't have one with me on this trip."