"Well," said Jackson, "there are three more somewhere, and you'd better find them before they cause trouble." The Kralon who was apparently leader of the council, examined the salesman suspiciously with its many-faceted eyes. He spoke briefly to the Kralon at the keyboard, and the Voder asked: "Why are you telling us these things? Why are you betraying your companions?" "They're fools!" said Jackson contemptuously. "Even if they have no regard for their own welfare, I value mine. I'd like to make a deal with you." "What kind of a deal?" "In return for my safety," replied Jackson, "I will give you information on the activities of the group in the stockade." Again the Kralons conferred, then the question came: "How do we know that we can trust you?" "Why not?" asked Jackson. "I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by cooperating with you." After another short conference, the Voder said: "We find your terms acceptable, and you will be returned to the stockade as if you had been apprehended in the Hive." Just then, warning gongs sounded brazenly in the conference room, and violet lights flashed a signal above the entry. The Kralons clacked furiously to each other for a moment, then scurried from the room, leaving the smaller guide to escort Jackson back to the stockade. * * * * * Back in the Incubator Room, Doctor Gerard watched in fascination the havoc his actions were producing. Under the increased intensity of the heating elements and infra-red tubes which normally warmed the Kralon eggs to incubation temperature, disaster was slowly occurring. The Doctor's handiwork on the dials of the control panel had apparently inactivated the thermostatic controls, and now the eggs were bathed in vicious radiation overtaxed tubes and scorched by overloaded elements. The Doctor was literally cooking the Kralon eggs! He knew that his interference had set off warning gongs and signal lights, so he discreetly turned from the room and down the main corridor. When he was halfway to the Hive entrance he heard the metallic clatter of Kralon mandibles ahead of him. He spotted an open panel across the hall, stepped inside and touched the stud which closed the panel. He found himself in the generator room, with Randall and McClellan looking at him in amazement. "Hi!" Doctor Gerard said brightly. "What's up?" "Hi, yourself," said the little gray agent. "Find anything interesting?" Gerard nodded. "Just cooked the next generation of Kralons," he said proudly. Then he told the two men what had happened in the incubator room. "Oh--oh!" said McClellan. "The Hive will really be a hornet's nest now!" Randall nodded. "We'd better make ourselves scarce." "How?" asked Dr. Gerard. Randall gestured toward the opening overlooking the Time Net. "Out that way," he replied. Hurriedly the three men pushed a low table over against the wall under the opening.