"We've got to do something to help Randall!" he insisted. "That's why the doctor and I left him and came to the stockade.--To get help!" "How?" asked Zor Ala. McClellan shrugged helplessly. Then his dilemma was solved by a voice outside the hut which asked: "May I come in?" "Randall!" shouted McClellan exuberantly. "How did you do it?" asked Dr. Gerard and McClellan simultaneously. Randall shrugged. "I didn't," he said. "They just decided that I was entirely harmless, and brought me safely back to the stockade." McClellan eyed him suspiciously, remembering the agent's flailing metal bar. "That isn't all of it," he accused darkly. Randall grinned. "Well, not quite all," he admitted. "When they took me to the conference room and questioned me, I inferred I had knowledge of what destroyed their race in the future. I told them that if they would return me to the stockade for consultation with my companions, I would give them that information later. They took me up on it." Zor Ala was the first to ask: "Do you really mean that you have an idea what destroyed the Kralons?" Randall nodded. "I think so," he said. "I believe there's a good possibility that it was--" Just then the door opened again, and Jackson stepped into the hut. "Outside intervention," completed Randall, regarding the new arrival with expressionless eyes. Jackson looked at Randall sharply, as if wondering whether the last words applied to him. "What's up?" he asked. "When did you get back, Randall?--And Gerard and McClellan," he added, seeing the other two men. "How did you make out?" "Didn't accomplish a thing, unfortunately," said Randall. "How about you?" Jackson shook his head. "I got caught in the corridor. What's the conference about?" "We were just discussing--" began Lanson, when Randall interrupted. "Plans for the future," he completed. "Now how about us all getting some sleep. The night is almost over, and none of us have had any rest." The others took the hint, and all agreed that it was far past bedtime. Randall didn't sleep much, but he did rest his weary body in preparation for the day to come. VII The hot yellow sun was just bulging over the eastern horizon as he dressed. He made his way to Lanson's hut and tapped quietly. After spending half an hour with the physicist, he went to Zor Ala's hut and spent ten minutes with him. Then he went back to the shelter which he shared with McClellan. "Up bright and early, aren't you?" the Australian greeted him as he entered. "Rather early, but none too brightly," Randall replied. "I'm getting too old to be frolicking around with a bunch of overgrown ants." "You aren't alone," agreed McClellan ruefully. He stretched painfully, groaned, then quickly donned his clothes. "What's on the agenda for today?" he asked.