"Of course, but we now intend--through you--to remedy that situation. You people are very ingenious in that you invent a total destruction-type weapon and then turn right around and conceive an absolute defense against it. We do the same, of course, or try to, but we find ourselves at all times slightly behind you. A sad situation for we Centaurians, don't you think, Mr. Kendall?" "Your chances of ever balancing us are remote." "Not so. Let me explain. Our great hope lies in obtaining the plans of your latest projectile. I think you call it _Willy Seven_." "I know of no such plans." _Clare, lying defenseless against the obscene tortures of these soulless animals...._ "Let's not waste time with lies, Mr. Kendall. You have been working on the project." "The defense against _Willy Seven_--" "--Is not perfected!" The Centaurian leaned forward and snapped out the words in triumph. "It can't possibly be ready for use in less than six months because the projectile involved a difficult combination of lethal--germs and subsonic vibrations. The toughest you ever tackled." * * * * * A deep sickness clawed at Kendall's stomach. The Centaurian had hit upon the truth while still evidently unaware of Terran defense procedure. He did not seem to know that the development of an offensive weapon was never allowed to proceed faster than the development of a defense against it, the theory being two-fold; that defense was the most important element concerned and that defense against our own weapons would probably function as safeguards against those of Centaurian origination. Also, the possibility of theft had been foreseen. To have the plans of a nondefensible weapon stolen would mark the end of Terra. But in the case of _Willy Seven_, the defensive unit had involved such problems that the defensive half of the project had lagged. ... _They will give her drugs to sensitize the flesh and nerves of her body until her sufferings will be those of ten people crowded into one skin...._ "We want _Willy Seven_, Mr. Kendall. We want it now." "I don't have access to the plans." The eyes were again baleful behind the mask. "Let's not waste time. You know very well we didn't launch this project only to leave such important angles to chance." "But getting them out--" "You will take microfilms of the plans within the next twenty-four hours. We left a thumbnail-sized camera under your wife's pillow in case you have need of it." "You thought of everything, didn't you?" Kendall said. "Everything except the one all-important point." "What is that?" "My wife could never be returned to me because there would be no place to return her--after you destroy this globe."