our research under
supervision. Your experimental humans here will be destroyed, of
course."

"Destroyed?" There was an agonized note to Goat's voice. "All of them?
How about the two mothers I have who haven't given birth yet?"

"You'd destroy them anyhow, as you have the others, not long after the
births. And that brings up another thing. When you get to Mars City,
watch your tongue. You almost revealed to Miss Cara Nome that the
government has been kidnapping an expectant mother now and then for your
experiments."

"Years of work, gone to waste," mourned Goat somberly. "When must I do
this?"

"As soon as possible. You'll be expected in Mars City within two weeks.
Now, I'd like to see these experimental humans."

A few moments later, they made their way together through a large
dormitory in which all of Goat's charges were sleeping. Nuwell shuddered
at the sight of the small, deformed bodies.

"I don't worry that you could ever take any of these to Mars City
undetected. But," he said, pointing to Brute, "that one looks too near
normal. I want to see him destroyed before I leave."

"Brute? But he's the most successful one I have left!"

"Exactly. That's why I want to see him destroyed, tonight."

Goat awoke Brute, and the monster man sleepily followed them back to the
study.

Goat picked up the huge knife, still stained with Adam's blood, and
looked Brute squarely in the face. Brute returned the gaze, no
comprehension in his dull blue eyes.

"You think I can't kill you, Brute?" said Goat coldly. "I'll show you!"

With a surgeon's precision, Goat plunged the sharp point between Brute's
ribs and into the heart.

_Shock swept over Brute's mind._

_Father kills me!_

_Reject! Reject!_

_Father, all kindness, all hope, all wisdom and love, wants me no more.
Father rejects me! Father kills me!_

_Despair!_

_Reject! Reject!_

_Blackness swept fading through Brute's despairing brain._

One agonized note of pleading in the pale-blue eyes, and they closed in
acceptance. Brute swayed and fell forward, crashing to the floor,
driving the knife into his chest to the hilt.

Brute shuddered and rolled over on his back. He lay sprawled, arms flung
out limply, the knife hilt protruding upward. He sighed, and his
breathing stopped.

Goat stared down at him. He picked up Brute's wrist and held it. There
was no pulse.

* * * * *

Shortly after dawn, Maya awoke. Remembering wh