yes half closed, giving in his attitude no hint of the strain the
others were feeling. But his attitude of being relaxed and off his guard
was deceptive--as Sako found out. Suddenly his left hand seemed to
disappear; there was a hiss, an arrowing streak of spitting orange
light; and Sako was gaping foolishly at the arm he had stealthily raised
to one of the radio switches. A smoking sear had appeared as if by magic
across it.

Hawk Carse sheathed his gun. "I would advise you to try no more obvious
tricks," he said coldly. "Cutting in our microphone is too simple a way
to give warning to Dr. Ku Sui. Move away from there. And don't forget
your lines when Dr. Ku calls. You will never act a part before a more
critical and deadly audience."

Sako mumbled something and rubbed his arm. A pitying smile came to
Friday's face as he comprehended what had happened. "You damned fool!"
he said.

* * * * *

It was 10:22 P.M. Still, in the visi-screen, no other ship. Nothing but
the giant planet, the smaller satellites poised against it, and the deep
star-spangled curtain of black space all around.

They had carefully followed the instructions in the log. They were at
the exact place noted there: checked and double-checked. The radio
receiver was tuned to the wave-length given in the log. But of Ku Sui,
nothing.

And yet, in a way, he was with them. His enigmatic personality, his
seldom-seen figure was very present in their minds, and with it were
overtones of all the diabolic cunning and suave ironic cruelty that men
always associated with him. "He comes out of darkness, out of empty
space...." Friday licked his lips. He was not built for mental strain:
his lips kept drying and his tongue was as leather.

A little sputtering sound tingled the nerves of the three waiting men,
and as one their eyes went to the radio loudspeaker. A contact question
was being asked in the usual way:

"Are you there, Judd? Are you there, Judd? Are you there, Judd?"

The voice was not that of Ku Sui. It was a dead voice, toneless,
emotionless, mechanical.

"Are you there, Judd?" it went on, over and over.

"The mike switch, Friday," the Hawk said, and then was at Sako's side,
his ray-gun transfixing the man with its threatening angle. "Play your
part well," was the whisper from his lips.

The switch went over with a click. Trembling, Sako faced the microphone.

"This is Sako," he said.

"Sako?" the