st the Security man, and stepped over to the tape-controlled,
laser-activated milling machine as though to inspect its progress.

Then, as though finding an error, he halted its operation and swung
the laser-head back away from the work piece.

The head swung free in his hand, attached to the machine but
nevertheless free. Casually, without even looking at the Security man,
he had somehow centered the laser directly on him. Just as casually,
he stepped to one side.

"The beam from this machine is quite capable of milling the hardest
materials," he said, still casually, as though to himself. "Even a
diamond can't withstand it."

Now he looked directly at the Security guard. "It's capable," he said
in an even tone, "of milling a hole right through your guts if you
even to much as breathe too deep."

Then to Chernov, "Move around behind him, out of range of this beam,
and secure the man please. Millie, is there any thing in your
department that will make sure he won't talk for while?"

"Yes, Mike, but I don't think I'd better go there right now. There
aren't many of them, but these boys seem to be spread out all over."

Chernov had the gun now; and the personal communicator from the
Security man as well.

"O.K.," said Mike. "I don't think he can give us much trouble in
there," pointing at the air-lock bulkhead through which he had just
entered. "We can go in and out through the physics lab," he said.
"Best we shut that off now before some more of these boys wander
along."

When both the lab and the Security man were under control, Paul
Chernov turned to Mike. "That milling-laser," he said. "It's got a
focus of about six inches maximum. How did you fix it so it could burn
the guard at that distance?"

"I didn't," said Mike briefly. "He already knows that lasers can reach
from here to Earth. Why should I bother to tell him any different?"
Turning to Tombu he handed him the Security man's radio. "See if you
can rig this," he said, "to broadcast everything they say over the
general intercom channel. It's about time we let people know what's
happening."

* * * * *

It took Tombu only minutes to hook in the radio. As he turned it on,
Elbertson's voice came over the loud-speaker system. A roll call of
Security men was apparently being completed. The last three man
responded as called.

The Elbertson's voice, crisp but somewhat labored, came over the
Security beam, booming throughou