determined to compound no more of our drugs? You would rather I killed
you? Then see what I haf here. This little cage, someone--"

It was Dr. Kent whom he addressed. He must have been here all these
years!

Babs turned her white face toward me. "George, it's father! He's alive!"

"Quiet, Babs! Don't let him know I'm here. Remember!"

The old man recognized her. "Babs!" It was an agonized cry. The blur of
him was gone as he sank down into his chair.

Polter continued standing, I could envisage his sardonic grin.

From over us came Polter's rumble. "She iss glad to see you, Kent. I haf
her here, safe. You always knew I would nefer be satisfied until I had
my little Babs? Well, now I haf her. Can you hear me?"

A sudden desperate calmness fell on Babs. She called evenly. "Yes, I
hear you. Father, don't anger him. Do what he says. Dr. Polter, will you
let me be with my father? After all these years, let me be with him,
just for a little while. In his size--normal."

"Hah! My Babs iss scheming."

"No, I want to talk to him, after all these years when I thought he was
dead."

"Scheming? You think, my little Babs, that he has the drugs? I am not so
much a fool. He makes them. He can do that. And that last secret
reaction, only he can perform. He iss stubborn. Never would he tell me
that one reaction. But he makes no drugs complete, only when I am here."

"No, Dr. Polter! I want only to be with him."

The old man's broken voice floated up to us. "You won't harm her,
Polter?"

"No. Fear nothing. But you no longer rebel?"

"I'll do what you tell me." The tones carried hopeless resignation,
years of being beaten down, rebelling--but now this last blow vanquished
him. Then he spoke again, with a sudden strange fire.

"Even for the life of my daughter, I will not make your drugs, Polter,
if you mean to harm our Earth."

The golden cage room swooped as Polter sat down. "Hah! Now we bargain.
What do you care what I do to your world? You never will see it again. I
can lie to you. My plans--"

"I _do_ care."

"Well, I will tell you, Kent. I am good-natured now. Why should I not
be with my dear little Babs? I tell you, I am done with the Earth world.
It iss much nicer here. My friends, they haf a good time always. We like
this little atom realm. I am going out once more. I must hide the little
piece of golden quartz so no harm will come to it."

Polter was evidently in a high good humor. His voice fell to an inti