o punish one
who has done much evil--"

A grizzled Bron nodded in agreement. "Yes, Nea, this talk serves no
purpose. Get along with your invention."

"Very well. I asked for a live thing, but Ato would not agree."

Again Ato was on the defensive. "There are not a dozen pets on the ship. I
do not approve of such experiments. Besides, the batteries are already set
up." He pointed to a row of dry-cells, connected together and wired to a
large volt-meter upon the wall.

"All right." Nea threw a switch that put the batteries in circuit. The
needle of the gauge moved over to its farthest point. "Now," she told them.
"You shall see. But be still. I am sure I can control it--"

Odin thought there was just a bit of doubt in her voice. If so, it would
only be natural.

She opened the case and took out something which still looked to Jack Odin
like a bowling ball--except that it was studded with little brads of copper
and a swatch of fine, silky wires was wrapped around it.

She pressed a button upon its surface. It began to hum. Slowly it rose into
the air. The silky wires drooped down. They writhed and probed about.

"This is as near as man has ever come to making a living thing," Nea
explained. "It moves. It reacts to sensations. It makes its own energy.
Watch!"

Slowly the globe with its trailing tentacles moved about the room. It
whined hungrily when it found the batteries. It hovered above them and
the silky wires fanned out. Then it darted down. The wires felt over
the batteries and their connections--softly--eagerly. The whine changed
to a purr of enjoyment. The thing fed. And slowly the pointer upon the
volt-meter moved over to zero.

* * * * *

Nea raised a tiny whistle to her mouth. There was no sound, but the
copper-studded globe seemed to hear. It raised itself back into the air.
The silken wires wrapped themselves about the round body. It came back to
Nea--slowly--almost defiantly--and settled into her arms like a plump cat
returning to a doting mistress.

Nea pressed the button again and put it back into its case.

"Wonderful," Ato applauded. "I move that we give Nea a vote of thanks."

"But what earthly good is it?" Gunnar asked. "I could have swatted it with
a broom."

"And you would have died." Nea turned upon him like a tigress. "It feeds
upon electricity and it can discharge a lightning bolt. Don't you see?
There are few weapons that can resist it. But that is no