cked. Another blow with all the strength of an
Earth-muscled body on a light gravity world, and the front shattered
open.

There was a puff of a greenish gas. The creature inside suddenly blinked
and moved a hand. Then, without waiting, Burl dashed to the next exhibit
and swung his metal sword again.

The barking calls of the Plutonians increased in frenzy, and they
charged him, screaming. As the second exhibit crashed open, Burl turned
to fend off his attackers, swinging his sword. It clashed against the
sword of the nearest curator-priest, who slipped and went bowling over
against his fellows. Burl reached the third exhibit and smashed it.

He turned to meet a renewed attack, and this time, out of the corner of
his eye, he saw that a purple humanoid was in action beside him. The
purple one had picked up a Plutonian, apparently with great ease, and
was using its body as a bludgeon.

Something furry and green leaped high in the air and came down in the
middle of the Plutonians. There was a wild, unearthly screech as it
landed, and exhibit number two, from heaven knew what starry world, was
in the fray.

Now Burl found himself momentarily unhampered, and rapidly he opened
exhibit after exhibit. The battle became wilder and fiercer, as
star-being after star-being joined in.

The Plutonians swung away in all directions with their wands. Their
barking voices were drowned out by a rising chorus of sounds--roaring,
inhuman voices, calling curses in languages of worlds that lay many
light-years distant--wild, birdlike calls from a winged being whose
intelligent eyes and wide brow belied the ferocity of its beaked and
taloned attack. There was a clanking, ringing sound, as a thing of half
jointed shining metal, half soft, velvety-white flesh, whirred among the
foe, doing damage with a razor-edged arm that shot out from the metallic
part of its body.

There was something like a cloud of insects--a mad thing which seemed to
be a single hive of tiny winged cells that moved and bit and stood its
ground like a single united being.

There was a Martian that had at first stood stupidly, as if unaware of
what was going on, and then had gone berserk at the first sight of a
Plutonian running past him.

And in the next case was Russ, still space-suited, staring out through
the glass. With a joyous crash, Burl smashed the front of the niche.

Russ moved, his eyes opening wide as he saw Burl. He reached down
quickly and picked