grandfather was working on his science. Groff was helping him then. Your
grandfather taught Groff much."

"Working at what?"

"It was never said. Then your grandfather gave it up--he had decided it
would not be wise here."

* * * * *

Some individual apparatus, with the size-change principle of the
space-globe? And Groff had gotten the secret. An abnormality here--Groff
with the power of evil latent within him, tempted by this opportunity.
What could he have hoped to accomplish? Of what use to him would it be
to devastate this little realm? Bitter irony swept Lee. Of what use was
vast personal power to anyone? Those madmen of Earth's history, with
their lust for conquest--of what use could the conquest be to them? And
yet they had plunged on.

He realized that with Groff there could have been a wider field of
conquest. Groff had heard much of Earth. With the power of size here, he
could master this realm; then seize the space-globe. Go with it to
Earth. Why, in a gigantic size there, he and a few villainous companions
could master the Earth-world. A mad dream indeed, but Lee knew it was a
lustful possibility matched by many in Earth's history.

And then Franklin had come here. Franklin, with his knowledge of Earth
which Groff would need. Franklin, with his inherent feeling of
inferiority--his groping desire for the strength and power of size. What
an opportunity for Franklin!

Lee heard himself saying out of the turmoil of his thoughts: "Then,
Aura--out there in the hills they've got some apparatus, of course,
which--"

His words were stricken away. From somewhere in the glowing dimness near
at hand there was a groan. A gasping, choking groan; and the sound of
something falling.

"Lee--over there--" Aura's whispered words were drab with horror.

* * * * *

A figure which had been staggering among the rocks near them, had
fallen. They rushed to it. Vivian! She was trying to drag herself
forward. Her hair, streaming down in a sodden mass, was matted with
blood. Her pallid face was blood-smeared. Her neck and throat were a
welter of crimson horror. Beside her on the ground lay a strange-looking
apparatus of grids and wires--a metal belt--a skeleton helmet.... She
was gripping it with a blood-smeared hand, dragging it with her.

"Vivian--Vivian--"

"Oh--you, Lee? Thank Gawd I got to you--"

Her elbows gave way; her head and shoulders sank to th