have known I would provide
for such an emergency, as this. I chose not to risk your darkly-hinted
method of compulsion, and so had Friday remove the need for it. The
Chinese character above the switch stands for 'Death.'"

Frigidly the Hawk asked: "You've destroyed the brains?"

"I have destroyed the brains." The Eurasian's voice was deep with a
strange, unusual tone. "No matter: it was time. I am far, far ahead of
that work, great though it was; it has destroyed itself with its
inherent, irremediable fault. Yes, far ahead. Next time...." He
appeared to lapse into profound and melancholy reflections; seemed to
forget entirely the two men by him.

But the Hawk acted.

"We'll see," he said curtly. "Friday, watch the Doctor closely; this
trick may be only the first." An intent, grim figure, he strode to the
case of coordinated brains, pulled over the first of its two
controlling switches, and stood silent while slowly the pulsings of
light grew through the inner liquid and very slowly irradiated the
five gray, naked mounds that were human brains. The light came to
full, and Carse threw over the second switch. He said into the
grille:

"I am Captain Carse. I wish to know if you are aware of what has just
happened. Do you hear me, and did you feel anything a minute ago?"

* * * * *

Silence. Friday, close to the Eurasian and watchful, hung breathless,
hoping that words might come from the grille in answer. But the silken
figure he watched was there only in body; Dr. Ku's mind was in a far
space of his own.

Cold, unhuman words spoke out.

"_Yes, Captain Carse, I hear you. I felt the vibrations of the
explosion that occurred a minute ago._"

"Hah!" grunted Friday, immediately relieved. "All bluff, suh! No
damage to 'em at all!"

Carse asked quickly into the grille:

"You felt the explosion, but do you know what it meant?--what it did?"

Again a pause; and again the toneless voice:

"_A vital part of the machinery through which I live his been
destroyed. I have left only some three hours of life._"

The Hawk returned to Ku Sui. "Is that true?" he snapped.

"Yes, Captain." The words made a whisper, gentle and melancholy,
coming from afar. A man was turning back from the scanning of the long
years of one phase of his life. "Three hours is all that is left to
them.... But there was a fault inherent in such coordinated brains; it
is just as well that they are going.... Ah, Carse.