d
up and settled down in the place left vacant by its predecessor. It then
reshaped itself into a copy of the predecessor, and remained where it
was. Obviously a replacement.

There was dignified scientific jubilation among the three. This was
precisely the kind of information the U-League--and everybody else--had
been hoping to obtain. 112-113 tentatively could be assumed to be a kind
of monitor of the station's activities. It could be induced to go into
action and to activate the other plasmoids. With further observation and
refinement of method, its action undoubtedly could be shifted from the
random to the purposeful. Finally, and most importantly, it had shown
itself capable of producing a different form of plasmoid life to fulfill
a specific requirement.

In essence, the riddles presented by the Old Galactic Station appeared
to be solved.

The three made up their secret report to the U-League. Included was a
recommendation to authorize distribution of ten per cent of the less
significant plasmoids to various experimental centers in the Hub--the
big and important centers which had been bringing heavy political
pressure to bear on the Federation to let them in on the investigation.
That should keep them occupied, while the U-League concluded the really
important work.

"Next day," said Holati, "Doctor Gess Fayle presented Mantelish with a
transmitted message from U-League Headquarters. It contained
instructions to have Fayle mount the 112-113 unit immediately in one of
the League ships at Harvest Moon and bring it quietly to Maccadon."

Mantelish frowned. "The message was faked!" he boomed.

"Not only that," said Holati. "The actual report Doctor Fayle had
transmitted the day before to the League was revised to the extent that
it omitted any reference to 112-113." He glanced thoughtfully at
Mantelish. "As a matter of fact, it was almost a month and a half before
League Headquarters became aware of the importance of the unit."

The professor snorted. "Azol," he explained to Trigger, "had become a
victim of his scientific zeal. And I--"

"Doctor Azol," said the Commissioner, "as you may remember, had his
little mishap with the plasmoid just two days after Fayle departed."

"And I," Mantelish went on, "was involved in other urgent research. How
was I to know what that villain Fayle had been up to? A vice president
of the University League!"

"Well," Trigger said, "what had Doctor Fayle been up to?"

"We d