_The Promise Fulfilled_
Although puzzled by the Hawk's promise, Leithgow could only put his
trust in it and go ahead with the preparations as he had been
directed. He took two of his three laboratory assistants off their
hurried manufacture of quantities of the V-27, and with Ku Sui went
out into the air-car. Passing by way of tube and lake and air, they
were quickly inside the dome on the asteroid, and then into Ku Sui's
laboratory, where Friday waited on guard.
Completely docile and friendly, the Eurasian indicated the various
instruments and devices he would need for the operations, and these
were transported quickly. Then came the case of coordinated brains.
Dr. Ku detached in connections with expert fingers, and all but
Leithgow took a corner and carried it with infinite care to the
air-car outside.
"Do I stay here, suh?" Friday asked the Master Scientist in a
whisper. Though informed of the change in Dr. Ku effected by the V-27,
he was still very suspicious of him. "Seems to me he's a bit too meek
and mild, suh. I think I ought to go down and watch him."
Eliot Leithgow did not quite know what answer to give. The Eurasian
forced the decision.
"I will need," he observed, in his new, frank voice, "all the
assistance you can possibly give me. I am faced by a tremendous task,
and the use of every man will be necessary. I would suggest, Master
Leithgow that the Negro be brought down."
And so Friday came and the asteroid was left unguarded. A mistake,
this turned out to be, but under the circumstances Eliot Leithgow
could hardly be blamed for it. There was so much on their minds, so
much work of vital importance, so desperate a need for speed, that
quite naturally other considerations were subordinated. The asteroid,
to the naked eye, was invisible; it could attract no attention; its
occupants had all been disposed of. Certainly it seemed safe enough to
leave it unguarded for a while.
However, Eliot Leithgow took one precaution. Down in his own
laboratory again, in the midst of the work of transferring Dr. Ku's
operating equipment from the air-car, he called aside one of his
assistants and instructed him to go and survey the asteroid through
the infra-red device every ten minutes: and with this order the old
scientist dismissed the matter from his mind, and turned all his
energies to preparing the laboratory for the operations.
* * * * *
Under Ku Sui's directions his cases of equipment were brought in and
arrayed, and the various drills and delicate saws, and such other
instruments as worked by electricity, were connected. Everything was
sterilized. Rapidly the plain, square room assumed the appearance of
an operating arena, the five tables in the center, spotlessly white
and clean under the direct beams of the tubes hanging from the
ceiling, at the head of every table a stand on which were containers
of antiseptics, bottles of etheloid, a breathing cone, rolls of gauze
and other materials, and along the edge of the stand identical,
complete sets of fine instruments.
The case of coordinated brains was brought into the laboratory last.
The inner liquid was now dark and apparently lifeless; to the casual
eye, it would not have seemed possible that the five grayish mounds
immersed in the liquid held life. And, indeed, Leithgow looked at them
doubtfully.
"Are you sure they're still alive? Do you think there's still time?"
he asked Dr. Ku.
The Eurasian picked up a long, slender, tubelike instrument with a
dial topping it. Then, going to the brain-case, he touched a cleverly
concealed catch and a square pane set in the top of the case swung
back. He dipped the instrument he held into the liquid, and for a
moment stood silent, watching the dial. Then he took it out, re-closed
the pane and turned to Leithgow.
"A test," he explained. "The indicator, interpreted means we have
about forty-eight minutes in which to complete the first phase of the
transplantation of the brains into human heads. It might be done if we
start in eight minutes. But the human heads--?" He paused.
"Eight minutes!" said Leithgow worriedly. "Eight minutes for Carse to
come! He promised the bodies, but ... well, we can only go ahead with
the preparations and trust to him. Is everything ready?"
"All but my assistants. I had better see them now."
* * * * *
The Master Scientist issued an order to one of his men, and presently
the four white assistants of Dr. Ku were led into the laboratory. For
these men, no V-27 was needed; their brains were utterly subservient
to Dr. Ku Sui, and his orders they would obey unquestioningly, no
matter what the work. There was no danger from them.
They stood motionless, their eyes fastened on their master, as he
spoke to them.
"Brain operations," he said. "These"--he indicated the case--"are to
be transplanted again into human heads. You have done work similar to
it before; you know the routine. But now it must be quick. Synchronize
your speed with mine; I will be working very rapidly, and it is vital
that you be in harmony with me every instant. When the bodies come,
you will prepare the heads: and then you will attend me through every
step. You understand." He turned to the old scientist. "Operating
gowns, gloves, masks, Master Leithgow?"
"I have your own. Over there. Your black costume is among them."
But Leithgow's answer was abstracted. Four minutes for Carse to come!
Or else, everything lost! He busied himself helping the four surgeons
and two of his own assistants into the white, sterilized gowns, and
the masks that left only the eyes free and the skin-tight rubber
gloves, but his mind was not with his actions. The old man looked very
frail now; his age showed in the deep lines now eminent on his face.
Three minutes--swiftly two....
"At least," observed Ku Sui, "we have one body ... the coolie. I had
better start immediately on him."
"Bring him out," Leithgow instructed one of his men. "One brain will
be saved. But--_there!_ Thank God! Hear that? Coming down the passage?
It's Carse, returning!"
* * * * *
It was Carse. He and Ban Wilson, coming down the passage from the top
of the tree-shaft. Everyone in the laboratory could hear plainly the
heavy, sliding tread of the great space-boots. Eliot Leithgow was
first to the door. He opened it, peered through eagerly and called:
"Carse? You've got them?"
"Yes, Eliot. Here--we need help."
The Hawk's voice sounded weary. Friday and the scientist ran down the
passageway until they reached the adventurer. In the faint light, they
saw he was carrying a limp body. He laid it carefully down on the
floor.
"Ban's coming down with another," he said, "and there are two more
above. Go up and get them, Friday."
The Negro started to obey. But Eliot Leithgow did not move, did not
utter a sound. He stood staring at the body Carse had laid down. The
parchmentlike skin of his face seemed to whiten; that was all; but he
winced and slowly brushed his eyes with his hands when, in a moment,
Ban Wilson floated down the shaft and, approached with a second
unconscious body.
At last Leithgow whispered:
"They're all--like that, Carse?"
"Yes," answered the emotionless voice. "There were two others, but we
let them go. They were worse." The gray eyes looked steadily at Eliot
Leithgow. "I know," the Hawk said. "It's horrible--but it can't be
helped. It was these or nothing. There was no choice."
Hawk Carse had fulfilled his promise. He had brought back four
isuanacs.