VI

"Panadur!" Mark Lynn breathed softly as he glanced at the stark

grandeur of Europa from one of the glassite ports. It was night. The

macabre glow of Jupiter's Red Spot enveloped the satellite in a red

opaline haze that made the vari-colored cliffs gleam with twisted

flames in deep crimson and orange and purple. Over all, an eternal

mantle of snow lay like frozen spume. Mark opened his hand and looked

at the jewel he held. It was pulsing now with a fiery radiance.

The great spacer was lying in the cup-shaped hollow of the immense

valley, resting on the blanketing snow, just as once before, a

tiny cruiser had rested crippled in the fantastic Europan night.

But it was different then. Mark remembered his chilling awe at the

Dantesque panorama, and his shock when Jim Brannigan had found life

on Europa, the strange, exquisitely furred bipeds with slender arms

and six-fingered hands. He had thought them animals then, despite the

bright intelligence shining in the beryl-eyes of the creatures. But

he'd learned differently in time, when Jim had crushed his skull from

behind, and the Panadurs had saved him by absorbing Jim's life-energy

and transferring it to him while he lay unconscious. That was the

miracle, that the metabolism of the Panadurs could absorb energy from

any source and transfer it at will. They were telepathic, and their

leader had given him the jewel to facilitate communication if Mark ever

returned.

It was like the remembrance of a dream, to have the past pass in review

through his mind as he methodically donned his allurium suit, and

turned on the heating unit.

"I'm going out ... alone," he said firmly to Palanth and Lucero. "I

owe the inhabitants of this world a debt, and whether we remain or

not, is for them to decide. You see this star-like jewel? That's the

Star of Panadur; by concentrating my thoughts, it acts as a sort of

transmitting crystal and will make it possible for me to reach the

leader of the Panadurs. I will return." He smiled reassuringly into

Lucero's distraught face, and Palanth's scowling one.

"Why can't I accompany you?" The Martian growled. "Since when must I be

left behind in the face of danger? Am I an old woman, Mark?"

"But there's no danger, Palanth! It's a promise I gave that never,

never would I bring any intelligent creature to Panadur without their

approval. This world's a treasure house, and the Panadurs are a

treasure in themselves, for their fur is finer than anything in the

Universe, including Neptune's moons. I know of a vast cavern floored

with oxide, and cliffs of pure metal. Europa, or rather, Panadur, is

an inexhaustible source of power! It remains with them--the Panadurs,

whether we remain or not." He smiled at them again, almost pleadingly,

for them to understand, and without another word, stepped through the

air-locks and was gone. They could see his tall figure in its gleaming

sheath outlined in the unearthly glow until it disappeared in the

distance.

* * * * *

Mark Lynn let his mind be passive. Contact with the alien intelligence

had been made; the jewel in his hand was now a burst of radiance, as

he traversed the valley in the direction of the cavern country, and at

last he was before the gigantic mass of cliffs he sought. He entered

a low, gallery-like cave that wound downwards into the bowels of the

cliff, following the twisting turns as the gallery widened and the

luminescent walls became even more luminous, until at the end of a turn

a burst of radiance met his eyes and he was once more in the grotto of

titanic proportions lighted by the glaucous radiance, like the green

light beneath the waters of a shallow sea. At his feet, crystalline and

powdery, the entire floor of the grotto was covered by oxide as far as

his eyes could see. Mark had the odd sensation of living a part of his

life over again. He waited in silence.

Mark knew that thousands of burning beryl eyes were peering at him

from concealed openings in the walls; he felt the mental rapport with

their leader that was rapidly absorbing from his mind all that could

be obtained. The wait was interminable. At last, a silvery-grey,

furred being, was before Mark, seemingly having come from nowhere. Its

exquisite triangular face, with the wide-set beryl eyes and broad

forehead, was startlingly human.

"Greetings, twice come!" the faint shadow of a smile seemed to cross

its features as it telepathed the thought. "When your space machine

landed, we feared the worst--but we are reassured. Your mind tells me

that countless of your kind hover asleep over our world. What would you

have us do?"

"Your permission to remain," Mark sent the telepathic reply. And

then, in a welling flood of thought, poured out the story of what had

happened on Terra, the resettlement of two-thirds of the population on

other planets, and finally, their abhorrence of their Terran Government

and its methods.

"Allow us, O Panadur, to build a new civilization on your world, a

civilization where we may achieve happiness in freedom. We bring over

two thousand Space machines laden with everything we can possibly

need, and millions of eager beings. We will transform your world into

a Paradise such as you have never known. Weather control stations will

give Panadur freedom from cold and darkness; cities will be reared in

beauty, and to you, we guarantee forever, freedom from attack; for

if we do not remain on Panadur, whom the Terrans call Europa, the

Council of Terra will never rest until it has been subjugated by its

interstellar fleet. Your mines will be ravaged, your people will be

enslaved, blood redder than the angry spot of the greater world will

flow in rivers."

"And how can you prevent them from doing so, in any event?" the Panadur

asked.

* * * * *

"We will make your world impregnable. Each one of the Spacers that

brings our people here, will be turned into a fighting cruiser; the

minds of the greatest scientists of Terra will be utilized for our

advancement ... and, these scientists, five-hundred of them, now

asleep, will be delivered into your care as hostages, together with

fifteen robots, placed under your command. We will ensure your safety,

in return for your scientific aid. We know you have no tools; even to

repair a small rent on my cruiser when I crashed here before, took

hundreds and hundreds of your people and the tools I had, plus weeks of

work! The result was magnificent, but I know how handicapped you were.

My robots will build you machines of power, and we will give you that

which you may choose from our ships. In insuring your safety, we ensure

ours. One for all, and all for one, O Panadur. Fate has decreed that

your world is in danger--shall we join forces?"

"It is true, Terran. We have achieved mental mastery, but we've

never conquered our environment. Our hands," he extended fragile,

six-fingered hands without thumbs, "are hardly suited to fashion tools.

But with machines that create other machines ... and metal beings such

as I saw in your mind...." A far away look came into beryl eyes as the

Panadur leader paused.

"Let your mind be passive that I may contact and transmit to my people,

they must know the entire story."

Mark complied, and instantly, as if a tremendous force had struck him,

he reeled in darkness, consciousness fled. He never knew that not far

behind him another being fell unconscious also. It was Palanth. The

Martian had followed unseen, unwilling to let Mark risk the unknown by

himself.

The hours slid in silence under the unchanging luminescence of the

primordial cavern, now filled with countless Panadurs in hieratic

attitudes.

At last one of the beings stood erect and made a silent motion; waves

of pure energy began to course through Mark Lynn and Palanth. But when

they awoke, all the Panadurs were gone save their leader. Mark dazedly

stretched his long limbs and looked at the Martian uncomprehendingly,

then slowly remembrance came.

"So, you did follow me after all? Disobedience of orders in an

uncharted world--do you know the penalty imposed by the Council?"

"May the Council swelter in Venus' deepest swamp!" Palanth spat

irreverently. "Didn't intend to take chances ... your life's too

valuable, O scourge of the Planets!" Under a grandiloquent manner he

tried to hide the mixture of bewilderment and awe with which he gazed

at the placid Panadur Leader. He still had not quite decided what had

happened to him.

The Panadur in turn, gazed inscrutably at the being from Mars, its

delicate nose wrinkled slightly at Palanth's mingled fragrances. What

went on in the Panadur's prodigious mind was unknown to the two men,

for the three-foot tall Leader's mind was not in contact with theirs.

The faintest hint of a smile hovered over his placid features. At last

he began to send:

"The tragedy of your world, 'twice come' is only less startling than

that of your Government--your leaders are a paradox! With a philosophy

of achievement they conceal the greatest achievement of all--men

of metal to enrich your lives; with the goal of conservation and

economy, they waste the most precious of all things--Life! From such a

Government, we can expect but destruction.

"Yet, your people reared without controls are dissenters.... I fear

they might not accept our guidance, that at some future time their will

to power might create an even greater problem to be solved. However,

there's no alternative now. We accept the fifteen men of metal, O

Terran, but above all we must have the 'Sleeping Ones' whose minds we

will study. _We Panadurs must guard against a future paradox._ Your

people," he paused and gazed from Mark to Palanth, "may remain."

The mental rapport was broken, and the furred leader disappeared into

the depths of the cavern, leaving Mark and Palanth to retrace their

steps to the _Stellar Virgin_.

* * * * *

For the first time in her highly-trained life, Lucero felt the full

impact of loneliness as the Europan night swallowed Mark and Palanth.

At last she chose action rather than endure the atavistic emotions

that had begun to grip her. And methodically she flitted silently from

compartment to luxurious compartment where the scientists dreamt their

drugged sleep. Carefully she scanned their faces and was struck by one

overwhelming fact--this was no collection of second rate scientists

for the solution of routine problems, but an assemblage of the first

order, now inert and helpless in the coma of Vanadol, presided over by

a sphinx-like robot.

The last compartment was much larger than the preceding ones, and by

far more luxurious; during the previous inspection, Mark, Palanth and

herself had had no time to come this far, and the girl was startled at

its complex magnificence. Equipped for research work, it was a miracle

of scientific devices, from energizing cabinets to a bewildering array

of surgical apparatus and tools.

Only one man occupied it, and on the raised dais an immobile robot. But

the face that Lucero bent over made her gasp with involuntary fear. It

was the face of Verdugo, the infamous cerebral surgeon whose gifted

fingers could change an entire ego with a few movements of the atomic

scalpel.

The sight of the dreaded scientist in their midst was startling

enough, but what made the girl turn ashen was the sudden flutter of

the surgeon's lids. A painful groan came from his lips, as he trembled

and opened his eyes. The sight of Lucero bending over him seemed to

reassure him, for he smiled faintly.

Behind Lucero the towering robot glided noiselessly to peer at his

awakening master. The girl was unaware it had moved.

"Shall I bring a measure of Thassalian, Master?" The metal man's richly

modulated voice rose without the slightest mechanical inflection.

For one shattering instant, the girl felt as if her reason was taking

wings. She remained utterly still as if in the grip of paralyzing

hysteria. But her training saved her. Slowly she turned and gazed into

the strangely human features of the metal giant. At close quarters she

noted the smooth beryloid construction of the superb outer shell; the

indestructible optics of non-abradable, chemically inert crystal with

microscopic adjustments. But most important of all, she sensed that

here was a brain which had attained full growth--powerful, experienced

and ... organic!

"Yes, bring me some Thassalian, _Alcoran_," the surgeon assented

wearily and half-rose from his couch with a sigh. "The sleep-freeze

reaction is far worse than I'd anticipated!"

"The antidotes have been given--two antidotes Master!" The super-robot

answered instantly.

"Two! For the love of Terra! If it took a double antidote I must have

been given a dose big enough for a Hellacorium...."

"Doctor Verdugo," Lucero interrupted purposely, now entirely calm.

"There's life ... intelligent life on Europa." She didn't intend that

Alcoran should have a chance to disclose what he must have known.

"Yes?" Doctor Verdugo was all attention. "Bring the Thassalian!" He

waved an imperious hand at Alcoran, "and don't stand there like an

effigy! Must your orders be given twice?" He glared at the robot.

"Proceed, Doctor Fortun. Intelligent life ... what's it like?"

"Humanoid, but furred against Europa's eternal cold. They seem to be

telepathic!"

"Telepathic.... Remarkable! I must have a specimen without delay. Have

my scientists been awakened?"

"We've just arrived, Doctor, they're being given the antidote now,"

Lucero was once again her coldly efficient self.

"Your Thassalian, Master." Alcoran extended the small glass and waited

while the scientist drank, closing his eyes against the ecstasy

imparted by the liquor.

"Help me up!" The girl complied stifling a grimace of distaste as his

arm encircled her waist. Verdugo stood on his feet with the girl's

help, weaving a little, and finally recovered his balance.

"Telepathic ..." he murmured, the light of some fiendish purpose

gleaming in the coal black eyes. "Order some of my scientists to secure

a specimen immediately, Doctor Fortun!" The girl bowed.

"Master ..." Alcoran's voice was insistent. "You must...."

* * * * *

"Silence! Never use the word 'must' to me, never!" Verdugo had drawn

himself to his full height. "Ever since I synthetized his brain, he's

got the idea that _he_ owns me! I had to order him not to stir from

his seat during the entire voyage ... I wouldn't have had any peace

otherwise," he smiled at the girl and waved toward the super-robot. "I

synthetized his brain from three of the finest intelligences on Terra!"

"You mean you transferred three brains to Alcoran's helmet?" She

asked aghast. "But didn't they retain their memories ... their

personalities...?"

"Of course not, my dear. I never do things by halves. And now I must

inform the Council we have arrived, and the discovery of life on

Europa." He walked toward the immense metal wall and his slender hand

reached out to touch a spot. Silently, the huge metal partition rose

upwards revealing a hidden alcove in the very center of which, taking

up about two-thirds of the available space stood a gigantic machine.

"A Tele-Magnum!" Lucero breathed.

"Alcoran, contact Venus ... the Council Hall," Doctor Verdugo ordered

his super-robot. The latter came noiselessly forward. Once seated at

the console of the incredibly complex mechanism, his agile finger ran

without hesitation over the banked keys, after pressing a master switch

that lighted serried ranks of powerful tubes, with an eerie violet

light.

"Give my orders to my scientists, Doctor Fortun--it is imperative I

have an Europan specimen immediately." Doctor Verdugo made a curious

grimace that accentuated the evil expression stamped on his features,

then he nodded in dismissal.

With a great effort Lucero quieted her swirling thoughts. She had

no doubt but that the super-robot knew about the administration of

Vanadol. If Verdugo learned of it, he would instantly report it to the

Council, and at least part of the fleet would come to investigate.

Against the fleet of Terra they were powerless.

"I'll not deserve this world and freedom if I fail now!" She told

herself. White-faced and grim she began to carry out a plan that

was slowly growing in her mind out of sheer desperation. Once again

she retraced her steps from compartment to compartment, and began

motivating each robot, commanding them to administer the sleep-freeze

to the men and women in the lower tiers. One robot she left, the one in

the compartment next to that of Doctor Verdugo--she had a task for that

one.

When all the robots save one had been sent below, she went back and

entered the next to the last compartment.

"Arise and come with me," she ordered the robot. "I'm your master, you

will obey my orders implicitly." The metal monster stirred, as if some

hidden mechanism had come to life at the vibration of her words. It

arose on frictionless bearings and stood glittering before her; she

opened its breast and inspected the masterly work that had been done

on the control panel; its eyes, lit now by the glow of intelligence

seemed uncannily human. Lucero knew this specimen didn't possess the

Machiavellian intelligence of Alcoran--only Verdugo could accomplish

such a satanic piece of work--but it was larger and more powerful than

Alcoran, the latter being a specialized product for intricate mental

work.

Resolutely Lucero marched to Doctor Verdugo's compartment, followed

by the fearful metal servant. The scientist had already completed

preparations for a vivisection when the girl entered, and was bending

over a multitude of helixes of finest wire of sensitized silver.

An array of electric and atomic-powered instruments from tiny,

silver-like scalpels, to razor-sharp saws gleamed on tables at his

sides; fulgurants cast ultra-visibility light upon the white-swathed

couch where the victim was to be strapped alive. Verdugo did not hear

them enter, but Alcoran did! Instantly the super-robot gave a warning

cry at the sight of his metal counterpart and stood before the girl and

robot like an impassable wall.

"Attack!" Lucero did not waste words. "Destroy it!" She pointed to the

slightly crouching Alcoran.