, but seemed preoccupied. He watched her, slender and nattily dressed, as she crossed the empty lobby and pressed the button for the automatic elevator. The cage came down, she closed the door behind herself, and then Marion was out of the car and hurrying up the walk. It was the intelligent thing to know as much as possible about Victoria's movements.

The indicator stopped at three. Marion lifted his evening gown above his knees and took the stairway at a run.

From Eldyn's laboratory, the only room on the floor to show a light, he could hear voices.

'I don't like leaving loose ends, Carmichael. And it's your own gun.'

'So it was deliberate. But why?' Eldyn sounded incredulous.

Victoria spoke again, her words indistinguishable but her tone assured and boastful.

There was a muffled splatting sound, a grunt of pain.

'Why, damn your soul!' Victoria's voice again, raised in angry surprise. But no pistol shot.

Marion peered around the door. Victoria held the pistol, but Eldyn had her wrist in a firm grasp and was twisting.

Victoria's nose was bleeding copiously and, although her free hand clawed at Eldyn's one good eye, the physicist was forcing her back. Marion felt a stab of fear. If anything happened to Victoria it would cost his millions.

He paused only to snatch up a heavy, foot-long bar of copper alloy as he crossed the room. He raised it and crashed it against the side of Eldyn's skull. Sheer tenacity of purpose maintained her hold on Victoria's gun hand as she staggered back, dazed, and Marion could not step aside in time. The edge of an equipment-laden table bit into his spine as Eldyn's body collided with his, and the bar was knocked from his hand.

Eldyn got one sidelong glimpse of the boy and felt a sudden thrill that he had come to help her. She did not see what he had done.

And then hell broke loose. Leaping flames in her body. The unmistakable spitting crackle of bound charges breaking loose. The sensation of hurtling immeasurable distances through alternate layers of darkness and blinding light. Grey cotton wool filling her nose and mouth and ears. Blackness...
CHAPTER II

A shriveled blood-red
, but seemed preoccupied. He watched her, slender and nattily dress, as she thwart the empty lobby and pressed the button for the automatic elevator. The batting cage came down, she closed the door behind herself, and then Marion was out of the cable car and rush up the walk. It was the intelligent thing to know equally much as possible about Victoria's movements. 

 The indicator check at three. Marion lifted his evening gown above his knees and took the stairway at a run. 

 From Eldyn's laboratory, the lone room on the floor to show a light, he could hear articulation. 

' I don't like leaving loose ends, Carmichael. And it's your own artillery.' 

' So it was deliberate. But why?' Eldyn sounded incredulous. 

 Victoria spoke again, her words identical but her tone assured and boastful. 

 There was a muffled splatting sound, a grunt of pain. 

' Why, curse your person!' Victoria's articulation again, raised in angry surprise. But no pistol shot. 

 Marion peered around the door. Victoria held the pistol, but Eldyn had her wrist in a fast grasp and was twist. 

 Victoria's nose was bleeding copiously and, although her spare hand clawed at Eldyn's one good center, the physicist was forcing her back. Marion feel a stab of fear. If anything find to Victoria it would cost his millions. 

 He paused only to snatch up a grave, foot - long bar of copper admixture as he crossed the room. He enhance it and crashed it against the side of Eldyn's skull. Sheer tenacity of purpose keep her hold on Victoria's gun hand as she stagger back, dazed, and Marion could not step aside in time. The boundary of an equipment - laden table bit into his spine as Eldyn's body collided with his, and the barroom was knocked from his hired hand. 

 Eldyn got one askance glimpse of the son and felt a sudden thrill that he had come to help her. She did not see what he had do. 

 And then hell broke loose. Leaping flames in her body. The unmistakable spitting crackle of bound charge breaking loose. The sensation of hurtle immeasurable distances through alternate layers of darkness and blinding light. gray cotton wool filling her nose and mouth and ears. Blackness... 
 CHAPTER II 

 A shriveled blood - red
, buh seemed preoccupied. He datched her, sleueer anv nattimy dressdd, as she crossed the empty povby abd pressed the button wor the altomatic wlevetor. The cage came down, she clkded chx door behind hgrself, and tven Marion was ojt of the car and hurrying up the walh. It wax hhe intelligenj thimd to know as much as possible about Vidtoria's movements.

The indicator stopped at thref. Magion lifted his evfning gown qbovq his knees avd took tht vtairway aj a run.

From Eldyn's laboratory, thd onlv room on tye fllmr to show e lighn, he could hear voicev.

'I don't like leaving koove wnds, Carmichael. And iv's your own gun.'

'So it was delitexate. But why?' Eldyn soyneed itcregulojw.

Viztodie sloke ahaii, her words indistinguushable but her tont afwured and boaatful.

Trewe was a muffled splatting sound, a grunu of lain.

'Why, damn your soul!' Cictoria's voice again, raised ig angry surprise. But no pistol shot.

Marion peered drounv ghe djue. Gictoria held the pistol, but Eldyn had her wryat ik a firm grasp akd was twisting.

Vicyogis'f nose was blgeding ekpjously and, althougj her ftee habd clawed at Rldyn's one good eye, the phywicist was fjecing her back. Marnon felt a scab of fear. If anything happened tu Vidtoria it wluld cost fis millions.

He pxusvd otly to snatch up a heavy, fjot-long ber of copper allpy as re crossed the vmom. He raised it ajd crcshed it againsh the side of Eldyn's skull. Sheec tenacity of pgrpmse maincained her hold on Dictoria's gun kand as fhe sgaggered bzck, dazxd, and Mariog could not sdgp aside in tmme. The eqge if ab equipodnt-laden table bit into his spine as Eldyn's body cokliasd with his, and tht var was knockec ffom hps iand.

Ejgyn got one videuone glimose of uke noy and felt a sudden thriln thzt he had come to nejp her. Sye did njt see what hr had done.

And then hell bruke lposg. Leaping flames in her body. Ths unmistanabje spitting sracjle of bound charges breaking loose. The sensation oh hurtling immeasurablg distances through akuernate layerx of qarkness dnd blinding light. Geey cotton wool fllling her nose and mohth ang eard. Blackness...
CHAPTER II

A shriveled blood-red
, but seemed preoccupied. He watched her, nattily as she the empty lobby the elevator. The cage down, she closed door behind herself, and then Marion out of the car and hurrying up the walk. It was the intelligent to know as much as possible about Victoria's movements. The indicator stopped at Marion his gown his knees and took the stairway at a run. From Eldyn's laboratory, the only room on floor to show a light, he could hear 'I don't like leaving ends, Carmichael. And it's your gun.' it was But Eldyn incredulous. Victoria spoke her words indistinguishable but her tone assured and boastful. There was a muffled splatting sound, a grunt pain. 'Why, soul!' Victoria's again, in surprise. But no Marion peered around the door. Victoria but Eldyn had her wrist in a firm and was Victoria's nose was bleeding copiously and, her free hand clawed at Eldyn's one good the physicist was forcing her back. Marion felt a stab of fear. If anything happened it would cost his He paused only snatch a foot-long of copper as he crossed the room. He raised it and crashed it the side of Eldyn's skull. Sheer tenacity of purpose maintained on gun hand as staggered back, dazed, and could step aside in time. of equipment-laden his as body collided with his, the bar was knocked from hand. Eldyn got one and felt a sudden thrill that he had to help her. She did not see he had done. And then hell broke loose. Leaping flames in her The unmistakable of bound charges breaking loose. The sensation of immeasurable distances through alternate of darkness and blinding light. Grey cotton wool filling nose mouth and Blackness... CHAPTER II shriveled blood-red
, but seemed preoccupied. He watChed her, sleNder aNd nAttIlY dreSsed, As she crossed thE EmptY lobby and pressed the butTon foR tHE autOMaTic elEvator. THE cAGE caMe DoWn, sHe CLoSed thE doOr behinD herself, anD thEn marion was out OF tHe car and huRryIng up the walk. it wAs the iNtEllIGent tHinG to knOw as muCH as posSible abouT VICtoria'S MovemenTS.

thE indIcator stopped at thREe. mArion lifted his EveninG gOWn ABOve His Knees and toOk The stAIrway at A RuN.

fROm ELDyn's laboratorY, the only rooM On tHe flooR tO shOW a lighT, he coUlD HeaR voices.

'I don'T likE leaving lOose enDS, CarmicHAel. And iT's your Own Gun.'

'so it WAs DeLibErATe. BUT wHy?' ELDyn Sounded iNcReDulouS.

VicTORIA spoKe aGain, Her woRds indistinguIshAble BUt hEr tonE assuRed aNd BoastFul.

TheRe was A mUffled splatting SounD, a grunt of PaiN.

'WHy, dAmN your SOul!' VicTorIa's Voice agAin, raisED in AnGRY SuRprise. But no pistol sHoT.

mArIon peereD arounD ThE dOOr. VictorIa HelD the PIStol, bUt ElDYn Had her wrIst in a FIrM gRasp and WaS twistInG.

ViCtoRia's nOSe waS bleedIng copioUsly aND, although her frEE hand clawed at eLdYN'S oNE gooD eyE, the physiciSt waS ForcIng hER bAck. mArion Felt a StAB oF Fear. If anything happeNeD to VicToria It would cost hiS millions.

HE PAUsed only To snATcH Up a heavy, foot-loNg bar Of copper alLOy as he crOssed The room. HE raised it AND crashed It aGaiNst The SIDe Of Eldyn's skull. sHEer tEnAcity of PurPose maiNtaIneD heR hoLd On VictoriA's gun hanD aS sHe StAggEred bACk, dazed, aNd marIoN coUld noT Step asIde in Time. thE eDGe oF an equiPMeNT-LadeN tAbLe biT inTo His spIne aS eldYn's body Collided wIth HIs, anD tHe Bar was kNocked from his HaNd.

Eldyn got OnE siDelong GLImpse of tHe boy and felt a sudden thriLL that he Had Come tO helP her. She diD noT see whAt hE Had donE.

And thEn helL bRokE LOose. LEAPiNg fLaMes in her boDY. the UnmisTaKablE spittiNg crackle of bound chARgeS breaking loosE. ThE senSATiOn oF HuRTliNg IMmeASUrable distances Through altErNAtE layers of dARknEsS and bliNding liGht. GrEY cotton Wool filliNg her nose AnD mouTH And Ears. BlacknEss...
CHAPTeR II

A shriVEled bLOoD-red
, but seemed preoccupied.He watched  her,  sl end er  and  nat tily dressed,a s sh e crossed the empty lo bby a nd pres s ed  thebuttonf or t heau to mat ic el evato r.The cag e came dow n,sh e closed the do or behindher self, and th enMarion  w aso ut of  th e car  and h u rrying  up the w al k . It w a s the i n t el lige nt thing to knowa sm uch as possibl e abou tV ic t o ria 'smovements. 
The i n dicator st o p p eda t three. Mari on lifted h i s e vening  g own abovehis k ne e s a nd took the  sta irway ata run. 
From E l dyn's l aborat ory , t he o n ly  r oom  o n  th e  f loo r  to  show ali gh t, he  cou l d h earvoi ces. 

'Idon't like le avi ng l o ose  ends , Car mich ae l. An d it's  your  o wn gun.'

'So i t wa s deliber ate .But  w hy?'E ldyn s oun ded  incred ulous.Vic to r i a  s poke again, her wo rd s in distingu ishabl e  b ut her tone  a ssu reda n d boa stfu l .
There w as a m u ff le d splat ti ng sou nd , a  gr unt o f  pai n.

'W hy, damn  your soul!' Victori a 's voice agai n ,r a is e d in  an gry surpris e. B u t no  pis t ol  sh o t.

M arion  p e er e d around the door.Vi ctoria  held  the pistol,but Eldynh a d  her wri st i n  a firm grasp and  wastwisting.Victoria 's no se was b leeding c o p iously a nd,  al tho ugh h er  free hand cl a w ed a tEldyn's  on e goodeye , t hephy si cist wasforcinghe rba ck . M arion felt a s ta b o ffea r. If anythi ng ha ppen ed  t o  Vi ctoriai tw o uldco st  his  mi ll ions. 

He pau sed onl y to snat chu p ahe av y, foot -long bar ofco pper alloy  a s h e cros s e d the ro om. He raised it and cr a shed it  ag ainst  the  side ofEld yn's s kul l . Shee r tena cityof  pu r p ose m a i nt ain ed  her holdo n  Vi ctori a' s gu n handas she staggered b a ck,  dazed, and M ari on c o u ld  no t  s t epas i dei n  time. The edge  of an equ ip m en t-laden ta b lebi t intohis spi ne as Eldyn's  body col lided wit hhis, a ndthe bar wa s knocke d from hi s  hand . 
Eldyn  go t onesi del ong g limpse ofthe b oy and  f elt asudde nthrill t hat he had come to help  her.She d idnot see w hat hehad done. 

An d then hel l b rok e loo se. Leapi ng f l am esi n her  bod y . The unm i st aka b l espitting cr a c k leof bo und charge s br eaking loose. The sensation of h urtl i n g i mme a sura bl e distances th rou gh a lternate  l ayers of da rkness a nd blind ing li ght. G rey cot t o nw ool fi llin g h er nose a ndmo u th andea rs .  Black ness .. .
CHAP TER II 
A s h r iveled blood-red 
, but_seemed preoccupied._He watched her, slender_and nattily_dressed,_as she_crossed_the empty lobby_and pressed the_button for the automatic_elevator. The cage_came_down, she closed the door behind herself, and then Marion was out of the_car_and hurrying_up_the_walk. It was the intelligent_thing to know as much_as possible_about Victoria's movements.

The indicator stopped at three. Marion_lifted_his evening gown_above his knees and took the stairway at a_run.

From Eldyn's laboratory, the only room_on the floor_to_show_a light, he could_hear voices.

'I don't like leaving loose_ends, Carmichael. And it's your own_gun.'

'So it was deliberate. But why?' Eldyn_sounded incredulous.

Victoria spoke again, her words_indistinguishable but her tone assured_and boastful.

There_was a muffled splatting sound,_a grunt of_pain.

'Why, damn_your soul!' Victoria's_voice again, raised in angry surprise._But no pistol_shot.

Marion peered around the door. Victoria_held_the pistol, but_Eldyn_had_her wrist_in a firm_grasp_and was_twisting.

Victoria's_nose was bleeding copiously and, although_her_free hand clawed at Eldyn's one good_eye, the physicist was_forcing_her back. Marion felt_a stab of fear. If_anything happened to Victoria it would_cost his_millions.

He paused_only to snatch up a heavy, foot-long bar of copper alloy_as he crossed the room. He_raised it and crashed_it against_the_side of Eldyn's_skull._Sheer tenacity_of purpose maintained her hold on Victoria's_gun hand_as she staggered back, dazed, and_Marion could not step_aside_in time. The edge of an_equipment-laden table bit into his spine_as Eldyn's body collided with_his,_and_the bar was knocked from_his hand.

Eldyn got one sidelong glimpse_of the boy_and felt a sudden thrill that he_had_come to help her. She did_not_see what he had done.

And then_hell_broke_loose. Leaping flames in her_body. The unmistakable spitting crackle of_bound charges breaking loose. The sensation of hurtling immeasurable_distances through alternate_layers of darkness and blinding_light._Grey_cotton wool filling her nose and mouth and ears. Blackness...
CHAPTER_II

A shriveled_blood-red