[Distel-hackers] the

[Phippen B. <adv...@au...>]

 been silent, clinging to the bars of our cage. She called; "Why? I ask
you to put this cage down." "Not now, little bird." "Let me be with my
father." It struck a pang through me. Babs was scheming but not the way
Polter thought. She wanted the cage put on the floor, herself out, and a
chance for me to escape. I had not yet told her of my miserable
stupidity in losing the vial. Polter was repeating, "No, little bird.
Presently; not now. I will take you with me on my last trip out. I want
to talk with you in normal size when I haf time." Our room swooped as he
stood up. "You think over what I haf said, Kent. You get ready now to
make the fresh drugs I will need to bring down all my men from the outer
world. They will all be glad to come, or, if not--well, we can easily
kill those who refuse. You make the drugs. I need plenty. Will you?"
"Yes." "That iss good. I come back soon and gif you the catalyst for
that last reaction. Will you be ready?" "Yes." The blur outside our bars
swung with a dizzying whirl as Polter turned and left the room, locking
its door after him with a reverberating clank. * * * * * Left alone in
his laboratory, Dr. Kent began his preparations for making a fresh
supply of the drugs. This room, with two smaller ones adjoining, was at
once his workshop and his prison. He stood at his shelves, selecting the
basic chemicals. He could not complete the final compounds. The catalyst
which was necessary for the final reaction would be brought to him by
Polter. How long he worked there with his thoughts in a whirl at seeing
Babs, he did not know. His movements were automatic; he had done all
this so many ti