"In other words?"

"In other words it shapes thought, induces dreams, manipulates the mind itself."

"Mind control," said Kalnikov.

"Precisely," replied Adjani. "Spence here can vouch for its effectiveness. We almost lost him to it."

The others regarded Spence carefully, as if trying to detect any sudden changes in him. Spence smiled grimly. "On a purely personal basis I can say that the effects are devastating. What will happen when the tanti is loosed upon the Earth… well, consider a world where half the population is driven to end its insanity in tortured self-destruction and the survivors become mindless drones serving a warped master."

The room was silent. Director Zanderson, his voice steady but tense, spoke next. "It's up to us, gentlemen. Hocking is to be stopped at once and that machine destroyed. Every moment he is allowed to continue his schemes, we are that much closer to universal chaos."

Kalnikov put his hands flat on the table. "The pieces are fitting together, yes? We will now entertain ideas for stopping this monster and his nightmare-making machine." He looked around the table at the tight ring of intense faces. "What are your suggestions, comrades?"

Hours later, the plan that was finally hammered together lacked several key elements toward making it completely foolproof. But whatever it lacked, was more than made up in barefaced audacity.

30

…

WHY WASN'T IT READY? I gave orders for everything to be ready on my arrival!" Hocking's pneumochair buzzed ominously across the floor. Ramm, Wermeyer, Tickler, and several others watched him silently, unwilling to upset him further.

"You failed-that is, we failed to anticipate your coming so soon. We were waiting for your signal. We had only a few hours' notice-there wasn't enough time," explained Wermeyer.

Hocking frowned. "My plans were, shall we say, compromised. It won't happen again! But nothing has changed. Get your men on it at once. I want the platform completed and the machine installed and ready for operation as soon as possible. Do you hear?"

"I already have men on it-they should be finished within the hour," said Wermeyer.

"Excellent! And the engines?"

"Ready for testing-also within the hour."

"That's better! See what you can do when you follow instructions and stop whining? Very well, we will begin projection as soon as the tanti is calibrated to our new orbit."

There was a slight commotion in the antechamber and one of Ramm's security men came white-faced into the room. He went straight to his chief and handed him a note. Ramm glanced at the note and his hand trembled.

Hocking's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"The prisoners-Reston and the others…" He looked to Wermeyer for support. "They've escaped."

"You idiots! You bumbling idiots!" Hocking exploded. "I'll have you-"

"We're on their trail now. They will be apprehended," Ramm was quick to add.

Hocking appeared ready to pursue the subject further, but then abruptly changed his mind. He looked at each of his crew in turn as if weighing their fates individually. The others watched and waited nervously, aware that some decision hung in the balance.

"It won't matter," Hocking said finally, so softly that some had trouble hearing. An awkward jerk of the head dismissed them. "You can go now." The floating chair showed its back.

There was the swish of an opening portal and the group filed out. Hocking turned and saw Ramm still standing there. "Well? What is it?"

"I, uh, nothing." His nerve failed him at the last second. "I was just wondering why Reston is so important to you."

Hocking's features tightened in a mocking sneer. "He is not important to me!"

"Then why do you want him so bad?" Ramm knew he was on shaky ground. "I mean, why don't you just let me kill him and be done with him once and for all?"

Hocking squirmed in his chair and grimaced. "Oh, I will kill him. Eventually." He went on, speaking more to himself than to Ramm. "But first he must be made to suffer as I have suffered. He must bow to me! He must acknowledge my superiority! Yes, yes. He must curse his weakness…" He glanced up and shot an angry look to the security chief. "You're dismissed."

Ramm dipped his head and left without another word. Time was running out. The prisoners had to be recaptured. He joined Wermeyer who was waiting for him in the next room.

"Well? What did you expect?"

"I don't know," Ramm said angrily. "What did he mean-'It won't matter'?"

Wermeyer shrugged. "Who can tell? Obviously it isn't important. He's got some scheme, that's all. I suggest you find the prisoners before anything happens."

"Getting worried, Wermeyer?"

"It's you I'm worried about. You know how he gets." He jerked his head toward the room they had just left and its occupant within.

"I'm beginning to wonder why I ever let you talk me into this." "You've got the director of this station locked in your cell and you're starting to second-guess your involvement?"

"Had. I had the director locked up."

"Just get him back and it'll be smooth sailing from here on, I promise you."

"It seems to me you promise too much." With that Ramm marched off. Wermeyer watched him go and then hurried away to check on the mounting of the tanti and the alignment of the newly installed engines; both projects were now in their final stages. Soon the station would be pushed from its orbit to travel wherever they willed. He could not help smiling to himself: everything was going according to plan. …

WEARING THE GREEN JUMPSUITS of housekeeperswhich Packer's cadets had filched from the laundry-Gotham's loyal defenders stood stiffly, glancing at their digitons and avoiding one another's eyes. "It's almost time," said Packer. "Want to go over it again?"

"No need," replied Zanderson. "We all know what to do." He looked at Spence. "Got the drug?"

"The encephamine is ready." He looked at Kalnikov and Packer and said, "I've made up the three vials. There isn't much, but dropped into the venting system it should be enough to sleep the entire station for two, maybe three minutes. It's potent stuff."

Kalnikov held up his arm. "I'm marking 16:43… ready…

Spence looked at his digiton. "Right." The affirmation was echoed around the circle.

"Well," Packer took a deep breath, "this is it. Let's go."

"God go with us," said Zanderson.

Spence looked at Adjani standing next to him. "Once more into the fray, eh?" Adjani smiled and nodded. He opened his mouth to speak and then hesitated. "What is it? Forget something?"

Adjani's eyes went hard; his features tensed. "Adjani!" Spence touched his shoulder and felt the muscles rigid. His eyes darted to the others-they were stopped in their tracks, too.

Then he heard it, the high-pitched, prickling sound-the sound of his nightmares. His mind squirmed as a curtain of darkness descended around him. "Hocking!" he gasped. "The tanti!" He felt his fists ball up and grind themselves into his eyesockets. He screamed, a painful pinched cry issued from his throat, and he slumped to the floor. …

A LEAF FELL, SWIRLING from a great height. It twisted and spun and rode eddies in the air as it slid down and down, spinning and spinning. Spence watched it with fascination and saw that the leaf was really a face-tissue-thin and nearly tranparent, with holes for eyes, nostrils, and mouth. It was, in fact, his face.

This thin skin had been torn from him and released, set free on the wind to float where it would. Spence watched it fly, hoping that someone would catch his face and return it to him. He saw a sea of hands spring up, reaching for the tumbling face, waving, straining to snag it.

And then it was in the hands of someone he could not see. The hands held the fluttering object gently and carried it toward him. He could only make out the outstretched hands holding the semitransparent tissue between them. The person with his face stopped in front of him and held it up to him. He took it and put it on.