Chapter 8: Dr. Ku Shows His Claws

The scientist brushed back his thinning white hair with a trembling hand. He knew that voice. He walked over and put his hands on his friend’s shoulders.

“Carse!” he exclaimed. “Thank God, you’re alive!”

“And you,” said the Hawk.

Ku Sui interrupted.

“I am most glad, honored Master Scientist,” he said in the flowery Oriental fashion that he affected in his irony, “to welcome you here. For me it is a memorable occasion. Your presence graces my home, and, however unworthily, distinguishes me, rewarding as it does aspirations which I have long held. I am humbly confident that great achievements will result from your visit--”

Quickly Eliot Leithgow turned and looked squarely at him. There was no bending of spirit in the frail old man. “Yes,” he said, “my visit. Your sickening verbal genuflections beautifully evade the details--the house of my friend raided at night; he, himself, unarmed, shot down in cold blood; his house gutted! You are admirably consistent, Dr. Ku. A brilliant stroke, typical of your best!”

Five faint lines appeared across the Eurasian’s high, narrow brow. “What?” he exclaimed. “Is this true? My servitors must be reprimanded severely; and meanwhile I beg you not to hold their impetuousness against me.”

Carse could stand it no longer. This suave mockery and the pathetic figure of his friend; the mention of raid and murder--

“It’s all my fault,” he blurted out. “I told him where you were. I thought--”

“Oh, no!” Dr. Ku broke in, pleasantly protesting. “Captain Carse is gallant, but the responsibility’s not his. I have a little machine--a trifle, but most ingenious at extracting secrets which persons attempt to hold from me. The Captain couldn’t help himself, you see--”

“It was not necessary to tell me that,” said Leithgow.

“Of course,” the Eurasian agreed and for the first time seriously; “but let me suggest that the end justifies the means. And that brings me to my point. Master Scientist, now you may know that I have for some time been working toward a mighty end. This end is now in sight, with you here, the final achievement can be attained. An achievement--” He paused, and the ecstasy of the inspired fanatic came to his eyes. Never before had the three men standing there so seen him. “I will explain.”

His eyes changed, and imperiously he gave an order to his assistants. “A chair for Master Leithgow, and one for Carse. Place them there.” Then, “Be seated,” he invited them with a return of his usual seeming courtesy. “I’m sure you must be tired.”

Slowly Eliot Leithgow lowered himself into the metal seat. Friday, ignored, shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The Hawk did not sit down until with old habit he had sized up the whole layout of laboratory, assistants and chances. The two chairs faced toward ward the high screen; to each side stood the five coolie-guards; mechanically alert as always; the four Caucasian assistants made a group of strange statues to the right.

Ku Sui took position, standing before the screen. Seldom did the cold, hard iron of the man show through the velvet of his manner as now.

“Yes,” he said, “I will talk to you for a while; give you broad outline of my purpose. And when I have finished you will know why I have wanted you here so badly, Master Leithgow.”

He began, and, as never before, he hid nothing of his monstrous ambition, his extraordinary preparations. With mounting fear his captives listened to his well-modulated voice as it proceeded logically from point to point. He had fine feeling for the dramatic, knew well the value of climax and pause; but his use of them was here unconscious, for he spoke straight from his dark and feline heart.

For the first time in the Affair of the Brains, the tiger was showing his claws.

“For a long time,” Ku Sui said, “we four gathered here have fought each other. All over space our conflict has ranged, from Earth to beyond Saturn. I suppose there never have been more bitter enemies; I know there has never been a greater issue. I said we four, but I should have said we two, Master Leithgow. Captain Carse has commanded a certain respect from me, the respect one must show for courage, fine physical coordination and a remarkable instinct and capacity for self-preservation--but, after all, he is primarily only like the black here, Friday, and a much less splendid animal. It is a brain that receives my respect! A brain! Genius! I do not fear Carse: he is only an adventurer; but your brain, Master Leithgow, I respect.

“For, naturally, brains will determine the future of these planets around us. The man with the most profound and extensive scientific knowledge united to the greatest audacity--remember, audacity!--can rule them every one!”

He paused and looked into the eyes of the Master Scientist. Pointedly he said:

“You, Master Leithgow, have the brains but not the audacity. I have the audacity and the brains--now that you are here.”

Cold prickles of fear chased down Carse’s and the scientist’s spine at this obscure threat. Some of their reaction must have shown in their faces, for the Eurasian permitted himself a brief, triumphant smile and added:

“You shall know just what I mean in but a few minutes. Right now, in this very laboratory, the fate of the planets is being decided!”

Hawk Carse licked his dry lips.