"I was sent over here, as you may know, to aid in the current
experiment. To formulate it as a matter of fact. This test is being
conducted to determine just what effect cosmic rays will have on a
living organism. As I said, Mathieson, and your other scientists are of
the opinion that the rays are lethal. That they will destroy life. In
effect, that they are death rays. "But I contend that they are wrong. What would you say if I told you
that cosmic rays are the very source of life and energy in the
universe?" Trent whistled judiciously, and noted that Gaddon's face smiled at the
apparent surprise Trent evinced. "You find that a startling statement?" Trent nodded. "I'd say that it sounded like the beginning of a very
interesting theory." "And you would be right," Gaddon replied, warming to his subject. "It is
my contention that the cosmic rays will prove to be the fountain of
youth that men have sought through the ages. That they will react on the
glands of a living creature and produce immortality. "Now take your choice. Whose theory would you rather believe? Mathieson's idiotic claims of a death ray, or mine as a source of the
utmost benefit to science?" Trent took a moment before replying. When he did so, he spoke with tact,
and also with the feeling that his trip to Fenwick's office had proven
very valuable. For there was a story here. A big story. "I'd say, doctor, that I'd like to believe your theory was correct. But
isn't it a little premature to be so definite about it?" Gaddon snorted. "No more premature than Mathieson's. And I'll tell you
something else, Trent. You may not realize it, but you're about to take
part in what may be the biggest story of the century. And when it
breaks, you'll remember our conversation here. I intend to prove that
your American scientists are wrong." Trent noticed the personal emphasis that Gaddon put in his last
statement, but he was drawn away from the conversation as he turned the
coupe into the guarded entrance to the proving grounds. There was a moment of credential flashing to the guards, and a
respectful salute to the scientist in the car beside Trent. Then Trent
moved his coupe through the entrance and up the cement roadway to the
Administration building. As Gaddon got out of the car he turned to Trent. "I'll leave you here. The members of the Press will be conducted to the
launching site at dusk. I'll see you then. In the meantime, don't forget
that you've given your word not to release any of the information I've
given you." Trent nodded and watched him walk away. He followed the Englishman with
his eyes, a frown crossing his face. There was something too cocksure
about the man. His ridicule of American scientists could be ignored, but
the way he spoke about his theory, as if it had already been a proven
fact against the ideas of Mathieson....

A faint chill ran up Fred Trent's back. He couldn't explain it. But it
was there. An ominous note of foreboding. He shrugged it off and left his car to walk toward the Administration
building. *       *       *       *       *

The remaining hours of the afternoon dragged by in a monotony of idle
speculation. Trent listened to the gathered newspapermen discussing the
coming experiment at dusk, accompanied them as Dr. Mathieson, the head
of the project, conducted them on a tour of the project, to the
launching site, and then back to the central building. The launching site itself had been an impressive sight. The huge
rockets, much in appearance like the famed V2 of World War II, but on a
much larger scale, were cradled in their launching platforms like some
huge monsters about to be unleashed into the unsuspecting heavens. They had listened as Mathieson explained the various number of
instruments that were being included in the first rocket, to record its
hurtling trip through the atmosphere to the outermost layers of the
Earth's surface. And they had been told of the other, and to the gathered newspapermen,
the most interesting part, the inclusion of a cat in the rocket, in a
large oxygen-fed chamber, to study the effects of the cosmic rays on a
living creature. Then back to the central building. Back to wait. And the tension began
to mount. For the shadows were lengthening, the sun sinking behind the
horizon to the west. The moment was now close at hand. *       *       *       *       *

A stocky figure detached itself from the shadows beside the huge bulk of
the laboratory building and slowly edged out into the dusk. It paused momentarily, to survey the scene. Sharp eyes scanned the
looming rockets and their launching platforms, watchful, alert. They
finally settled upon the armed guard who walked a measured distance back
and forth in front of the rockets. Then the figure moved forward again,
cautiously, purposefully. The distance from the giant rockets shortened gradually, and then the
guard, turning to retrace his steps, saw the approaching figure. There was a snapping sound as a rifle was brought into position, and a
rapping command barked out. "Halt! Who goes there?" The shadowy figure halted abruptly a short distance away from the guard. And a voice answered. "Dr. Blair Gaddon." The guard's rifle snapped into present arms and then back to the
soldier's right shoulder. "Oh, it's you, sir. Is there anything wrong? The launching is set for
fifteen minutes from now, isn't it?" Gaddon walked slowly up to the soldier and the guard could then see his
face in the thickening shadows. "That's right," Gaddon replied. "I'm making a last minute inspection." The guard nodded. "Dr. Mathieson and the newspapermen will be along any
minute, sir?" Gaddon moved closer to the soldier, and then suddenly his hand came out
of his coat pocket and there was a gun in it. "Drop your rifle, soldier. Quick!" The guard stared at the scientist in shocked astonishment. "What is this, sir? A gag?" Gaddon motioned with his gun. "It is no gag! Do as I say--or must I shoot?" *       *       *       *       *

There was an ominous note in Gaddon's voice. And a strained quality to
it that told the guard the man meant what he said. Very slowly the
soldier removed the rifle from his shoulder and dropped it to the
ground. Gaddon motioned with his gun. "Now step back! Move!" The guard moved slowly back a pace, and then the Englishman stepped
forward and kicked the rifle away from the man. Then he motioned around
the rocket. "Now move over around the side of the number one rocket to the far side
of number two." He watched as the guard turned and began to walk slowly around the huge
base of the waiting rocket. He followed the soldier. "I don't know what this is all about, Dr. Gaddon," the guard protested. "But I can tell you one thing, you're playing with the United States
Government right now. When Dr. Mathieson hears about this--"

"When Dr. Mathieson hears about this, soldier, I'll be a long way from
here--out at the edge of space itself!"