"Naka Machi, the incineration tube," said Barter brusquely.
Naka Machi stepped to the operating table and dug into one of the drawers. He brought out a white tube, closed at one end, about an inch in diameter, eight inches in length, and snowy white.
"Concentrated fire, Bentley," said Barter. "Watch!"
Barter had Naka Machi cast the ape skin through the small steel door, beyond which Bentley could see a boxlike s.p.a.ce large enough to accommodate two or three grown men, lying side by side at full length.
It seemed to be indirectly lighted. The ape skin dropped on the floor of this compartment. Barter took the "incineration tube" and directed it on the skin. Bentley heard the clicking of a b.u.t.ton.
The ape skin charred quickly, folded up, drew into itself, disappeared--and a fine gray ash settled on the floor of the compartment, like rain from the roof of the ghastly little s.p.a.ce.
"Now you understand that I have solved the problem of disposing of the c.u.mbersome useless bodies of my hostages, Lee," said Baxter, rubbing his hands together as though he washed them.
Bentley"s heart leaped as Naka Machi placed the incineration tube on the operating table. It was close enough that Bentley could have reached it, had he not been utterly powerless to move.
"Naka Machi," said Barter. "Bring me ape D-4 and Frank Keller, the diplomat. Ellen, clear the operating table. Quickly, now! Bentley, stand against the wall and do not move--but miss nothing I do."
CHAPTER XIV
_The Straining Prison_
Then began a grim series of activities which combined to form a nightmare Bentley was never to forget, even as he prayed within him that no slightest memory of it would remain in the brain of Ellen Estabrook.
Naka Machi went back to the room which Bentley had first entered and returned almost at once with a tall thin man, immaculately garbed in gray, wearing a spade beard. His eyes were flashing fires of anger and of pride.
He stared at Barter.
"What is all this quackery?" he demanded. "Who is responsible for this unspeakable rigmarole?"
"Your words are harsh, Mr. Keller," said Barter suavely, "and you shall learn in good time what I intend. Had you followed my manifestoes in the news columns you would have known what I intend. I shall create a race of super--"
"You will at once release myself and the others with me," interrupted Keller.
But at that moment Naka Machi returned, leading a great ape which seemed as docile as though it had been drugged. Naka Machi raised his right hand quickly, so quickly Bentley could scarce follow the movement, and with the edge of his palm struck the tall gray man in back of the head. Keller"s knees buckled. As he started to fall Naka Machi stepped close to him, gathered him in his arms and bore him to the table.
At Barter"s swift instructions Ellen Estabrook, all unknowing, placed a cone indicated by Barter over the mouth and nose of Keller. Naka Machi struck the ape as he had struck the man, but he waited until he had persuaded the brute to take his place on the table near Keller"s head.
The ape sprawled. Naka Machi quickly twisted both Keller and the ape around so that their heads were toward each other, their feet pointing in opposite directions.
"Is that close enough my master?" came the soft voice of Naka Machi.
"Quite," said Barter, whose face was now a mask of concentration.
"Cleve and Stanley and Morton?"
"They have been locked in their cages, my master," said Naka Machi.
"Are you sure this man who came in the guise of an ape is safe?"
"I shall make sure. But do you remain close where you can render him harmless in case I have misjudged him."
Naka Machi turned baleful eyes on Bentley. The latter could see the hatred in them and for a moment was at a loss to understand it.
"I shall destroy him before he can put his hands upon you, my master,"
said Naka Machi.
"I do not wish him destroyed, Naka Machi," replied Barter. "That is enough of the anesthetic, Miss Estabrook. Naka Machi, my instruments, quickly."
Before he proceeded with his labors Barter stood in front of Bentley and stared at him for a moment. Bentley felt the strength flow out of him under the gaze of this man--a gaze he could not avoid. Barter smiled slightly.
"You will eventually join me of your own free will, Lee," he said softly.
"I would rather die a thousand deaths!" screamed Bentley, but the sound of his scream echoed and reechoed through his soul without coming out so that Barter could hear it.
Barter"s confidence in his ability to convert Bentley was a.s.suredly a mark of his twisted mind, for he must surely have realized that Bentley would be the most injured by his schemes. But he seemed to a.s.sociate him with the days of Manape, when Barter had proved to himself, to Bentley and Ellen Estabrook, that the operation he now planned in wholesale proportions was possible. Bentley could understand why Barter regarded him as a friend and colleague, and his animosity temporary--because as a subject of his first great experiment Bentley was a symbol of Barter"s success.
Strange how easy it was to find logic in the reasoning of madmen, and to understand that logic!
Barter sprang back to his task.
"Naka Machi," he said, "take heed that you serve me well. Do you like this woman?"
"Yes, my master."
"If you continue in your loyalty to me, I shall give her to you."
Bentley"s mind recoiled with horror. The shock of this cold statement was like another blow on the head. He wanted to leap forward and set strangling fingers about the neck of Naka Machi. Ordinarily Naka Machi could handle him with ease, but now that Bentley had heard the plan of Barter, he could have handled the j.a.panese with superhuman strength.
But he could not move. He strained against the bodily lethargy which held him prisoner. If only he could move forward and grasp the incineration tube, he would turn it on Naka Machi and Barter....
But he could not move, could not fight off the lethargy which was like invincible prison walls around him.
He could move the tips of his fingers, he discovered ... but no more than that. The shock of Barter"s calm statement had cast off that much of his semi-hypnotic lethargy. A minute before he hadn"t been able even to move his fingers.
Give him time, he told himself, while inwardly he bled as he struggled desperately to throw off the grim hypnosis, and he would yet manage to save the lives of at least some of the eighteen, see that Ellen won free, and destroy this h.e.l.l-hole under Millegan Place.
Now incredibly slender instruments were busy near the heads of the two on the operating table--the ape and Keller, the doomed man. As the knives and scalpels leaped to their work with startling dexterity and amazing speed, Bentley strained again against his horrid invisible prison. If only he could save this man Keller from this horror ... but it was useless.
The fingers of Barter worked swiftly over the skull of the ape, first.
Naka Machi stood on one side of the long table, Ellen on the other, near Barter. Bentley studied her face as the skull of the ape fell open under the hands of Barter, and he knew she was unaware of what she was doing. Bentley had expected a crimson horror, but nothing of the kind developed. Could Barter read his thoughts?
"I am an adept at bloodless surgery, Bentley," he said, while his fingers never ceased their swift manipulations.