"We're getting things under control, but it's hell down here! We don't know yet how many people have died."
"How could it be," Michelson said. "I've tried to figure out—"
Engstrand's voice was loud. It seemed to Mary that he was right there in the cabin with Michelson. "It's obvious what happened, Mike! Those first experimental rockets we sent up there. The damn Martians got hold of one of those chimps and worked on it. Sent it back and we didn't suspect the difference. They made it intelligent enough to plan and execute this whole thing! They must have put one of their own brains into it or something. Only a damn Martian would think of a thing like that!"
Michelson's head raised quickly. From the side, Mary could see his eyes suddenly widen. Then he wiped his hand across his lips.
The hand trembled. "Of course," he whispered then. "But who could ever have suspected it?"
"That's the only explanation," Engstrand said. "We've got to have that chimp alive! We can learn plenty from it. We'll cut in there and put that brain under observation...."
"I'll do what I can, if Mary shows up here," Michelson said. "But those Guards should get here!"
"They will, Mike! They will! They're on their way."
Mary dug her fingers into the floor. She moved slightly, and one hand fell with a slight thud. Michelson looked down. He kept on staring. His lips moved without saying anything a few times, then he stammered. "Engstrand—she's here!"
"What? What?"