"R4, the ruler, has not arrived yet," said Ralph. "Without him, their brains can conceive of no concerted action."
"And when he comes?" asked Rod.
The tall man mutely pointed to the broken body of Daro upon the floor.
"When he comes, R4 will doubtless call for his flame guns and dispense with the matter at once," Ralph said with resignation. "It was by those weapons that civilization was overthrown—rays of invisible heat that withered all it touched. However, since the beginning of their indubitable security here, they retain only a few of these guns which they must connect to the main power transmitter. I saw it happen once when I was a boy, during a brief rebellion."
Suddenly Rod remembered the power building which he had seen on the way to the compound. The rays were operated by the same power that ran the city. He remembered 83 saying he was impervious to heat. If he could reach the power plant, destroy it, then the Capeks would be weaponless. And with the greater strength that 83 had bestowed—he had two arms now and he had learned much—they might have a chance against the machines. There were but a hundred of them. How many had been accounted for already? But how could he leave with them swarming at the only exit? And they would get the humans if he left. He whispered to Ralph of his scheme. It might be that he could do something in time....
"If you got through," Ralph said, "I think I could hold the door. It will take time for them to unjam the machines there. It's our only chance. Go!"
Then Rod thought of the rear chamber. It might be suicide, but he must try.
"Do what you can until I return," he said. "You can always surrender; they would probably not harm you if you gave up."
"We prefer to die here," said Ralph. Vee came to his side. She held the hatchet Daro had dropped.