"We were brought here with our minds locked in the control of a Paulsini beam. Through it, these _starbos_ can drag out our innermost thoughts--force us to do their will. They would use it on us now, if they could. But they have insulated this whole satellite against it, so it is useless so long as we are here." Still there was no sound, save for the restless scrape of feet, the rustle of heavy breathing. "We are their prisoners, utterly and completely. They have even taken away the belt your chieftains gave me--" Shane ran his hands along his waist, "the _Chonya_ belt, the great iron belt of the asteroids." The scraping and rustling grew louder. A low, guttural rumble ran through the crowd. "They say they'll cut us down if we do not obey them, and they've smeared their hands in your captain's blood to prove it!" From somewhere in the back of the crowd, a _Chonya_ shouted, "Where do you stand, _Gar_ Shane? What would you have us do?" "I?" Shane swept them with his gaze. "I? What would you have me say? We are their prisoners, are we not? They have conquered us, even if by a trick. We have no choice but to do their will ... for now." He paused; laughed harshly, cynically. "Were I to tell you otherwise, I, too, would die within the moment--and we all know it." The captive crew flung back his bitter laughter. The first flush of hate was washed from the fierce faces, replaced by narrowed eyes and calculating glances. Shane called: "Repeller crew--forward!" And then, quickly: "Orshawn ... Dylar ... Hebza ... Tisban ... Korch--" * * * * * Men pressed through to the bars. Without waiting, Shane wheeled to the guards. "Here are your men--the repeller crew itself! They will give you everything." A _fala_ shoved him aside, against the bars of the cage. A Mercurian threw the lever that controlled the lock. Barely audible, one of the _Chonyas_ whispered, "_Gar_ Shane! You know--?" "--that the repeller is fully automatic? That there is no crew?" Shane bared his teeth in the caricature of a smile. His eyes were very hard and bright. "Yes, _Chonya_; I know." Now the crewmen that Shane had named were out. The door of bars clanged shut again. A Thorian caught the Earthman by the arm. "Get on! And if these dogs of the asteroids do not tell us all Quos Reggar wants to know, both you and they will die by inches!" He cuffed Shane towards the dungeon's entrance. Shane reeled ahead, half falling, and the guards laughed at the sight of him; and one booted him from behind so that he nearly sprawled on the glistening green telonium floor. But he clutched the outer door and recovered, hanging by the edge of it as it swung on its hinges till he was almost into the corridor beyond. Only two guards remained there, both _Pervods_. The fire in Shane's cold blue eyes burst into wild, singing flame. Of a sudden the laxness left his face. The awkwardness fell from his stance. "_Now, Chonyas!_" he shouted.