He was not glib. He had never been glib. He could think of absolutely no answer, no fiction to substitute for the truth. He remained silent. Something rustled as he leaned uncomfortably on his left side. It was the newspaper with the circled article. If Felg found that, Felg would know. So, Felg must not find it. He shifted his weight to that side, trying to cover the telltale edge of paper protruding from his pocket. "What are you doing?" Felg said. He rolled over. The paper rustled. He wanted to scream. Felg took hold of his arm and dragged him to his feet. The other man, Gawroi, merely stood and watched. Felg was going to get the newspaper, Ranmut knew. He broke away and ran toward the door. Felg stuck his foot out and Ranmut fell over it headlong, skidding across the dirty floor to the door, where he lay in a heap. Directly in front of his face was Gawroi's large shoe, the toe under his chin. But Gawroi's shoe did not move. * * * * * Felg reached down and got the newspaper. His face became dark with blood when he saw it. He pulled Ranmut to his feet and shook the paper before his face and bellowed, "Where did you get this?" "In the bus depot, lord." Felg thrust Ranmut back toward the broken bed and showed the newspaper to Gawroi. "I marked it. It's my paper," he admitted. "That was clumsy of you, wasn't it?" Gawroi said. He had a powerful voice, but there seemed to be very little concern in it, as if whatever happened hardly mattered to him at all. "So now Rhodes knows you're after him." "You think this slave told Rhodes?" "Look at him. Dust-covered. Can't you see he's been on the desert, Felg? Can't you see anything?" "Yes," Felg grumbled. "Then what can we do?" Instead of answering, Gawroi said to Ranmut: "You realize we can do with you as we wish. No one knows we brought you here. The hotel clerk saw nothing. What sort of errand are you running for Rhodes?" "Who," said Ranmut, "is Rhodes?" "For Matlin." Ranmut said nothing. Felg growled, "We can break the bones in your body one at a time, you fool!" "Yes, lord," said Ranmut meekly, speaking to gain courage from the sound of his own voice. "But we won't do anything of the sort," Gawroi said. "Why should we? Listen." A rumbling sound could be heard in the street. It became a growl and then a loud smooth purr of power. "The bus to Junction City," Gawroi said. "The only bus. What can this fellow do here in Haatok." "He can go to the police." "Who are seeking Matlin? Don't be ridiculous." "Well, I don't trust him." "Did I say I trusted him? But it doesn't matter, if he's quite helpless." "Alive, he isn't helpless." Gawroi said, "Violence satisfies a certain need in you, doesn't it? Do you want to hurt this little fellow? Is that what you wish? I have no interest in the matter, but I am ready to go to Balata 'kai." "Alive, he isn't helpless," Felg repeated.