"Hurry up, you fool, before they tear her arm off," Mallon grated. "Or shoot. You'll get to watch her for twenty-four hours under the knife. Then you'll have your turn." I fired again--closer this time. Mallon jerked his head and cursed. "If they touch her again, you get it, Toby," I said. "Send her over here. Move!" "Let her go!" Mallon snarled. Renada stumbled into sight, moved around the chair, then crumpled suddenly to the rug beside me. "Stand up, Toby," I ordered. He rose slowly. Sweat glistened on his face now. "Stand over here." He moved like a sleepwalker. I got to my feet. There were two men standing across the room beside a small open door. A sliding panel. Both of them held power rifles leveled--but aimed offside, away from the Baron. "Drop 'em!" I said. They looked at me, then lowered the guns, tossed them aside. I opened my mouth to tell Mallon to move ahead, but my tongue felt thick and heavy. The room was suddenly full of smoke. In front of me, Mallon was wavering like a mirage. I started to tell him to stand still, but with my thick tongue, it was too much trouble. I raised the gun, but somehow it was falling to the floor,--slowly, like a leaf--and then I was floating, too, on waves that broke on a dark sea.... * * * * * "Do you think you're the first idiot who thought he could kill me?" Mallon raised a contemptuous lip. "This room's rigged ten different ways." I shook my head, trying to ignore the film before my eyes and the nausea in my body. "No, I imagine lots of people would like a crack at you, Toby. One day one of them's going to make it." "Get him on his feet," Mallon snapped. Hard hands clamped on my arms, hauled me off the cot. I worked my legs, but they were like yesterday's celery; I sagged against somebody who smelled like uncured hides. "You seem drowsy," Mallon said. "We'll see if we can't wake you up." A thumb dug into my neck. I jerked away, and a jab under the ribs doubled me over. "I have to keep you alive--for the moment," Mallon said. "But you won't get a lot of pleasure out of it." I blinked hard. It was dark in the room. One of my handlers had a ring of beard around his mouth--I could see that much. Mallon was standing before me, hands on hips. I aimed a kick at him, just for fun. It didn't work out; my foot seemed to be wearing a lead boat. The unshaven man hit me in the mouth and Toby chuckled. "Have your fun, Dunger," he said, "but I'll want him alive and on his feet for the night's work. Take him out and walk him in the fresh air. Report to me at the Pavillion of the Troll in an hour." He turned to something and gave orders about lights and gun emplacements, and I heard Renada's name mentioned. Then he was gone and I was being dragged through the door and along the corridor.