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oor opened again。
〃You weren't supposed to get up；〃 said the voice he associated with the nasty laugh。 With the two spotlights trained on his face； he still could see nothing of the men holding them。
〃I couldn't breathe；〃 George said。 〃That stuff chokes me。〃
He had been right； it was the same laugh。 〃I wouldn't worry about that；〃 the voice said。 〃But you said you were thirsty … e on； then。〃
Was it safe to go out？ It wasn't safe to stay here； he knew that much。 He tried to step forward with assurance； as if he weren't even worried； but the green liquid was slippery as oil。 He staggered； and fell into the door frame。
Ungentle hands caught him under the armpits。 〃What a edy act you are； aren't you？〃 He had no time to catch his breath before it was slammed out of him at the end of a hard fist； and he fell back against a wall。 Thick cloth muffled his head； blinding him； and he felt hands … large； strong； and gloved； he thought … yank him along。
He tried to judge from the sounds … the scrape of shod feet； the sound of breathing … what sort of space they were in； how far they'd e。 A corridor； he thought； but he could not judge distance； not with the hard hands shoving him this way and that； breaking his concentration with slams against the wall or yanks on his bound arms。
Finally he heard a door open … a swing door； he thought … and a final shove sent him forward through it just as the cloth was pulled away from his face。
He staggered； and fell onto a hard； cold floor in the dark； and heard the snick of a lock on the door behind him。
For a time he lay there； nursing his new bruises； and wondering what to do now。 But thirst drove him to explore。 This smelled different； cleaner； colder。
Like a bathroom； he decided。 He got to his knees； and considered shuffling around like that； but the hard floor hurt his knees after only a few awkward moves； and he realized he would have to stand up。 Again。
This exploration； however； ended in success。 He found the door through which he'd been shoved； and beside it the predictable panel of switches to control light and ventilation。 Cool white light showed him a bathroom … certainly a staff facility； for it had none of the amenities the family rooms would have had。 A row of sinks set into a counter； with mirrors above … he winced away from his image … and a row of plumbing fixtures。 The stack of clean glasses on the counter mocked him。 How was he supposed to turn the water on？ Or get it in the glass？
That struggle occupied him some time。 The sinks had watersaving faucets； so that they would not run long without a finger on the control … and the control was mounted at a convenient height for someone with free hands。 George had to hitch himself up onto a sink； almost sitting in it； to reach the control。。。。 He was sure the entire counter…and…sinks arrangement was going to fall off the wall and cause a flood。 He could turn the water on； but he could not drink； not while facing away from the sink。 And the sinks had no plugs； so he could not fill one and drink from it。 Finally he realized that he would have to take a glass from the stack and position it in a sink … all out of his sight … and then climb up to start the water and hope the glass was in the right position。 Then take the glass out of the sink and set it on the counter； close enough to the edge that he could tip it with his mouth； and finally drink。
It took a very long time； he broke two glasses； cut his fingers； and almost decided that thirst was better than this struggle。 But his stubbornness forced him on。 And the lukewarm water； the half glass of it he managed to drink before the glass tipped over and spilled the rest down his chin and neck； tasted amazingly good。 He could almost feel his brain cells soaking it up and going back to work。 Now he would think of what to do； now he would get back to his own script for this miserable outing； and e out as he always did： clean； pressed； and in control。
It was not so bad； being locked in a bathroom。 Basic bodily functions accounted for。。。 he stopped； halfway to the fixture he had planned to use； and realized another problem。 How was he supposed to open his trousers with his hands tied behind him？ It wouldn't do any good to yank on the waistband from behind； not with these； they were designed to withstand incredible force。
He would think about it later； it was not that big a problem。 Yet。 On the other hand； he would make do with that one half glass of water； and not waste energy trying to get another。
〃You really should consider the legal aspect；〃 George said。 His stomach growled； the food the two men were stuffing into their mouths with such indecent haste smelled delicious。 He had been given no food； though it was promised for 〃just before you go swimming。〃 He had； instead； been given the novel experience of cleaning all the plumbing fixtures in the building with a toothbrush held in his teeth。 He had not been willing； but the two men had not offered him any alternatives。 His bruises throbbed； and his shoulders ached abominably from the strain of his bound arms。
〃Like what？〃 asked the slender one。 〃You think this will e up in court or something？〃 He was the bully； George had discovered； when after some hours of jeering and shoving； they had finally helped him lower his trousers to use the toilet； the stocky one who looked meaner； with that scar across his chin； was only rough； not cruel。 In the hours since； the slender man had taken every opportunity to cause pain in ways that would not show on an autopsy。
〃Probably；〃 said George。 It was most inconvenient； having one's hands tied。 He had not realized how dependent he was on gesture； a habit learned from his father。 〃My father gets most things to court； and he will certainly sue someone when I'm dead。〃 He was proud of himself； he said that without a quaver。
The men laughed； and looked at each other。 〃Poor Lord Thornbuckle；〃 the slender one said。 〃I'm sure he'll be worried。〃
George stared into space above them； the closest he could e to the pose he usually achieved at these moments。 〃Oh … I expect my father will represent him； too。 A class action suit； I imagine。 Damages； negligence …〃
〃Nonsense；〃 the slender man said； and took a bite of toast。 Through it； he said； 〃And don't think you can scare us with your father。 I've known better lawyers than your father； in my life。〃
George managed a casual chuckle。 〃I doubt that。 You don't even know who my father is。〃
〃He's not in the same class with。。。 oh。。。 Kevil Starbridge Mahoney。 Now is he？〃
George laughed aloud； this time with genuine pleasure。 〃My dear lads； he is Kevil Starbridge Mahoney； and if you know him； you know how surely he will pursue anyone who harms his family。 I'm George Starbridge Mahoney。〃
A pause； during which the slender man chewed steadily； and the stocky one cast nervous glances from George to his panion。 Finally the slender man swallowed； and pushed himself away from the table。 George felt his heart begin to pound。 〃I don't believe you；〃 the slender man said。 〃And I don't like liars。〃 He spoke quietly； but with a studied viciousness that promised pain。
George hoped his face didn't show how frightened he was； a sudd