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d viciousness that promised pain。
George hoped his face didn't show how frightened he was； a sudden burst of fear that made him glad he was in the chair； and not trying to stand up。
〃Now wait；〃 the stocky man said。 〃We aren't supposed to mark 'em up； remember？〃
〃I won't。〃 The slender man smiled at George。 〃Now。。。 what did you say your name was？〃
〃George Starbridge Mahoney；〃 George said。 He was going to be hurt anyway； just as the bully at school had twisted ears or arms no matter what you said； but one might as well tell the truth。 And if they concentrated on asking him about himself and his past； perhaps they wouldn't ask where the others might be hiding on the island。 He braced himself for whatever the slender man might do； but he did nothing。 Then he slipped a hand into a pocket； and came out with a glove。
〃You're sure of that；〃 the man said； putting the glove on； and tapping its fingers on George's head； just hard enough to sting and demonstrate that the fingers were tipped with something hard。 〃Then I suppose you know all about Viilgas versus Robertson Colony。〃
〃It's against ethics to talk about cases outside professional venues；〃 George quoted。 A gloved finger probed behind his ear； and he squirmed away。 〃But。。。
sometimes at home； of course； it did happen。〃 The whole case was over； appeals and all； long ago； what harm could it do to admit that？ And； now that he thought about it； there'd been a threat against the family； his father had insisted that none of them go out without an escort。 〃I remember the threat；〃
he said； as the finger jabbed behind his other ear。 〃But I was only eight。〃
〃Ah。 Which would make you now。。。 ？〃
〃Twenty…three。〃 Had it really been fifteen years？ He would never forget the bomb in the vegetable shipment that had destroyed the old kitchen and scared the cook so that she went into early retirement。 Of course she hadn't been in danger； none of the servants were even in the house for the duration of the threat。 His father had insisted on that。
〃And was the threat ever carried out？〃 The finger prodded beneath his chin； only slightly painful so for。
〃A bomb in the vegetables；〃 George said。 〃It blew all the tiles off the wall。〃
It occurred to him that this man might have been involved； for all that he didn't look old enough。 How old did you have to be to send bombs through the food system？ Perhaps he'd started young。 Perhaps he wanted revenge。。。。
〃And what was the oute … the real oute？〃
That； too； he would not forget； because he had been just old enough to recognize the discrepancy between the public news and what his father said to a colleague in the study。 〃How did you know about the real oute？〃 he asked； and was rewarded by a sharp jab in the neck。 It hurt more than he'd have expected。
〃Answer the question；〃 the slender man said。
〃The Robertson Colony paid an indemnity；〃 George said sulkily。 〃Enough to keep them working hard for the next fifty years； my father said； with no offplanet travel until it was paid。 Slocumb and DeVries got mindwiped。 Viilgas died； but they hushed it up； so his heirs could get the profits。〃
〃Mmm。 You do know more about it than the average young sprout。 Tell me this； then： when your father； assuming he is your father； approaches the bench； what does he do with his hands？〃
Georges arms strained； trying to reproduce the familiar gesture； he could not say it without doing it。 And was it the left hand or the right … ？ Finally he got it out。 〃His left hand's in his vest pocket； as if he felt a pain； and his right hand is holding down the tail of the frill。〃
The slender man turned away a moment； to look at his panion； then turned back to George。 〃So。。。 if you're Mahoney's son； why should we care？〃
〃You said already … you know what he's like。 He'll see money somewhere； and go after it。〃
〃I'm not rich；〃 the man said； and went back to the table。 He served himself another plateful of eggs and sausage； and George's stomach growled again。 〃Why should I worry？ He'll go after the deep pockets。〃
〃He'll go after anyone involved；〃 George said。 Some tone in the other's voice let him think he'd made an impression。 〃Deep pockets hire their own lawyers。。。。 Will they hire one for you？〃
〃Don't try to scare me；〃 the slender man said。 〃It won't work。〃 But he said it without full conviction； and he glanced at his stocky partner a moment too long。 George knew what his father must feel； in the courtroom； when some change in his opponent's body or face let him know he had scored。 He had always assumed law was dull … all those racks of data cubes； all those hours under the helmet … but he had never felt anything like the rush of excitement that now roared through him。
Then the slender man's eyes came back to his face； and the triumph chilled。。。。
This man enjoyed pain too much to give it up； even for safety。
〃If I escaped；〃 George said； quickly； against the lust in those eyes； 〃I could call Lord Thornbuckle。 You'd have time to get away； if you wanted； although I would testify that you helped me。 The people who thought this up are the real criminals。 My father would be on your side then。〃
〃It's a thought；〃 the stocky one said。 〃I'd rather have Mahoney on my side than cross…examining me。〃
〃If it came to that … 〃 The slender man stared at George in a way that made his insides twitch。 〃If we can't get it out of this 'un。。。〃
George hoped his shrug was casual enough。 〃I don't know where the others are。
You can get me to tell you where I last saw them； but if they were still there they'd have been captured。 And I've been here at least a day … 〃 He was sure it was two； why else would they have shoved him back into the closet for a time； and kept him below ground level except for that one foray of bathroom cleaning in the upstairs suites？ He tried very hard not to think about the cave Bubbles had mentioned。 He didn't know where it was； he was very glad he didn't know where it was。。。 and they might not be in it anyway。
〃More；〃 said the stocky one； and hushed at the other's gesture。
〃Time's going to run out；〃 George said。 〃Someone will notice that we're gone； and start hunting for us。 They can get Michaels to say we went to Whitewings； easily enough； but we aren't at Whitewings； and it'll be obvious we weren't。
Besides； that flitter beacon still operates。 If anyone checks the satellite logs …〃
〃He's right；〃 the stocky one said； this time with plete conviction。 〃They should've pulled out as soon as the flitter crashed there。 Someone was bound to e looking； it's a wonder they haven't before now。 There wasn't really a chance of catching the passengers …〃
〃A sporting chance；〃 the slender man said。 〃That's what our admiral likes； remember？ The more chance； the more challenge。 But if we can get out from under； while he takes the blame。。。 then that's a chance I like。〃 He gave George a smile that was anything but benign。 〃You do understand that we want to be free and clear？〃
〃Of course；〃 George said。 His father's son could not miss the undertones。 But it was a chance。 The slender man nodded at the stocky one。
〃Go check upstairs；〃 he said。 〃We don't want to run into the admiral； though he said he wouldn't be back until