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med it shut； locked it。 The thick panel shook as heavy bodies thudded against the other side。
〃Got you！〃 a victorious voice shouted and rough hands grabbed me。 He could not know by touch that I was a Black Belt？ He found out the hard way。
Eyes closed； breathing easily； he just lay there and made no protest as I stripped him of uniform and weapons。 Nor did he thank me when I draped my burlap robe over his pale form； hiding his black lace undies from prying eyes。 His clothes were not too bad a fit。 Not too good either with the cap tilting forward over my eyes。 But it would have to do。
There were three doors leading from this room。 The one that I had locked was pounding and bouncing in its frame： next to it was the one that we had e in through。 It didn't take much intelligence to use the unconscious guard's keys to open the third one。
It led to a storage room。 Dark shelves； filled with nameless objects； vanished away into the distance。 Not too promising but I was in no position to choose。 I executed a quick leap back to the entrance door； unlocked it and threw it open； then dived ahead into the storage room。 As I closed this final door behind me； even before I could lock it； there was a mighty crash and screams of anger as the assaultees finally broke the door down。
Misdirection wouldn't last long。 Run past the shelves。 Hide here？ No…there would be a thorough search。 A door at the far end； bolted on the inside。 I opened it a crack and looked at the empty room beyond。 Opened and stepped through。
And stopped quite still as the guards who were flattened against the wall all pointed guns at me。
〃Shoot him！〃 Colonel Neuredan ordered。
〃I'm unarmed！〃 My gun slid across the floor as I threw my hands into the air。 Fingers quivered on triggers…it was all over。
〃Don't shoot…I want him alive。 For the moment。〃
I stood frozen； not breathing until the trigger fingers relaxed。 Looked up and quickly found the security bug in the ceiling。 Must be one in every room and corridor down here。 They had been watching me all the time。 A good try； Jim。 The Colonel grated his teeth horribly and stabbed a finger in my direction。
〃Take him。 Chain him。 Bind him。 Bring him。〃
This was all done with ruthless efficiency。 My toes dragged along the floor as I was whisked back to the cell； stripped at gunpoint； thrown to the floor with my black robe thrown on top of me。 The door clanged shut and I was alone。 Very much alone。
〃Cheer up； Jim； you've been in worse trouble before；〃 I chirped smilingly。 Then snarled； 〃When？〃
Back in the pits again。 My abortive attempt at escape had only gained me a few bruises。
〃This can't be it！〃 I shouted。 〃It can't all end just like this。〃
〃It can…and it will；〃 the Colonel's funereal voice intoned as the cell door opened again。 A dozen guns were pointed at me as a guard brought in a tray with a bottle of champagne on it and a single glass。
I watched in stupefied disbelief as he twisted the cork out。 There was a pop and a gush as the golden fluid filled the glass。 He handed it to me。
〃What's this； what's this？〃 I mumbled； staring wide…eyed at the rising bubbles。
〃Your last request；〃 Neuredan said。 〃That and a cigarette。〃
He took one from a package and lit it； holding it out to me。 I shook my head。 〃I don't smoke。〃 He ground the cigarette under his heel。 〃Anyway…champagne and a cigarette that's not my last request。〃
〃Yes it is。 Forms of last request are standardized by law。 Drink。〃
I drank。 It tasted all right。 I belched and handed back the glass。 〃I'll take a refill。〃 Anything to gain time； to think。 I watched the wine being poured and my brain was dull and empty。 〃You never told me about the 。 。 。 execution。〃
〃Do you want to know？〃
〃Not really。〃
〃Then I will be pleased to tell you。 I assure you that there was extensive deliberation over the correct method to be used。 Thought was given to the firing squad； electrocution； poison gas…a number of possibilities were actively considered when the law was passed。 But all of them involve someone pulling a switch or a trigger； and that would not be humane to the someone。〃
〃Humane！ What about the prisoner？〃
〃Of no importance。 Your death has been decreed and will take place as soon as possible。 This is what will happen。 You will be taken to a sealed chamber and chained there。 The entrance will be locked。 After this the chamber will be flooded with water by an automatic device actuated by your body heat。 It is always there； always turned on。 You alone will be responsible for your own execution。 Now isn't that quite humane？〃
〃Drowning is humane all of a sudden？〃
〃Possibly not。 But you will be left a pistol containing a single bullet。 You can mit suicide if you wish to。〃
I opened my mouth to tell him what I thought of their humanity； but I was seized by many hands and dragged forward before I could speak。 The glass was whisked away…and so was I。 Deep down to a dank chamber； walls damp with water and covered with moss。 A cuff was clamped around my ankle； a chain ran from it to a staple in the wall。 They all exited except for the Colonel who stood with his hand on the operating lever of the thick； undoubtedly watertight； door。
He grinned in victorious triumph； bent over and placed an antique pistol on the floor。 As I dived for it the door shut and sealed with a final thud。
Was this really the end？ I turned the pistol over in my hands； saw the dull shape of the single cartridge。 End of Jim diGriz； end of the Stainless Steel Rat； end of everything。
There was the distant thank of a valve opening and cold water gushed down on me from a thick pipe in the ceiling。 It gurgled and slopped； covering my feet； then quickly up to my ankles。 When it reached my waist I lifted the gun and looked at it。 Not much of a choice。 The water rose steadily。 Covered my chest； up to my chin。 I shuddered。
Then the water stopped splashing down。 It was cold and I was shivering uncontrollably。 The light in the waterproof fixture revealed only stone wall； dark water。
〃What are you playing at bastardacoj？〃 I shouted； 〃Humane torture to go with your humane murder？〃
A moment later I got my answer。 The level began to drop。
〃I was right…torturers！〃 I bellowed。 〃Torture first…then murder。 And you call yourself civilized。 Why are you doing this？〃
The last of the water gurgled down the drain and the door slowly opened。 I aimed the pistol at it。 I wouldn't mind drowning if I could take the cretinous colonel or the sadistic sergeant with me。
Something dark appeared through the partly open door。 The gun banged and the bullet thudded into it。 A briefcase。
〃Cease fire！〃 a male voice called out。 〃I am your lawyer。〃
〃He only has one bullet； you're safe；〃 I heard the Colonel gay。
The briefcase came hesitantly into the room； carried by a grayhaired man who was wearing the traditional gold…flecked and diamond decorated black suit that adorned lawyers throughout the galaxy。
〃I am your court…appointed lawyer； Pederasis Narcoses。〃
〃What good will you do me…if the trial will be after my execution？〃
〃None。 But that is the law。 I will have to interview you now to enable me to conduct your defense at the trial。〃
〃This is madn