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'Where is here ？' Keill asked。
'We are on … more correctly； within … an asteroid；' Talis said。 'A wandering piece of space debris； which appears on no star maps or charts of the spaceways。'
And he explained how he and the nameless others had constructed a secret base for themselves within the asteroid … with the most advanced laboratories； munications equipment and special protective devices that they could contrive。 It had been a long； slow process； for secrecy had to be absolute。 During the process； Talis said； all of his panions had disappeared from their home worlds； as undramatically as possible。 They had made sure that official records would show； if anyone inquired； that many of them had died； as old people will。 The rest of them would have seemed to have retired； fading away into obscurity and senility。
'We know that we cannot be traced here； or located；' Talis said。 'And we know that here we must stay； within our asteroid； and do everything in our power to counter the growing threat … that may one day soon endanger the very existence of the galaxy as we know it。'
Keill frowned dubiously。 'You'll pardon me if I find all this hard to take in。 What is this terrible threat？ And what is it all to do with me being here ？'
'Do not take it too lightly； Keill Randor。' The old voice was sombre。 'We are confronting an enemy of frightening power； and even more frightening intentions。 He is all humanity's enemy … but he is even more particularly your enemy。 For he is the one who murdered your world。'
Chapter six
Shock jolted Keill into a sitting position … but the movement drenched him with sweat again； and dizziness swept over him； blurring his vision。 He sagged back against the cushioned bed； and the hooded figure in the holo…image leaned forward anxiously。
'You must not over…tax yourself；' Talis said。 'I have spoken for too long； and I fear I have distressed you。 Now you must rest； and we will speak again when you are stronger。'
'No … wait。。。' Keill said weakly。 'I must know 。。。'
But the holo…image vanished as abruptly as it had appeared； and the room was silent once more。
Keill lay back； limp with the emotions that boiled within him； the desperate need to know more。 He might have tried to shout； even to get up； though his limbs felt as if they were made of water。 But a sound from one side diverted him。
Twisting his head around； he saw a section of the wall swing silently inwards； though there had been no sign of a door…seam。 Through the opening rolled a wheeled； upright cylindrical shape … a robot servitor； bearing a beaker upon its level upper surface。
It came to a stop beside the bed。 The beaker held a milky liquid； fragrant； steaming slightly。 Keill found that he was desperately thirsty。 He picked up the beaker； grimly forbidding his hand to shake； and drained the contents。 When the empty beaker was replaced； the servitor rolled away； and the wall closed as blank and seamless as before。
The drink had been bland； but flavoursome and warm。 It also seemed soothing； relaxing … and then Keill knew that it was certainly drugged； that again the numbness was invading his mind； quietening its turmoil； and he was drifting into sleep。
When he awoke again he felt as refreshed as before； and more of his strength seemed to have returned。 He was able to sit up without effort … though when he swung his legs off the bed and tried to stand； he found himself shaky； and was glad to sink back down on to the contoured padding。
But the room remained empty。 Keill tried shouting； calling Talis's name； demanding his return … but no image formed； no voice came。
Instead the robot servitor appeared； as before。 It bore another drink … a clear； cool liquid this time … and a bowl containing a gruel…like substance。 Keill tasted them suspiciously at first； but growing thirst and hunger drove him to empty the containers。 And this time there was no drug； only refreshment； pleasant tastes； and the restorative feeling of food in the stomach。
The robot's entrance had also coincided with the opening of another panel in the wall behind Keill； revealing a small shower…and…lavatory unit； as pact as the same facility on a spaceship。 He needed the support of the robot to make use of it； and fell back exhausted when he returned to the bed。 But it was another step ahead； another step towards the time when his strength would be returned and he could bee his own master again … and begin to find out what was really happening。
From then on； the undisturbed days continued … if they were days； for Keill had no way of measuring the passage of time within the blank…walled room。 He slept and woke； ate and drank； rested and thought … sorting through the questions and the doubts that swarmed within him。
He could not bring himself to accept what he had been told by the old man called Talis … because it seemed too improbable； and because too much had been left unexplained。 A group of aged scientists hiding themselves away so as to fight some nameless enemy？ The same enemy being the destroyer who had wiped out the Legions of Moros ？
The questions of 'who' and 'why' bulked too large； too unanswerable。 And he had been offered no evidence of any of it； save one holo…image of an old man keeping his face hidden。
He assembled what facts he had； testing their solidity。 He had just entered his ship； on Saltrenius； when someone … or something … had e behind him and felled him with a needier。 He was now in an empty room somewhere； tended by a robot。 He had gone through some prolonged physical ordeal； which had left him weakened … and which had seemed to require some highly sophisticated technology。 And he was free of pain。
Or was he ？ Was even that a true fact ？ Certainly there were drugs that could blot out even that much pain。 But he did not feel drugged … he was alert and clear…headed； despite his body's shakiness。
Then perhaps； as he had thought before； he was lying in a hospital somewhere； in the terminal stages of his illness； finishing out his life in delirium。
Did the hallucinations of delirium go on as long as these past events seemed to have ？ He did not know。 Would they be so detailed； in such an ordered routine； as his days now were in this room ？ He did not know。
The questions pursued themselves round in circles within his mind till he was weary of them。 In the end； he knew very little。 In time； perhaps； if Talis returned； or if other developments came along； he would learn more。
Meanwhile； his legionary discipline reasserted itself。 A man did not fret over situations he could not hope to alter。 A man did not waste energy gnawing at questions for which there seemed； as yet； no answers。 If it was necessary to wait； then a man must wait … calm； controlled； patient。
And he must keep himself ready at all times to act； instantly； when action became possible。
So Keill readied himself。 He began a programme of light exercises at regular intervals … routine ones that he had known from childhood。 As he grew stronger； he extended the work…outs； regaining more and more of his normal suppleness； agility and strength。 And he was aware that Talis； or someone； was keeping his progress under observation …