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the corridor； so that even Keill could not hope to turn and lunge at both together。 So he went without argument； using his chance to examine what he could see of the layout of the dome。
It seemed to follow the basic； standard shape of most space…domes。 It was ovoid； and on two levels。 The upper one would normally be a hemisphere of metal and plastic； topped with a broad lens…like circle of plastiglass and used primarily for observation； munication and the like。 So Keill knew from the flat； blank ceiling that he must be on the lower level。
Most space…domes had one wide corridor running round the circumference of the lower level； just inside the tough outer hull。 That main corridor would surround all the various functioning sections of the dome … like workrooms and laboratories； sleeping quarters； munal eating and recreation areas … along with the usual life…support systems； storage rooms and so on。 And these would be connected by narrower passages that would each join up at some point with the main outer corridor。
So it seemed to be； in this case。 The passage they had entered from the cubicle led to a broad； curving corridor as Keill had expected。 A quick glance over his shoulder arid he had exactly what he needed for his bearings … because he had glimpsed； behind them； the broad and heavy hatchway of an airlock。 That had to be the dome's entrance … almost certainly its only one。
They moved along the main corridor； then soon turned down another of the narrow connecting passages。 There the two armed men had to walk nearly shoulder to shoulder； but even so it would have been insanely risky for Keill to turn on them。 Anyway； there was too much he still wanted to find out … and； he hoped； there might be better chances for escape later。
In a moment they came to a doorway opening off the passage； and the two urged Keill through it。 It might once have been a laboratory； when the dome was serving its original purpose of scientific research。 Now it was disused and empty； except for a low； heavy metal platform； which had once probably held an assortment of machinery and equipment。
Now； apparently； it was to hold Keill Randor。
'Get on there；' Jiker snarled； with a gesture of the jangler。 'On y'r back。'
Keill did as he was told； calmly； though he could guess what was to e。 But Rish was holding the beam…gun aimed unerringly at Keill's head； and looked only too ready to use it。
Jiker stooped and took several metal bands and clamps from beneath the platform； obviously well prepared beforehand for their purpose。 He fastened the bands tightly across Keill； clamping him to the bare metal surface so that he was immobilized … held by wrists and ankles； and by bands across chest and thighs。
'Now；' Jiker said； licking thin lips； 'think about them questions the boss asked y'。'
He raised the jangler and pressed the stud。
The agony flooded in。 It was as if every nerve…end was being dragged forcibly from its place； to be dipped in acid and hacked at by a saw…toothed blade。 Keill's body contorted； convulsed； threshing within the confines of the bands that held him … and blood streamed from his lip where he had sunk his teeth in to keep from screaming。
Then； instantly； the pain was gone。 Breathing heavily； he licked his torn lip and glared with hatred at the grinning face of Jiker。
'Nice； was it ？ Anythin' t' say yet ？'
Wordless； Keill looked away。
'Right； take as long as y' like。 Plenty more where that came from。'
Jiker raised his gun again； glee in his eyes。
And again the murderous pain。
And again 。。。 And again。。。
After what may have been the sixth time； or the tenth … Keill could no longer be sure … he became aware that the giant had entered the room。 For a time there was a pause while Thr'un consulted with his men； and Keill could assess his damage。
His body ached with bruising where the convulsions had thrust him against the metal bands。 His lip was swollen and throbbing。 And his head seemed to have bee a size larger； so ferocious was the ache that filled it。 But； tentatively moving his neck and as much of the rest of himself as he could； he knew that he still had mand of his body； that he was not seriously injured。
Then the giant loomed over him。
'You seem determined to suffer；' said the melodious bass voice。 'As I would have expected。 Are you any closer to telling me what I wish to know ？'
Keill neither spoke nor looked at him。
'Also as I would have expected；' Thr'un said with an exaggerated sigh。 'The Legions made their men little more than robots； blindly following the demands of their masters。' ；
An odd emphasis in the words gave Keill the glimmer of an idea。 Finding what was left of his voice； he croaked； 'Do you not follow your masters ？'
Thr'un took the bait。 'My Master；' he began； 'does not require me。。。'
He stopped abruptly； glowering down at Keill。 'Very crafty； legionary。' The voice rumbled deep and deadly。 'You have been trying hard； have you not； to learn what you can。 But you have learned nothing。 And even if I were able to reveal to you the name and whereabouts of the Master； you would not live long enough to make use of that knowledge。'
Keill ignored the death threat； his mind grasping and examining the rest of the speech。 A 'Master' ？ Who set up this trap on Creffa； and also sent the men on sweeps near Moros； as Jiker had said？ Who seemed to give his minions something of a free hand ？ And whose name and whereabouts Thr'un was not 'able' to reveal ？
It was all beginning to sound like something he had heard before。
He tried to focus his mind； to contact Glr and pass on what he had learned。 Perhaps the little alien could make more sense out of these vague hints。 Or perhaps the Overseers 。。。
But then the giant was speaking again； distracting him。 'You may now decide； Randor。 Tell me of these other survivors； and you have a chance to keep your useless life。 Stay silent； and you will die； now； in a most unpleasant manner。'
Keill smiled coldly。 'As far as I know； there are no others。 I have met none； I have heard of none。'
'Lies！' boomed the giant； and gestured to Jiker。 The thin man hurried forward； grinning。
While Rish kept his beam…gun steadily on Keill； Jiker removed two of the bonds … those across his body … leaving him clamped only by his wrists and ankles。
'As you know；' Thr'un said malevolently； 'janglers do not themselves kill。 But you will also know that the convulsions they cause can be very severe。 A man who might happen to be held by hands and feet might suffer a great deal of damage。 He is likely to bend himself almost in two … and his neck or his spine will snap as if they were glass。'
Keill said nothing； still striving to gather his concentration； to reach Glr。
'Have you an answer now to my question？' Thr'un bellowed。
But Keill ignored him； for the voice of Glr had slid into his mind。
Keill； if you are projecting； I cannot fix on it。 It is too muzzy。 Try harder … because there is trouble。 I sense two humans moving nearby； probably searching for the ship。 ；
As expected； Keill thought； the giant had sent men out to look for their captive's ship。 With a supreme effort； he gathered his thought。 'Glr； take off