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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 at once； and stay in space on the dark side。 If you hear nothing more from me； tell the Overseers that I。。。'
But he was unable to continue the message； for Thr'un was bellowing again； drawing his attention。
'As you wish； legionary！ If there are others； some will no doubt visit me soon。 They may prove more co…operative。 I have no more use for you！' He turned to Jiker。 'Go ahead。〃
Jiker began his high…pitched titter as he took aim。 Then the jangler flared。
As before； Keill's body twisted； writhed； flexed … and now arched high off the metal surface。 Arched in an impossible curve； jerking and threshing； only his arms and his feet held still。
Then there was a sickening； grinding crack。
Jiker released the firing stud； and Keill's body slumped down； limp and motionless。
Chapter twelve
The intense； crushing pain that continued within his body proved； to Keill's half…conscious surprise； that he was still alive。 It also told him that he would probably not live for much longer。
The pain clawed at every segment of his body。 Each muscle and joint was in torment； but most of all his neck and lower back。 He had clearly broken his spine； as Thr'un had indicated。 Perhaps his spinal cord still held； temporarily； but he would not have long before it too gave way。 He would probably be dead even before Thr'un or his men got round to finishing him off。
He felt no fear； no self…pity … just an edge of regret that he had achieved so little against Thr'un and his false legionaries。 But at least he had gathered a few hints； which he still had to pass on to Glr。 He fought with the haze in his mind； fought to focus his thoughts； to make contact again with the alien。 But the pain； and voices dimly heard； intruded。 One of the voices was Thr'un's； from some distance away … as if the giant had turned to leave； after Keill's collapse； and was issuing orders from the doorway。
'。 。 。 won't have survived that；' the deep bass voice was saying。 'Strip off the uniform for one of the other men to use。'
'Whatd' we do with th' body ？' Jiker's thin voice。
'Put it in the airlock； and some of the others can take it to the ship。 We'll throw it out when we next visit the planet； and let it burn in atmosphere。'
Jiker began to say something else； but Keill didn't hear … for Glr was in his mind； fear and worry plain in the inner voice。
Keill clutched at his concentration； and in pain…filled bursts of thought； told Glr what had happened。
In the midst of the anxiety pouring from Glr's mind； he heard … astonishingly … the rise of the alien's silent laughter。
Keill； you are a hardhead！ Glr cried。 Clinging to your doubts still …even to convince yourself that you're dying！
Clearly； Keill thought； he had not managed to project properly； and Glr had misunderstood。 He began to try again； but the alien interrupted。
No； I received you properly。 Don't you see？ Talis told you the simple truth。 Nothing those men could do could break so much as your little finger！
The hope that ballooned up within Keill was instantly crushed by disbelief。 The agony in his back was very real。。。
Of course it is！ Glr replied。 The weapon put every muscle and tendon under terrible stress … that is what hurts！ But nothing is broken！ Nothing can be！
Hope seeped back； determined。 The pain from aching ligaments ？ The terrible cracking sound merely from joints shifting under the strain； as a man can crack his knuckles without damage ？
He tried tentatively to move his body； half…expecting that he might be paralysed。 But it moved … torso shifting； knees rising。 As he moved； the pain flared； then eased； slightly。 And hope burst forth undiminished。
It seemed to be true！ He was probably suffering only from a ferocious stretching and twisting。 And a lifetime of gruelling Legion exercises； which were focused on stretching and twisting； had made his body supple beyond most people's imaginings。 He had very likely pulled a muscle or two； strained ligaments … but he was intact； he was functional。 It might hurt； but his body would do his bidding。
By then it was time for it to do so。 The whole exchange with Glr； at the incalculable speed of thought； had taken place while Jiker and Rish were turning back towards him from the door。 The giant Thr'un had presumably left the room。 And his two men； only glancing at Keill who was again lying as limp as he could； began at once to release the clamps that held him to the metal platform。
Then Jiker's sharp eyes registered the faint movement of Keill's chest； with his breathing。
'Sunfires；' Jiker gasped； 'he's still alive！'
Keill remained motionless； and made his breath rasp in his throat。
'Not f'r long； I reckon；' Rish grunted。 'Give him another burst。'
Keill sent out a sharp mental call。 'Glr； e in now； quickly； and over fly the dome； as low as you can。'
I hear and obey； came the laughing reply。
Jiker was taking a tentative step forward。 'Can't be faking …not after what we gave him。 Must be a lot stronger 'n he looks。'
Keill made his chest heave； gave a choking rattle in his throat； then sagged； not breathing。
Jiker took another stride forward； and bent over him； listening。
And with the howling； throbbing roar of a thousand devils； Keill's spaceship thundered past overhead； no more than a man's height from the upper surface of the dome。
Both men jerked their heads up； gaping fearfully。
And Keill reached； grasped Jiker's tunic； shifted his hips for leverage； and flung the skinny man into Rish's face。
Every muscle of his back shrieked its displeasure； but it was an entirely bearable pain。 He swung round and came to his feet； just as Rish； face contorted with anger； also scrambled upright。 Both men had dropped their guns as they sprawled； but Rish was too enraged to think about weapons。 He lowered his head like a bull； and charged。
Keill swayed aside； grasped and jerked at a meaty shoulder so that the charge became a headlong plunge。
The impact of Rish's forehead on the corner of the metal platform echoed dully in the room。 The heavy man sagged to the floor； his face a mask of blood； an indentation showing where a segment of his skull had been crushed back into his brain。
Keill did not glance at the corpse； for Jiker was scrabbling across the floor towards one of the guns。 Keill sprang to intercept him … grasping him by the belt and hurling him across the room； where he bounced from the wall and lay huddled。 Then Keill scooped up both the jangler and his own energy…gun。
'Now it's your turn to do a little dance；' he growled。
Jiker was jibbering with fear。 'How 。 。 。 how c'n you be alive？'
'Worry about your own life；' Keill said。 'The other men …where will they be ？'
'Dunno；' Jiker gabbled。 'Canteen； maybe … no！' His voice rose thinly as Keill aimed the jangler at him。 'They'll be suitin' up … to go out an' see what that was just went by！'
Keill flung out a mental message。 'Glr； circle back and disable their ship。 Then bring the ship down and fire a blast or two just in front of the dome's entrance。'
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