Part 9 (2/2)

As it was, he was now face down on the floor and Red was straddling him, holding him there. The pain in his stomach made him gasp. His face and the back of his neck ached terribly.

Red had his arm in the small of his back. Pell tried to struggle.

”I can break the arm if you move,” said Red cheerfully.

And then Pell felt the bite of the needle just below his shoulder.

A misty feeling came. He felt as though he were in a red whirlpool, spinning, going down--down.... He fought to rise. He could still hear.

He could hear footsteps and the slam of the door when somebody else came into the room. And then he seemed abruptly to be detached from his own body and floating in a huge gray void....

Words hammered at his brain. Larkin's voice, at his ear now and no longer metallic. ”_You will be loyal to the Supremist cause. You will do nothing against the Supremist doctrine. You will believe that Earthmen are meant to rule the Universe--_”

He felt an overpowering impulse to nod, to agree, to believe that it was right to do this. He fought this impulse, straining his mind and his very being until it seemed that something might burst with the effort.

”_You will work for the cause; you will give your life for it if necessary._”

Yes, perhaps it was better to succ.u.mb. The words were too strong. He couldn't fight them. Larkin was right, Earthmen were supreme, and they were destined to rule....

Somewhere in the depths a tiny spot of resistance still glowed. He tried desperately to evoke it. It seemed then that it became brighter. He _could_ resist--he _would_.... He kept thinking over and over again: ”_No, no, no!_”

Larkin's voice said, ”Carry him in the other room. He'll come to in a moment.”

He came to slowly, and he saw that he was lying on a couch and that several people were gathered around him smiling down at him. Something detached itself from the group, knelt by his side. He blinked. It was Ciel. Her golden hair shone and her dark eyes searched his face and she was smiling. ”h.e.l.lo, darling,” she said.

”h.e.l.lo, Ciel.” He kissed her, and then sat up on the couch and looked around.

Larkin and Dr. Nebel were standing together, and Red and Baldy were a few steps behind them, still looking indifferent.

”Now you're one of us, d.i.c.k,” said Larkin, flas.h.i.+ng his professional smile, dimples and everything. Pell rose. Nebel held his hands behind his back and beamed, blinking his heavy reptilian eyelids and Larkin stepped forward and held out his hand.

”Yes,” said Pell, shaking the hand, ”I guess we're all working for the same thing now. What do you want me to do?”

Larkin laughed. ”Nothing right away. We'll give you instructions when the time comes. I think you might as well go home with Ciel now; I have a copter and a chauffeur outside that'll take you to the station near your apartment.”

”Okay, Chief, whatever you say.” He smiled and took Ciel's arm. He started toward the door. Then he stopped, patted his chest and said, ”Oh--my freezer. I guess the boys took it away....”

Larkin turned to Baldy. ”Give him his weapon.”

Baldy took the freezer from his pocket and casually tossed it to Pell.

A sudden change came over Pell, then. His smile disappeared. He stepped quickly away from Ciel, whirled and faced all of them. He pointed the freezer. ”All right, everybody stay perfectly still--you, too, Ciel.

This is where we break up your little Supremist nightmare.”

Larkin stared in utter amazement. Nebel's turtle lids opened wide. Ciel brought her hand to her throat.

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