Storm shrugged. The Sediphron warriors in the room stiffened
expectantly.
The hideous crablike mouth worked. "Imperial orders of Zuggoth, first
in command over Kulaav, land of the Sediphrons! All the males of the
_Vandar III_ shall be immediately put to death, and stored in the cargo
rooms, along with the female warriors who have been killed in battle.
These we shall use for food on our journey back to Syrrvi. The unharmed
females shall be divided among you, according to rank, and placed in
your harem. All but these two--" His huge claw lifted to indicate Gena
and Ardiné. "They are reserved for the First One!"
A low, satisfied beat of sound came from the attentive warriors.
"The machinery of the _Vandar III_ shall be immediately repaired for
our triumphant return to Kulaav. These two strange males, natives
of Earth, I personally wish to dissect in the laboratory. Important
information concerning future forays in greater force to this green
planet may be obtained in this manner."
The huge claw waved imperiously. "I, Zuggoth, first in command, have
spoken."
For a moment there was silence. In that stillness Hammond's desperate
gaze sought Storm's. Death, so casually pronounced, death on the
dissecting table. It was monstrous.
It was Storm who moved first. He took a quick sidestep, and swung,
without preamble. His still taped, solid fist crushed through the green
chitinous armor of the nearest guard's face. Then he was whirling,
striking again, and Hammond was joining him, lashing at the nearest
guard, trying to slash a path to Zuggoth, first in command.
It was a bitter battle while it lasted. Hammond nearly made it. He
saw Zuggoth rear back in alarm, half lift his electronic rifle--Then
a clubbed weapon sank the fighting chemist to his knees, and a moment
later he was smothered under a pile of bodies.
Chains were shackled about his wrists and ankles. He was jerked erect
to face Zuggoth, who had relaxed again in his chair. The ball-like eyes
of the Sediphron king glared at him.
"Take them to the dissecting rooms at once!" he ordered. "There shall I
cut the wild life from them, slowly, with much pain!"
Hammond shook the hair from his eyes and met Storm's battered grin with
one of his own. Then his gaze sought Gena's.
The girl's face was white, her lips trembling. Her thoughts reached
him, heavy with regret. "Goodbye, Earthman!"
The chemist's lips went grim. "Goodbye, Gena," he answered. Then a
Sediphron guard shoved him roughly toward the door, after Storm.
* * * * *
The dissecting room was high-walled, white, full of strange apparatus
that only vaguely resembled similar machines of Earth. There was
the Martian fluoroscope with which Storm and Hammond were minutely
examined, and notes taken on a Martian "talkie"--evidently a highly
advanced type camera with sound track arrangement which recorded that
revealed by the fluoroscope and the comments of the observer.
The fluoroscope was a vast improvement over the earth type. Hammond,
watching Storm being examined with it, saw that any part of his
companion's internal anatomy could be brought into sharp focus on the
screen. Heart, lungs, bone structure, arteries. Each was minutely
examined, probed into--the while the Martian "talkie" hummed softly.
A number of strange drugs were needled into them as they stood behind
the fluoroscope. Drugs that burned like fire, contorting their bodies
with convulsions, and which were immediately eased by the introduction
of a neutralizing drug. Others that paralyzed motor nerves, and
that deadened the sensory cells. All was recorded by the laboratory
scientists.
Finally, Hammond and Storm were strapped on the dissecting tables. A
blinding, white light beat down on their almost naked bodies.
Zuggoth came into the laboratory then. For a few moments he and the
laboratory scientists held a consultation. Hammond, craning his neck,
could see the Sediphron king's crablike mouth work, see the ball-like
eyes wave on the end of their stalks.
The Martian "talkie" was run for him, the picture sequences thrown
against a special screen that held the scenes clear without the dimming
of the bright laboratory lights. Zuggoth watched attentively, only his
revolting eyes swaying.
Then he waved his huge claw. The "talkie" was shut off. Huge, hideous,
he walked to the dissecting tables. A smaller table, holding a gleaming
array of scalpels and cutting instruments of all types was wheeled to
his side.
[Illustration: _Zuggoth turned to Hammond. His dwarfed right hand,
humanlike, with tiny fingers, picked up a glittering knife._]
He turned to Hammond. His dwarfed right hand, humanlike, with tiny
fingers, picked up a knife.
* * * * *
At that moment a hidden bell began to clang incessantly. Zuggoth
paused, half turned. The laboratory assistants fidgeted. One of them
said: "It is the alarm signal, First One. Something has happened in the
ship!"
Zuggoth hesitated. Then he flung the knife down on the small table.
"Keep guard over the Earthians, Cuzzvi," he snapped to the head
scientist. "I will see what's causing the trouble!"
Hammond's tightened muscles relaxed: the sweat on his forehead felt
cool. Unexpectedly, he had been given a breathing spell. But for how
long?
Instinctively he tested the flexible, silken straps that held him to
the table. They did not give, though his muscles bunched and strained.
There was a silken thong about his neck, holding his head down. He
turned his head, slowly, till he faced Storm.
"Looks like our friend Zuggoth never heard of an anesthetic," he
muttered, with an attempt at casualness he did not feel. "Funny thing,
Pete, it still doesn't seem real. All this, I mean. Just a few hours
ago we were in a skiff, fishing for blues. Now--"