“Hosato?”

He turned, to find James at his side.

“I had to do it,” the boy mumbled. “He was going to kill you.”

Hosato seized the boy’s shoulders in an iron grip and shook him. “You said you wanted to come with me, James. Remember?”

“Yes, but—”

“Well, this is what I do. I kill people. We may have to kill some more before we get out of here. If we don’t, they’ll kill us. I’m not saying you should like it, but accept it. Accept it now, or when the next time comes, you’ll hesitate and we’ll all be dead.”

The boy’s eyes cleared. “I’ll be all right,” he said levelly.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.” His voice was surer now.

“Good. Then fetch my throwing spike. It’s in the guard’s forehead over there.”

It was a brutal thing to do, and Hosato watched the boy covertly as he went about his assignment. The boy was a bit wooden-limbed, but his hands shoot only slightly as he withdrew the weapon from the corpse’s skull.

“I’ve got your answer, Hosato,” Rick called. “Sasha is in the room directly below us. The stairs are across the hall.”

“Here’s your spike,” James said, passing him the weapon.

Hosato took it absently and tucked it in his belt.

“Shall I kill him?” Rick asked, jerking his head at Gedge.

“No. Hang on to him. He’s our hostage for now.”

“Okay, you’re the boss. Where do we go from here?”

“I go after Sasha,” Hosato corrected. “You try to find if one of these uniforms comes close to fitting you. James,”—. Hosato pressed a blaster into the boy’s hand —“watch the door. If anybody but me or Sasha comes through it, kill 'em. And keep an eye on our friend there.”

Their eyes met; then the boy smiled and nodded.

There was no one in sight as Hosato ghosted across the corridor and down the stairs. Likewise, there was no one in the lower corridor, not even a guard.

His suspicions aroused, he crossed the corridor in one long stride and hurtled himself against the door. It flew open with surprising ease, and he fell headlong into a dark room. As he hit the floor, he realized what a beautiful target he made silhouetted against the open door, and rolled sideways into the shadows.

“Hosato?” came a cautious call.

“Sasha?” he answered.

There was a soft shuffle of movement, and the door closed behind him. A moment later the lights came on, flooding the scene in the room with their harsh brilliance.

“Til say one thing for you, Hosato. You never miss a chance to make a big entrance.”

Sasha was standing there, a blaster gripped loosely in her left hand. Aside from her disheveled appearance, she seemed unharmed.

“Are you all right?” Hosato asked, rolling to his feet.

“Sure,” she replied easily. “Nothing like the smell of truth serum to clear away the cobwebs. Luckily they didn’t seem to think I was dangerous enough, to strap down.” She gestured at the two crumpled and bloody forms on the floor.

Hosato whistled in silent appreciation.

“It looks like they were wrong in the worst way. How did you do it?”

“With my trusty desk lamp,” Sasha replied modestly, pointing at the implement. “You know, they ought to outlaw those things. They’re dangerous.”

“I meant, how did you do it at all?”

Sasha shot an annoyed glance at him. “By taking the one with the blaster first. After that, the other one was easy. I’m surprised you didn’t know that, Hosato.”

“As a matter of fact, I am familiar with that tactic,” Hosato retorted. “But when I do it, it’s neater.”

Sasha shook her head and held up her blaster. “Okay, Hosato. If we’re done rattling our sabers at each other, maybe we can get a few basic questions answered. For one, where the hell are we. Last thing I remember, I was fighting robots at the main corridor, then I wake up here with Dr. Frankenstein there about to shoot a load of goop into me.”

Hosato' shook his head. “Mc. Crae isn’t anymore. The robots overran the place and killed everybody.”

“Everybody?”

“Everybody except you, me, Rick Handel, and James. We were in the sand-crawler bay when they made their big push out, or we wouldn’t have gotten out either.”

Sasha whistled. “I guess I shouldn’t gripe about losing an arm, then. How about what’s-her-name Suzi. Your little robot. Did she—?”

“Got chopped up by an ore scout on our way here.”

“That’s too bad. Wait a minute, Hosato 'On our way here'. Are you trying to tell me we’re at…?”

She shot another glance at the uniform on the fallen guard.

“at Ravensteel,” Hosato finished for her. “It was our only chance. I thought they might help us.”

“You’re nuts, Hosato. I’d rather take my chances with the robots. Ravensteel. God protect me from innocents.”

“I’ve managed to figure it out all by myself,”

Hosato commented grimly. “Anyway, that brings us up to the present. We’re trying to bust out of here before they have another chance to lavish some of their Ravensteel hospitality on us.”

“Now you’re talking. Where are the others?”

“Upstairs in the room above this one. I suggest it’s time to regroup our forces and plan our next move.”

“You know, Hosato,” Sasha said, “sometimes you show a positive brilliance for tactics. Let’s go. Oh, one more thing.”

She wiggled her stump at him.

“They gave me some kind of stimulant to counteract the shock before they went to the truth serum. Right now I’m pillow-walking, and I don’t know how long it will last or how I’ll react to this arm once it wears off, so keep an eye on me, okay?”

Hosato nodded his understanding.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

They were halfway up the stairs when they heard the blaster fire from above.

Hosato bounded the rest of the way up the stairs, Sasha trailing close behind. After the initial burst of fire, the sounds from above had ceased. Weapon at the ready, Hosato slowed his pace and peered ahead at the landing.

The door to Gedge’s office was open, and he could make out the smoldering form of a security guard lying in the doorway. He shot a quick glance up and down the corridor to be sure the coast was clear, then called ahead softly, “It’s Hosato and Sasha. We’re coming in. Hold your fire.”

“All clear,” James’s voice came in reply.

Hosato beckoned to Sasha, and she darted across the corridor ahead of him into the office. He followed, pausing to stoop and catch the fallen guard by an armpit, dragging him inside.

“Okay,” he said, shutting the door and turning to the assembled group. “Now we…”

He stopped suddenly as another uniformed guard appeared in the door to the adjoining room. His blaster was halfway up before he realized it was Rick.

“Hold it, Hosato!” the mechanic called, raising his hands as if to ward off an attack. “It’s me.”

“Right,” Hosato breathed, relaxing his limbs. “Sorry. For a minute I forgot.”

“I was going to ask you if you thought I could pass inspection.” His friend laughed shakily. “I think you’ve already answered the question.”

A shrill beeping from the desk-robot interrupted their tableau.

Motioning the others to silence, Hosato moved to the desk. Taking a deep breath for relaxation, he depressed the button next to the flashing light.

“Yea?” he said into the speaker in a brisk imitation of Gedge’s voice.

“Everything all right there, chief?” came a worried voice.

“Of course,” Hosato barked back. “Why shouldn’t it be?”

“We heard blaster fire and thought there might be trouble. Just checking to see if you needed a hand.”

“One of our guests tried to go for a walk,” Hosato answered jauntily. “But when the day comes I can’t handle a motley bunch like this, you can have my job.”

“It’s a deal.” The voice laughed. “But Sammy won’t like it.”

“That’s Sammy’s problem,” Hosato retorted with the same joviality. “And you can tell him I said so.”