The Secret of ZI ? Beyond the Vanishing Point by Kenneth Bulmer & Ray Cummings

Author:Kenneth Bulmer & Ray Cummings
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

As SOON AS the regal alien had left, the double doors whooshing together behind him, the two remaining Shangs began a rapid conversation, speaking Alishang. Clinton caught disconnected fragments.

. . . seems to think the job’s easy . . . deep down . . . mind will probably—no, certainly—give way . .

The other voice, from the thickset alien. “You’ll have to do it, and hang the Earthman’s mind. You heard what His Excellency Targanna said . . . must be important. . .

"No good here . . . equipment for primary study only."

They moved towards the door. Clinton strained to hear more and heard only, “Shift him as soon as we can.”

The doors whooshed together again. Clinton carried out a perfunctory check of his leather bonds, and realized that he would not break out of them. These aliens were no TV villains, who invariably tie-up heroes carelessly. Clinton was tied-up, and tied-up he would remain until someone untied him. He lay back, made himself comfortable, and tried to plan what he would do when he was released.

The stasis field that had held him paralyzed was brought into operation again. Standing on feet he did not know he possessed, with the portable field generated from the metal- boxed contraption running on rubber wheels, he was placed on the platform and wheeled, stiff as a board, through the doorway. They unloaded him, and, as soon as the power cut, when he staggered and would have fallen, they led him the last few steps into the waiting car. There must have been some inkling of his purpose, perhaps the overriding rhythm of his brain picked up by the Shangs. They had given him no chance at all to kill himself, or to do anything silly and force them to shoot him.

The car started with a scattering of loose gravel from its tires, and Clinton had the feeling of dream sequences being repeated. There was even the same glimpse of a second car following.

He sat in the back, between two guards, the leather bands gone from his ankles and only loosely connected between his wrists. The aliens evidently understood the problems of blood circulation. The car debouched onto the highway, picked up speed, and headed straight into the dawn.

Dawn! Clinton was alive enough to feel surprise. Then his hunger came back and woke him up even more, so that, when the car halted and a quick conversation ensued between the driver and another Shang outside, he leaned forward. He was thrust back. Immediately thereafter, the rear doors opened. The Shang on his right pulled down the two folding seats facing the rear and a girl was forcibly helped in. She bent her head entering, and was curtly told to sit on the far folding seat. There was an unexpected air of strain in the air; the Shangs spoke sharply, as though unsettled. Clinton did not look at the girl.

When the second girl was likewise thrust in and abruptly ordered to sit on the

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