He seems not to know me any longer, perhaps not
to know himself."

"As one who has lost all memory?" the older guard asked.

"I think . . . not lost," Joste said slowly. "He told me he knew what
he was doing, and I believe him."

"What, then?"

"I cannot be sure yet . . . but he fought me as well as he was able,
though he must have known he had no way to win, and I denied him the
escape of death. Had he lacked honor as I thought, he would have
spoken in an effort to live--but he did not." Joste hesitated. He had
underestimated the man; perhaps Marguerre had spoken the truth earlier.
Perhaps he had truly felt no dishonor in leading females into combat--a
thing that was difficult to believe, but so was his sudden change from
a defiant Marine to a sobbing . . . what? "Not lost," Joste repeated
thoughtfully. "Far worse, if what I begin to suspect is true. It
would appear that he destroyed his mind rather than betray his people."

"Not even a human would go that far!" Sedni exclaimed, his voice
shaken.

"I would prefer a more acceptable idea myself," Joste said. Death came
to everyone, soon or late; in the long run, it was unavoidable, and at
times a self-inflicted death was the only way to preserve honor--far
preferable to the alternative of living dishonored. The idea of
someone destroying his own mind, though--even for the same purpose--was
one that made the Traiti interrogator recoil. Still, at this point it
was only a possibility, not a certainty. Joste glanced at the human
again, then began giving orders. "Chorvak, call the hospital and tell
them I'm bringing in an emergency patient. And find out if either of
the females survived and is able to talk. Sedni, go to Communications
and have them stand by for a possible priority call to N'chark clanhome
on Norvis. I may need to talk to Ka'ruchaya Jarna."

Both saluted, and Sedni left while Chorvak went to Joste's desk to make
the call. The interrogator left as well, carrying the sleeping human.

Within minutes he had covered the short distance to the hospital and
was putting the mangled man on an emergency surgical table. Marguerre
seemed to partially awaken when Joste put him down, whimpering softly
until the duty surgeon gave him a sedative.

"What's wrong with him?" the surgeon asked. "Aside from the obvious, I
mean."

"I am not certain," Joste told him. "I am not even sure I really want
to know, but I must check. Give him support treatmen