him before he came so close to his own that he'd have to activate
the conditioning. He preferred to meet death knowing who he was.

A sudden flashing movement of Joste's claws ripped the tough material
of the human's shirt to ribbons, exposing the soft undershirt. A
single claw took care of that, still without breaking thin human skin.
"Why did you here come?" Joste asked softly. "Now say, and yourself
much pain save. You no honor have to lose."

Now what the hell did he mean by that, Marguerre wondered. Not that it
really mattered, under the circumstances. "Forget it. I'm a Marine,
not a traitor." His muscles were tensed in anticipation, but it didn't
help much. He gasped and flinched anyway when the claws touched his
flesh, digging in and across, drawing blood.

Joste was fully aware of human frailty, and was being far gentler than
he cared to, but he was still startled at the amount of blood welling
from such shallow wounds. He would have to be even more careful; if he
weren't, this Marguerre might bleed to death before giving him the
information he needed. It might be best to use fists or slaps instead
of claws or teeth, at least for the most part, until the time came to
execute the man.

"Why?" he asked again.

"Go to hell," Marguerre snarled.

"We do not that belief hold," Joste said calmly. "And if either of us
to such a place going is, it will you be. I have never a female to her
death sent."

"And I have. So? Nobody forced them to join the Marines, or apply for
Special Forces. They knew what they were getting into. Every last one
of them's a volunteer."

Joste growled in disgust. The human must think him a fool, to expect
him to believe such nonsense! The only time a female fought was in
last-ditch defense of the clan, something that hadn't happened since
the clan wars almost four thousand years ago. "You lie, human."

Marguerre shrugged, awkwardly because of his bound hands, but said no
more. He'd already said more than he should have; he knew the best way
to avoid giving anything away by accident was to remain silent except
for the required identification information.

"Enough of that," Joste said. He'd not discuss females more with this
perverted filth. "Now you will me truth give. Why came you here?"

* * * * *

It was almost dark, and Joste was becoming discouraged. The man,
except for sounds of pain, had remained silent. He was sprawled on t