us looking specimens, aren't they?"

Talbott wore a sneer. "Quite. The priests will have a lot of fun with
the scaly creature. I understand they're already discussing him--eager
to get their hands on him."

Mike's rage tore at his own throat. He strove for control of his
voice. "What have you swine done with Doree?"

A look of disappointment came on Talbott's face. "I wanted her
for--for other things, but I wasn't able to handle it. So she comes in
here like the rest."

"You mean they're going to throw her into that--?" the question was
from Nicko as every scale on his body quivered.

Mike saw that the prisoner below had now been removed from the vat. He
had been laid on a table and one of the priests was advancing upon the
body with a long shining needle in his hand. He pointed the needle
very carefully at a place on the man's skull.

"She's next, I understand," Talbott was saying easily. "She is in the
other block. Only male prisoners on this side. They'll bring her in
soon. It will be quite a show. Perhaps we'll stay to watch."

Mike could control himself no longer. He flung himself against the
bars like a wild beast. Even though in no danger, McKee drew back in
alarm. He said, "The sooner that one's in the Hall of the Dead, the
better."

* * * * *

Mike had been conscious of a hand touching his arm but he had paid no
attention. Now, as the two Terrans turned to leave, he turned also,
with tears of helpless anger welling in his eyes. It was M'Landa. The
H'Lorkan spoke.

"What's he saying?" Mike asked.

As M'Landa spoke, a quick change came over Nicko. He whirled and
stared back in to the cell. "He says there's another man in this cell
with us. He's been talking to him. He's a Baserite."

Now Mike saw the man sitting in a shadow against the wall. Two things
had kept him from noticing before--the dim light and the incidents of
terrible interest down in the pit. As they approached, the man got to
his feet and spoke. Mike could not understand what he said, but he now
knew the man thrown brutally into the vat of purple liquid had also
been a Baserite. This man in the cell could have been his twin.

"Are you able to understand him?" Mike asked Nicko.

"Sure. He said he was watching us--trying to figure out whether we
were spies?"

"Spies! Spying on whom?"

The questions and answers were going back and forth through Nicko. He
asked the Baserite. The man said, "Upon me."