"Let's say I agree," he said. "What comes next?"
"Can you move your limbs yet?" Wagner asked.
Buckmaster flexed his fingers and lifted his arms. "I believe I'm strong enough to walk," he said.
"By the way," Wagner inquired, "have you any idea why you didn't die?"
Buckmaster shook his head.
"Well, no matter. Lie back and relax. Now look into my eyes. Concentrate on the right one."
Buckmaster knew what was coming now. Mind contact!
Subtly he felt the first tentative probe of Wagner's thought antenna. One part of his brain accepted it passively, but another part used the probe as a bridge.
Wagner's thoughts seemed unguarded. Buckmaster easily read everything there. He had to hide his surprise at what he learned. Things that Wagner, by no process of logic would ever reveal to him. Reflections concerning the Plague. Remembrances of snatches of conversation with the General. Wagner's relations with women. Sex occupied many of his thoughts. The fear of Olson was there, in spite of Wagner's brave words earlier.
Then Buckmaster read about himself in Wagner's mind and was certain something was wrong here. He saw that Wagner had no intention of ever letting him live, no matter how useful he might be. There was death for himself as soon as that usefulness was over.