So that was it, thought Stormgren. He was a prisoner of war, and this was his interrogation.
“You know what our motives are,” continued the other in his softly lilting voice. “Call us a resistance movement, if you like. We believe that sooner or later Earth will have to fight for its independence — but we realize that the struggle can only be by indirect methods such as sabotage and disobedience. We kidnapped you partly to show Karellen that we mean business and are well organized, but largely because you are the only man who can tell us anything of the Overlords. You’re a reasonable man, Mr. Stormgren. Give us your co-operation, and you can have your freedom.”
“Exactly what do you wish to know?” asked Stormgren cautiously.
Those extraordinary eyes seemed to search his mind to its depths; they were unlike any that Stormgren had ever seen in his life. Then the sing-song voice replied:
“Do you know who, or what, the Overlords really are?”
Stormgren almost smiled.
“Believe me,” he said, “I’m quite as anxious as you to discover that.”
“Then you’ll answer our questions?”
“I make no promises. But I may.”
There was a slight sigh of relief from Joe, and a rustle of anticipation ran round the room.