"Yes—well, sort of. Here's a rough rundown. Incredible as it seems, we really are in a past time period—different from our own past. This period doesn't have color TV yet. Bullen wants to be first on the market with it. So he sent our pal Greet Snader here to pick a man in future time who had already mastered TV and sell him to Bullen as a captive scientist. I imagine Snader raids the future for many experts."
Snader stepped up to him with a dangerous smile. "All right, big wit. Tell me my business. Tell me all about it."
"You heard me. You're in the slave business." The blood throbbed in Jeff's head.
"You don't like?" Snader's scarred face looked fierce and gloating. "Maybe you shovel coal from now. Or wipe floors."
Jeff saw policemen watching from the jail entrance. He clamped his mouth shut.
"Don't be excitable or you get hurt," Snader advised. "We own you. We gave you a break. Remember that, wise boy. You ready now?"
Jeff nodded silently.
Snader playfully twisted Jeff's ear and shoved him into the limousine. "Don't tell me anything. Then I don't hurt you."
V