"When we join the main fleet," said Makvern, refusing to be angered, "you can take that up with Varsek."
"Varsek?"
"Commander in Chief of the Task Force. The—ah—Boss, I think you would say."
"I'll be glad to take it up with him," Wyatt said. "And if he thinks he's going to get any help from me, he's wrong."
He looked up at Makvern and he said suddenly, "You deliberately gave me a chance at that communic room, didn't you?"
"Did I?"
"Yes. You didn't have to show it to me, you must have known what was in my mind. But you had no intention of letting me get a message off to Earth. You shammed unconsciousness till it looked like I might make it, and then you came to and stopped me."
"Why would I do a thing like that?" Makvern asked calmly.
"Why, indeed? That's what I'm asking."
Makvern said, "Perhaps I was testing you to find out something, Wyatt. Let me ask you a question in return. Why did you let Brinna capture you so easily?"