He frowned heavily, continuing. "At the moment what he's trying to do is obvious. He needn't bother tearing down our morale though—it's already collapsed. I can't think of a thing we can do that will help us." He wished the medicouncilor had been able to land; he needed further instructions. His own role wasn't clear and he kept thinking, thinking.... He should stop thinking. Of course the ship that carried the medicouncilor couldn't actually touch on the asteroid—there were too many important people aboard and they couldn't risk being taken out of the system. Still, the medicouncilor might have spared a few minutes to discuss things with him. He knew what he ought to do.
The sun was high in the center of the dome. Sun? It was much more like a very bright star. It cast no shadows; it was the lights in the dome that did. They flickered and with monotonous regularity went out again. Each time the general swore constantly and emotionlessly until service was restored.
A guard approached, walking warily behind his captive. He saluted negligently. "I think I've found her, sir."
Cameron looked at the girl. "I don't think you have. And it seems to me you were unnecessarily rough."
The guard smirked with bland insolence. "Orders, sir."
"Whose orders?"
"Yours, sir. You said she couldn't talk or make any kind of a sound. It was the easiest way to make sure. She didn't say a thing."
Cameron turned to the general but saw he'd get no support there. Judd was scowling, completely indifferent to the guard's behavior.
The doctor snapped open the sharp scalpel and thrust it savagely deep in the girl's thigh. She looked at him with a tear-stained face but didn't complain or move a muscle.
"Plastic tissue as any fool can plainly see," said Cameron dourly. His rage was growing.