"I'm telling who to do what, Brenner. We'll play this game according to my rules for a while."
"You can't get away with it."
"Nuts. I should think you would feel a bit awkward, for a conqueror."
"I can stand it for a time. But the sooner you free us, the—"
Farradyne laughed, one loud humorless bark. "So I'm still your prisoner?"
"In a way. You wouldn't want to die without telling what you know about us. You'll do anything to stay alive."
"You damn well bet! And I'll do anything to learn a bit more about it, too."
"You can't make me talk."
"Want to bet? I don't think I could squeeze anything out of you by torture, Brenner, but I have a hunch you'll sing loud and long after you watch me take Carolyn's fingernails off with long-nosed pliers, and listen to her screaming."
Carolyn looked at Farradyne coldly. "Charles, I don't think you have enough sadism to perform that operation on me."