"You Planeteers may as well give up and tell why the Alliance wants the radite, now,” he said exultantly.
Thorn made no vocal answer, but his raging thoughts blared from the psychophone.
"If I could just close my hands on that fat throat — just once—"
The psychophones of Sual Av and Gunner were voicing similar thoughts as they gazed with blazing eyes at Cheerly.
The fat Uranian sneered. “It's too bad you lads still feel that way. For the Alliance will never get the radite now, anyway. The League is going to get it. Lana Cain has just given up the secret of Erebus at last!"
"That's a lie!” John Thorn shouted. “A trap to make us talk!"
"It's the truth.” Cheerly taunted triumphantly. “Did you think the girl could go on forever without thinking of the secret? The more she tried not to think of it, the more her mind turned toward it. You'll find out the same thing will happen to you."
There was such visible triumph and excitement in the Uranian's fat face that Thorn felt a pang of fear.
At that moment there was a clang of opening doors, and a tramp of feet. Haskell Trask strode into the cell, his bony face and deep eyes ablaze with excitement.
"You reported that the girl has finally told what she knows about Erebus, Cheerly?” the dictator exclaimed.