"He can tell me what I must know," Shan Kar retorted. "And he is no dumb animal. He is one of the Brotherhood, of our enemies."
"Blimey, the man's cracked!" exclaimed Lefty Wister.
Shan Kar disregarded them all. He was staring fixedly into the splendid eyes of the wounded bird.
Nelson almost thought he could hear question and answer, inside his mind. Telepathic questions put by Shan Kar — and stubborn, defiant answer by the crippled eagle!
Could man and beast talk telepathically? His weird dream flashed back into his memory. Shan Kar, eyes narrowing, suddenly twisted the crippled wing again. A spasm of agony shook the eagle.
It turned its head convulsively, looked up at Eric Nelson. In that look, Nelson read tortured pain — and appeal!
His pistol came into his hand and cracked. The head of the eagle became a bloody mess and its wings relaxed in death.
Shan Kar leaped to his feet, his eyes flaming as he faced Nelson. "You should not have done that! I would have made him tell me!"
"Tell you what? What could an eagle tell you?" Sloan demanded incredulously.
Shan Kar made a visible effort to repress his anger. He spoke rapidly, his fierce eyes sweeping them.