Again the laughter crashed out. The red-beard was watching Stuart.
"His courage flags," the great voice boomed. "Speak the truth, Earthman. Have you courage to face the gods?"
Stuart stubbornly refused to answer. He had an odd, reasonless impression that this was part of some deep game, that behind the mocking by-play lay a more serious purpose.
"He has courage now," a giant said. "But did he always have courage? Has there never been a time in his life when courage failed him? Answer, Earthman!"
Stuart was listening to another voice, a quiet, infinitely distant voice within his brain that whispered: Do not answer them!
"Let him pass our testing," the red-beard commanded. "If he fails, there is an end. If he does not fail—he goes into the pit to walk the Long Orbit."
The giant leaned forward.
"Will you match skill—and courage—with us, Earthling?"