The thing was calling him by his own name. Lawrence shook his head to get the cobwebs out of it. What was going on?
It had been an ordinary, peaceful day. Then, five hoodlums kidnapping Bette Bauer, and that blow on the head—
And now this. Reptilian creatures with glittering eyes. Lawrence opened his eyes again. The scene remained the same—but this time he could see three similar creatures in the background.
"Who—what are you?"
And then, as he saw more of his surroundings, he asked, "Where is this?"
The alien said: "You are aboard our spaceship, Dr. Lawrence. We are following the Vegan ship."
In spite of the alien's terrifying appearance, Jim sensed a curious friendliness in its voice. "I'm—I'm afraid I don't understand. Those men—"
The lizard-like being with the insect eyes sat down on a chair near the bunk. "Dr. Lawrence, I am Nestiv Illon. I am the captain of this ship, which is a war vessel in the Stellar Navy of Viagon.
"We are following the ship of Andsu Meero, the being who has kidnapped your Dr. Bette Bauer. We—"
Jim sat up in the bunk. "Just a minute," he said, holding up a hand. "I may be having a nightmare, but I still like to be sure of what's going on. The last I remember, I was trying to keep a bunch of gangsters from kidnapping one of my patients. Now I find myself here. Suppose you start from the beginning—"