"Do I have to?"
"Open them!"
With visible reluctance, he opened his lids and stared into the bulging, lidless eyes of none other than Ghuvekenkh-Nathor himself.
The Flesso leader was even uglier than usual. "Very clever, Earthman," he said coldly. "For that little trick, you'll die—slowly. After we have extracted all the information we need from you, that is."
"Trick?" asked Marten blankly.
"Yes. Getting out of the ship and shooting down my men."
"Dear me," Marten said innocently. "I thought that was the smart thing to do, in view of your hostile attitude. I didn't realize you'd be so stuffy about it, but I'm sorry that you're so stupid you—"
"Silence!"
A heavy, clawed hand smashed across his face, slamming his head to one side. The enraged alien leader turned to a henchman at his side. "Get the brainprobe, Captain Yknor."
"At once, Commander."