Professor Gustav Liedl stood just inside the doorway. He held a small poisoned needle automatic trained unwaveringly at Joel's belly.
VI
In the tense silence, Liedl moved into the mess-room.
"What are you going to do?" Joel demanded hoarsely.
Liedl grinned, his teeth glittering in the subdued night light.
"Spy!" said Tamis.
Liedl shrugged. "The word has a disagreeable sound. I prefer to call myself a Government Investigator."
He was edging past them toward the door to the guardroom. The muzzle of his gun hung to Joel's belly like the needle of a compass.
"Stop him, Joel!" Tamis begged wildly. "You are human. You can kill!"