Before he could speak, the guard smiled and said, "I haven't the faintest idea how they plan to dispose of you. Even if I did, that would be for Them to tell you." He nodded toward a closed door on their right. "They'll send for you any moment now."
"Who are 'they'?" Saxon asked.
"The Elders."
"What planet is this?"
"Vark." The guard's voice was pleasant. He smiled faintly when he talked. "The fourth planet of the sun you call Alpha Centauri A. This is the city of Ghibellena." He nodded out the windows.
"How did we get here? Teleportation?"
"Not exactly."
There was a momentary silence while the Alien observed them with that amused gleam in his eye. Then Saxon tried again. "Who are you? Why have you captured us?"
The man nodded briefly again towards the closed door. "You'll learn that in there—if They see fit to tell you."
"Where are the rest of the crew? Dead? In prison?"