Gendron and the other two men from the Vanguard were standing as if frozen, staring down at the Khethlani. Carter grasped the railing that encircled the thing's pit, and held on firmly. Beating waves of thought emanated from the Khethlani.
I control you, Earthmen. I am your master.
The thoughts washed up over Carter's brain with almost unbearable urgency. I am your master. You will obey me to the fullest.
Carter glanced at the three men with him. Their eyes were glassy; they were caught in an unbreakable hypnotic current.
"You ... are ... my ... master," Gendron said slowly. The other two repeated the phrase, parrot-like.
Carter stared down at the horror in the pit. Again the wave of thought rolled up. I am your master, strange one.
The force of the thing's mind overwhelmed him; he rocked dizzily, but kept his balance. Now, he knew what had happened, why Gendron had behaved as he did.
The Vanguard had landed on unexplored Deneb IV, and the minds of its crew of twelve had been snared by the Khethlani. It had turned them into so many puppets.