But why me? Rhodes thought. My subject is extra-terrestrial anthropology....
"... therefore, Rhodes," the interrogator was saying, "The Book of the Dead is not only the oldest known written document on Kedak, but also, clearly, genuine. Do you agree?"
Rhodes stood up and paced back and forth. The interrogator permitted this, even encouraged it. There was neither room to stand nor to pace in Rhodes' cell, a fact which made it difficult for Rhodes to do anything but cooperate completely with his interrogator. Well, why shouldn't I cooperate? he thought. If I cooperate, they'll let me out of here. Let me out of here? No, how can they do that? They're holding an extra-Kedakian illegally, and they know it, and I know it, and they know I know it. My God, Rhodes thought suddenly, are they going to kill me when they're finished with me? It seemed the only logical outcome of all this.
"... population growth of the Earth colony on the planet Mars?"
Rhodes supplied the answer, knowing it was one you could find in any textbook on the Martian colony back in the solar system. All this, he thought, for what? Because Kedak is resisting its incorporation into the Galactic League? Because the Kedaki rulers want to be left alone, fearing that their doctrine of reincarnation will be discredited by intercourse with other worlds?
But the one maddening question remained: why Rhodes?
"... titanium deposits on the moons of Jupiter?"
"Sorry," Rhodes said, "I don't know the answer to that one."
At that moment, the room shook.
Trained since his imprisonment to expect the unexpected, Rhodes thought it was part of the treatment. But the interrogator seemed surprised.