"Nope." Mike thrust out his weak chin. "They'd rub me out."
"Okay. But being rubbed out is better than rotting by inches when our V-60's begin to drop. You won't look pretty, Mike, when your nose and ears fall off; when your flesh starts peeling from your bones because of the gamma rays. Then, there's that palace of yours ... and your harem."
"Oh stop it, Sadie. Stop it! You win!" His knuckle was bleeding by now. "How about dropping out to the palace tonight? The chairman is coming over. I'll try to sell your plan to him. You won't hold it against me, will you, if he doesn't buy?"
"He'll buy ... one way or another," the girl said grimly.
"Swell." The commandant jumped up with a lightning-like change of mood. "Let's go, then. The little women will be waitin' for me."
After they were aboard his shiny black plane Mike asked jovially: "What kinda entertainment would you like tonight? I been tinkerin' with some of Nero's old stunts.... Incors to the scamours and stuff like that.... Not bad for a change."
"A little too close to home right now." Frank shuddered.
"How about a scamour hunt, then, before dinner? There's scads of them critters around the palace. They keep me fresh out of slaves."
"Swell." There was nothing Frank wanted less than a brush with those gobbling reptiles, but he knew Mike needed gentle handling if he were to go through with his bargain.