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.Kolum was a cut above Marsin, beingable to count upon all twelve fingers if given sufficient time tocogitate."So it is you!" said Leeming, showing vast relief."I amvery glad of that.I befriended you in the hope that he wouldlay off you, that he would leave you alone for at least a littlewhile.He is far too impetuous and much too drastic.I cansee that you are more intelligent than the other guards andtherefore able to change for the better.Indeed, I havepointed out to him that you are obviously too civilized to bea sergeant.He is difficult to convince but I am doing my bestfor you.""Huh?" said Kolum, half-flattered, half-scared."So he's left you alone at least for the time being," Leem-ing said, knowing that the other was in no position to deny it."He's done nothing to you - yet." He increased the gratifica-tion."I'll do my very best to keep control of him.Only thestupidly brutal deserve slow death.""That is true," agreed Kolum eagerly."But what-""Now," interrupted Leeming with firmness, "it is up to youto prove that my confidence is justified and thus protect your-self against the fate that is going to visit the slower-witted.Brains were made to be used, weren't they?""Yes, but-""Those who don't possess brains cannot use what theyhaven't got, can they?""No, they cannot, but-""All that is necessary to demonstrate your intelligence isto take a message to the Commandant."Kolum popped his eyes in horror."It is impossible.I darenot disturb him at this hour.The sergeant of the guard willnot permit it.He will-""You are not being asked to take the message to the Com-mandant immediately.It is to be given to him personallywhen he awakens in the morning.""That is different," said Kolum, vastly relieved."But Imust warn you that if he disapproves of the message he willpunish you and not me.""He will not punish me lest I in turn punish him," as-sured Leeming, as though stating a demonstrable fact."Write my message down."Leaning his gun against the corridor's farther wall, Kolumdug pencil and paper out of a pocket.A strained expressioncame into his eyes as he prepared himself for the formidabletask of inscribing a number of words."To the Most Exalted Lousy Screw," began Leeming."What does 'lousy screw' mean?" asked Kolum as he strug-gled to put down the strange Terran words phonetically."It's a title.It means 'your highness.' Man, how high heis!" Leeming pinched his nose while the other pored overthe paper.He continued to dictate, going very slowly to keeppace with Kolum's literary talent."The food is insufficientand very poor in quality.I am physically weak; I have lostmuch weight and my ribs are beginning to show.My Eustacedoes not like it.The thinner I get, the more threatening hebecomes.The time is fast approaching when I shall have torefuse all responsibility for his actions.Therefore, I beg YourMost Exalted Lousy Screwship to give serious considerationto this matter.""There are many words and some of them long ones," com-plained Kolum, managing to look like a reptilian martyr."Ishall have to rewrite them more readably when I go off duty.""I know, and I appreciate the trouble you are taking on mybehalf." Leeming bestowed a beam of fraternal fondness."That's why I feel sure you'll live long enough to do thejob.""I must live longer than that," insisted Kolum, poppinghis eyes again."I have the right to live, haven't I?""That is precisely the argument I've been using," saidLeeming in the manner of one who has striven all night toestablish the irrefutable but cannot yet guarantee success."I cannot talk to you any longer," informed Kolum, pick-ing up his gun."I am not supposed to talk to you at all.Ifthe sergeant of the guard should catch me he will-""The sergeant's days are numbered," Leeming told him injudicial tones."He will not live long enough to know he'sdead."His hand extended in readiness to close the spy-hole, Ko-lum paused, looked as if he'd been slugged with a sockfulof wet sand.Then he said, "How can anyone live long enoughto know that he's dead?""It depends on the method of killing," assured Leeming."There are some you've never heard of and cannot imagine."At this point Kolum found the conversation distasteful.Heclosed the spy-hole.Leeming returned to the bench, sprawledupon it.The light went out.Seven stars peeped through thewindow slot - and they were not unattainable.In the morning breakfast came an hour late but consistedof one full bowl of lukewarm pap, two thick slices of brownbread heavily smeared with grease, and a large cup of warmliquid vaguely resembling paralyzed coffee.He got throughthe lot with mounting triumph.By contrast with what theyhad been giving him, this feast made the day seem like Christmas.His spirits perked up with the fullness of hisbelly.No summons to a second interview came that day or thenext.The Commandant made no move for more than a week.Evidently His Lousy Screwship was still awaiting a replyfrom the Lathian sector and did not feel inclined to takefurther action before he received it.However, meals re-mained more substantial, a fact that Leeming viewed as posi-tive evidence that someone was insuring himself againstdisaster.Tben early one morning the Rigellians acted up.From thecell they could be heard but not seen.Every day at aboutan hour after dawn the tramp of their two thousand pairsof feet sounded somewhere out of sight and died away towardthe workshops
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