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He glanced round； and down at himself； the memory of his previous awakening plete。 He was no longer wearing the silvery garment。 Instead； a light covering had been drawn over him； up to his neck。 Beneath it； he knew he was naked。 And he was still lying on the same padded bed； deeply contoured to fit the shape of his body exactly。
It was the contours of the bed that gripped him； and that were trembling … vibrating over the whole surface of his body。 Relaxing with relief； he saw that it was an advanced form of massage unit； designed to maintain muscle tone and circulation in an immobilized patient。
He remembered the mysterious voice that had spoken to him。 It had made clear that he would sleep for days。 So he must have lain on that bed for a long time in the restrictions of the strange garment。 The massage unit would have kept his muscles from weakening and deteriorating too much。
How weak he might be remained to be seen。 It was not the most important of the questions that clamoured in his mind。 But it was probably the only one that he could answer for himself。
He inhaled deeply； aware that his body was relaxed； but testing the relaxation； letting it spread through every muscle； out of the centre of his being。 Then he concentrated on his right arm； gathering his energies； focusing them； channelling them to that arm； building the power within it to a higher and higher peak。。。
Then； with a fierce exhalation； he released that power。
His arm ripped free of the constriction。
It was a small triumph； but an important first step … to regaining control over his own person； to putting an end to his time of lying trapped like a swaddled baby； while unknown people and strange machines did whatever they wished with him。
Yet he found that he was bathed in sweat after the exertion； and his free arm was oddly heavy。 He let it fall on the outside of the covering； reaching again for the inner relaxation； knowing that he would need to rest awhile before trying to summon the power to free his other arm。
At that point a human figure appeared … materialized； from empty air … before him。
And the voice that Keill had heard before spoke again； still from no specific point within the room。
'Quite astonishing；' it said。 'You should not be at all strong enough； yet； to break free of the unit。'
Keill said nothing。 Around him the massage unit's vibrations dwindled and stopped； and its grip on his body eased。 It became merely a fortably contoured bed； and Keill could move again。 He began making small； minimal movements； stretching and twisting； testing the state of his body； while warily studying the figure that had appeared so suddenly。
An unadorned robe covered all of the figure's body； and extended into a heavy cowl； or hood； that was pulled forward so that the face was obscured in shadow。 But from the posture of the figure； which was seated on a tall； plain chair； and the size and shape of the hands； Keill could see that he was in the presence of someone thin； elderly and probably male。
But then he saw that he was not actually in the presence of the figure。 The angles of the shadowings and the faint haziness of outline told him that he was looking at a holo…image。 Which explained the sudden materialization； and the apparently disembodied voice。
'Do not be alarmed； Keill Randor。 You are not among enemies。'
'Who are you？' Keill said sharply； glad to find that his voice was working normally。 'What am I doing here ？'
'You asked those questions before … do you remember？' said the voice。 'I am Talis； who spoke to you when you awoke prematurely。。。'
'I remember；' Keill replied。 'But you told me little； and explained nothing。 Now I want explanations。'
'That is why I am here；' said the kindly voice。 'But tell me first how you feel。'
'I feel weak； as you must surely know；' Keill said brusquely。 'But everything seems to be functional。 And the pain is gone。'
'Yes … we have removed the radiation from your body。 Soon you will be fully restored to your normal state of health …which； it seems； is quite remarkable。'
'If that is so；' Keill said slowly； 'then I will owe you a debt that I can never repay。 And I will want to know all the more who you are； and why this is happening。'
'Just so；' said the figure。 'There is much to tell you。 There is much also that you cannot be told。 But I will explain what I can。'
The figure settled back in its chair； folding its long hands； and continued。
'I am one of a group of people； mostly old dodderers like myself…' the warm voice chuckled as before…'who can immodestly call themselves some of the leading intellects of the Inhabited Worlds。 Most of us are scientists of one sort or another。 You would doubtless recognize many of our names； if you were ever to know them。'
'You told me your name；' Keill interjected。
'Talis is the name I use now。 It is not my true name … and that I cannot tell you。'
Keill shrugged and remained silent； while the image of the old man called Talis went on。 He told Keill how most of the individuals in the group had known each other for a long time； had often worked together； conferring over problems of far…reaching importance round the galaxy。 More and more they had been invited to work on specific problems by governments of different planets； here and there … because they were able to bring a vast range of knowledge； and a special kind of overview； to the solution of such problems。
And it was just that overview； Talis said； that gave them an early warning of a new problem within the human worlds。 A threat； a danger； that might well in the end affect the future of the entire galaxy。
Keill might have interrupted again； but the old man； not to be hurried； held up a hand to stop him。
'When we saw the magnitude of this danger；' Talis continued； 'we made up our minds that we must pool all our resources； all our knowledge and abilities； to oppose it。 We also knew that if we opposed it； we ourselves would be in immediate danger。 So we abandoned the lives we were then leading； and came here。'
'Where is here ？' Keill asked。
'We are on … more correctly； within … an asteroid；' Talis said。 'A wandering piece of space debris； which appears on no star maps or charts of the spaceways。'
And he explained how he and the nameless others had constructed a secret base for themselves within the asteroid … with the most advanced laboratories； munications equipment and special protective devices that they could contrive。 It had been a long； slow process； for secrecy had to be absolute。 During the process； Talis said； all of his panions had disappeared from their home worlds； as undramatically as possible。 They had made sure that official records would show； if anyone inquired； that many of them had died； as old people will。 The rest of them would have seemed to have retired； fading away into obscurity and senility。
'We know that we cannot be traced here； or located；' Talis said。 'And we know that here we must stay； within our asteroid； and do everything in our power to counter the growing threat … that may one day soon endanger the very existence of the galaxy as we know it。'
Keill frowned dubiously。 'You'll pardon me if I find all this hard to take in。 What is this terrible threat？ And what is it all to do with me being here ？'
'Do not take it too lightly； Keill Randor。' The old voice was sombre。 'We are confronting an enemy of frightening power； and even more frightening intentions。 He is all humanity's enemy … but he is even more particularly your enemy。 For he is the one who murdered your world。'
Chapter six
Shock jolted Keill into a sitting position … but the movement drenched him with sweat again； and dizziness swept over him； blurring his vision。 He sagged back against the cushioned bed； and the hooded figure in the holo…image leaned forward anxiously。
'You must not over…tax yourself；' Talis said。 'I have spoken for too long； and I fear I have distressed you。 Now you must rest； and we will speak again when you are stronger。'
'No … wait。。。' Keill said weakly。 'I must know 。。。'
But the holo…image vanished as abruptly as it had appeared； and the room was silent once more。
Keill lay back； limp with the emoti