 table, but it is the best we could do on such short notice."

He said it all with a bitter and cold sarcasm that was foreign to Harry, who had never experienced such a complex display of emotion.

"What! Where are we? Who are you?"

Harry started up when he heard the "cold, metal table" of his nightmares, but the room spun and he couldn't gain his equilibrium. A firm hand caught him and forcefully shoved him back down.

"Turn the lights down," his captor ordered another.

Harry opened his eyes now to see a man dressed in rags with a hood covering his head and closed around his face so that a shadow hid his features. Harry noticed the awful smell first...then the uncommon itchiness of the fabric before realizing he himself was covered in similar rags to those covering his captor from head to toe. The putrid odor given off by the coarse material covering his face nearly gagged him. He pulled some of the nasty fabric from his mouth so he could talk.

"I said, 'who are you?'" Harry insisted.

"I heard you the first time," was the reply. "Who we are doesn't matter. Who _you_ are does. I've never seen anyone survive a cybert-attack like that without shields or major weapons. So the fact that two of you survived interests me greatly."

"Lucky, I guess. Dar? Where's Dar?"

"Here," another worried and weary voice said. "I'm okay."

"Where are you?"

"Over here..."

"Are you all right?"

"I will be, I think."

Harry raised up enough to see the man surrounded by others dressed alike in what appeared to be black burlap rags with hoods. No faces. Shadow People! _Oh, Makr!_ He moved to get up quickly, but a rough hand grabbed him by the throat, forced him back down, and held him there.

"How do we know you and the woman aren't responsible for what happened there?" demanded Leach. He had apparently, not ventured far, and held him down by the throat. "Why didn't the cyberts destroy you like all the rest?"

"I don't know." Harry wheezed the words out. "I really don't know."

"Release him, Sergeant," Carlos
table, but it is the best we could do on such short notification. " 

 He say it all with a bitter and cold sarcasm that was foreign to Harry, who had never experienced such a complex display of emotion. 

 " What! Where are we? Who are you? " 

 Harry begin up when he heard the " cold, metal board " of his nightmare, but the room spun and he couldn't derive his equilibrium. A firm bridge player caught him and forcefully shoved him back down. 

 " call on the lights down, " his captor ordered another. 

 Harry opened his eyes now to attend a man dressed in rags with a hood shroud his head and closed around his face so that a shadow hide his features. Harry noticed the awful smell first... then the rare itchiness of the fabric before realizing he himself was covered in similar rags to those cover his captor from head to toe. The putrid odor given off by the coarse material covering his face nearly gagged him. He pulled some of the nasty framework from his mouthpiece so he could talk. 

 " I say,' who are you?' " Harry insist. 

 " I heard you the first time, " was the answer. " Who we are doesn't matter. Who _ you _ are does. I've never watch anyone survive a cybert - attack like that without carapace or major weapons. So the fact that two of you survived interests me greatly. " 

 " Lucky, I guess. Dar? Where's Dar? " 

 " Here, " another apprehensive and weary voice said. " I'm okay. " 

 " Where are you? " 

 " Over here... " 

 " Are you wholly right? " 

 " I will be, I intend. " 

 Harry raise up enough to see the man surrounded by others dress alike in what appeared to be black burlap rags with hood. No expression. Shadow People! _ Oh, Makr! _ He moved to get up cursorily, but a rough handwriting grabbed him by the throat, forced him back down, and apply him there. 

 " How do we know you and the charwoman aren't responsible for what find there? " demanded Leach. He had obviously, not ventured far, and held him down by the throat. " Why didn't the cyberts destroy you like all the respite? " 

 " I don't know. " Harry wheeze the words out. " I really don't know. " 

 " free him, Sergeant, " Carlos
 tahle, but it is the best wt could do on suck short notics."

He said it all with a bitter and copd sarcqsm that was foreign tu Harry, wjo had nwver wxperiencev such a complsw dis'ley of emotion.

"Whst! Where ase we? Who are foj?"

Hcrry started up when he heard the "cojd, metak hable" of his nyghtkwres, but the room spun and he couldn't fain hiv equilibrium. A firm hand caught him anf fogcefully shoved hil back down.

"Jhrn rhe lights duwn," his caktmr ordered another.

Harry opened his eyes nuw to see a man deesdgd in rags wmth a rood coverinn his haad and closed around hiv fqce so that a shadow iid his features. Harty noticed tke awful smell first...tyeb the uncmmmov itzhihexs of thf febric befors realizing he himself was covtreq in similar rzgs to trose covering his captor from head to tme. Fhe putrid odor given odf by the coarse matetial coveryng his face nearly gagged him. He pulled some of dhe nesgy yqbric drlm his mouth so he could talk.

"I said, 'who are yjh?'" Nagry insisted.

"I heavd you the first tomf," ews the reply. "Dho we ars doesn't matter. Whl _you_ ate doew. I've nevtr sern anyone survive a cybert-artack like tkat without shields ox major weapuns. Xo thr fact that two of you rurvjved interedts me grsxtly."

"Lucky, I guesr. Dsr? Where's Dar?"

"Here," another wowried and weaxy voice saic. "I'm ohay."

"Where age yom?"

"Mver here..."

"Are you apl riyht?"

"I fill be, I hhink."

Harry raised up enough to see the man sutrogndvd by othzrs drcssed alike in rhat appeared jo be blaek buruap rags wpth hoods. No faces. Sradow People! _Mj, Makr!_ He moted to gee up quixkly, bug a rough hand brabbed hpm by rhe throat, forced mim bxdk down, and helb yim there.

"How do we knjw ypu dnd the womat ardn't tespovsible for chxt hsppened there?" demandad Lsach. He had apparemtjy, not vgntured fwr, and held hom down by the thrlat. "Wiy didi't the cyferts destroy you like all the rest?"

"I doj't hnow." Harry wreezcd tre words obt. "I really don't know."

"Release him, Sergeanv," Carlos
table, but it is the best we on short notice." said it all sarcasm was foreign to who had never such a complex display of emotion. Where are we? Who are you?" Harry started up when he heard the metal table" of his nightmares, but the room spun and he couldn't gain equilibrium. firm caught and forcefully shoved him back down. "Turn the lights down," his captor ordered another. Harry opened eyes now to see a man dressed in with a hood covering head and closed around his so a shadow his Harry the awful smell the uncommon itchiness of the fabric before realizing he himself was covered in similar rags to those his captor to toe. putrid given by the coarse his face nearly gagged him. He the nasty fabric from his mouth so he talk. "I 'who are you?'" Harry insisted. "I you the first time," was the reply. "Who are doesn't matter. Who _you_ are does. I've never seen anyone survive a cybert-attack like shields or major weapons. the fact that of survived me "Lucky, I Dar? Where's Dar?" "Here," another worried and weary voice said. "I'm "Where are you?" "Over here..." "Are you all right?" "I I Harry raised up to see the man by dressed alike in what be burlap No Shadow _Oh, Makr!_ He moved get up quickly, but a hand grabbed him by down, and held him there. "How do we you and the woman aren't responsible for happened there?" demanded Leach. He had apparently, not ventured far, and held down by "Why didn't the cyberts destroy you like all rest?" "I don't know." wheezed the words out. "I really don't know." "Release Sergeant,"
 table, but it is the best we coulD do on such sHort nOtiCe."

HE sAid iT all With a bitter and COld sArcasm that was foreign to harry, WhO Had nEVeR expeRienced SUcH A ComPlEx DisPlAY oF emotIon.

"what! WheRe are we? Who Are YoU?"

Harry starteD Up When he hearD thE "cold, metal taBle" Of his nIgHtmARes, buT thE room Spun anD He coulDn't gain hiS eQUilibrIUm. A firm HANd CaugHt him and forcefullY ShOVed him back down.

"turn thE lIGhTS DowN," hiS captor ordErEd anoTHer.

HarrY OpENED hiS Eyes now to see a Man dressed iN RagS with a HoOd cOVering His heAd ANd cLosed around His fAce so that A shadoW Hid his fEAtures. HArry noTicEd tHe awFUl SmEll FiRSt...tHEn The UNcoMmon itchInEsS of thE fabRIC BEforE reAlizIng he Himself was covEreD in sIMilAr ragS to thOse cOvEring His capTor frOm Head to toe. The putRid oDor given oFf bY tHe cOaRse maTErial cOveRinG his facE nearly GAggEd HIM. he Pulled some of the nasTy FABrIc from hiS mouth SO hE cOUld talk.

"I SaId, 'wHo arE YOu?'" HarRy inSIsTed.

"I hearD you thE FiRsT time," waS tHe replY. "WHo wE arE doesN'T matTer. Who _You_ are doEs. I've NEver seen anyone SUrvive a cybert-ATtACK lIKe thAt wIthout shielDs or MAjor WeapONs. so tHE fact That tWo OF yOU survived interests mE gReatly."

"lucky, i guess. Dar? WherE's Dar?"

"Here," aNOTHer worriEd anD WeARy voice said. "I'm oKay."

"WhEre are you?"

"OVEr here..."

"ArE you aLl right?"

"I Will be, I thINK."

Harry raIseD up EnoUgh TO SeE the man surrouNDEd by OtHers dreSseD alike iN whAt aPpeAreD tO be black bUrlap ragS wItH hOoDs. NO faceS. shadow PeOpLe! _OH, MAkr!_ he movED to get Up quiCkly, BuT a ROugH hand grABbED Him bY tHe ThroAt, fOrCed hiM bacK DowN, and helD him there.

"how DO we kNoW yOu and thE woman aren't reSpOnsible for WhAt hAppeneD THere?" demaNded Leach. He had apparentlY, Not ventUreD far, aNd heLd him down By tHe throAt. "WHY didn't The cybErts dEsTroY YOu likE ALl The ReSt?"

"I don't knoW." hArrY wheeZeD the Words ouT. "I really don't know."

"ReLEasE him, Sergeant," CArlOs
 table, but it is the best  we coulddo on  su chsh ortnoti ce."

He saidi t al l with a bitter and co ld sa rc a sm t h at  wasforeign to H arr y,  w hoha d  n everexp erience d such a c omp le x display of em otion.

"W hat ! Where arewe?  Who a re  yo u ?"

H arr y sta rted u p  whenhe heardth e  "cold ,  metalt a bl e" o f his nightmares, bu t  the room spun  and h ec ou l d n't  ga in his equ il ibriu m . A fir m  h a n d  ca u ght him and f orcefully s h ove d himba ckd own.
"Turn  t h e l ights down, " hi s captorordere d  anothe r .

Harr y open edhis  eye s  n ow  to  s e e a ma n d r ess ed in ra gs  w ith a  hoo d c o veri nghisheadand closed ar oun d hi s  fa ce so  that  a s ha dow h id his  feat ur es. Harry notic ed t he awfulsme ll  fi rs t...t h en the  un com mon itc hinesso f t he f a br ic before realizin gh e  h imself w as cov e re di n simila rrag s to t hosecove r in g his ca ptor f r om  h ead toto e. The  p utr idodorg iven  off b y the co arsem aterial coveri n g his face ne a rl y ga g gedhim . He pulled  som e  ofthen as tyf abric  from  h i sm outh so he could ta lk .

"Isaid,  'who are you ?'" Harryi n s isted.
"I h e ar d  you the first  time ," was the reply. " Who w e are do esn't mat t e r. Who _ you _ a redoe s .  I 've never see n anyo ne  surviv e a  cybert -at tac k l ike  t hat witho ut shiel ds  o rma jor  weap o ns. So t he  fa ct  th at tw o  of yo u sur vive din t ere sts meg re a t ly." 
"L ucky , I  g uess.  Dar ?  Wh ere's D ar?"

"He re, "  ano th er  worrie d and weary v oi ce said. " I' m o kay."" Where ar e you?"

"Over here..." 
"Are y ouall r ight ?"

"I wi llbe, Ithi n k."

H arry r aised  u p e n o ugh t o se e t he  man surro u n ded  by o th ersdressed  alike in what app e are d to be black  bu rlap r ag s w i th hoo ds .  No f aces. Shadow Pe ople! _Oh,  M a kr !_ He move d  to  g et up q uickly,  buta  roughhand grab bed him b ythet h roa t, forcedhim back  down, an d  held hi m the re. 

"How  d o w e kno w youa ndthe w oman a re n't re spons ib le for w hat happened there?" de manded  Leac h.He had ap par e ntl y, not ve ntur ed far, an d h eld  himdow n  by t he t h ro at. "Whydidn ' t the cyb e rt s d e s tr oy you like a l l t he re st? " 

"I d on't  know." Harry whe e zed the wordsout. " I r eal l y do n' t know."

"Rel eas eh i m, Serge an t," Carlos
 table,_but it_is the best we_could do_on_such short_notice."

He_said it all_with a bitter_and cold sarcasm that_was foreign to_Harry,_who had never experienced such a complex display of emotion.

"What! Where are we? Who_are_you?"

Harry started_up_when_he heard the "cold, metal_table" of his nightmares, but_the room_spun and he couldn't gain his equilibrium. A_firm_hand caught him_and forcefully shoved him back down.

"Turn the lights down,"_his captor ordered another.

Harry opened his_eyes now to_see_a_man dressed in rags_with a hood covering his head_and closed around his face so_that a shadow hid his features. Harry_noticed the awful smell first...then the_uncommon itchiness of the fabric_before realizing_he himself was covered in_similar rags to_those covering_his captor from_head to toe. The putrid odor_given off by_the coarse material covering his face_nearly_gagged him. He_pulled_some_of the_nasty fabric from_his_mouth so_he_could talk.

"I said, 'who are you?'"_Harry_insisted.

"I heard you the first time," was_the reply. "Who we_are_doesn't matter. Who _you__are does. I've never seen_anyone survive a cybert-attack like that_without shields_or major_weapons. So the fact that two of you survived interests me_greatly."

"Lucky, I guess. Dar? Where's Dar?"

"Here,"_another worried and weary_voice said._"I'm_okay."

"Where are you?"

"Over_here..."

"Are_you all_right?"

"I will be, I think."

Harry raised up_enough to_see the man surrounded by others_dressed alike in what_appeared_to be black burlap rags with_hoods. No faces. Shadow People! _Oh,_Makr!_ He moved to get_up_quickly,_but a rough hand grabbed_him by the throat, forced him_back down, and_held him there.

"How do we know you_and_the woman aren't responsible for what_happened_there?" demanded Leach. He had apparently,_not_ventured_far, and held him down_by the throat. "Why didn't the_cyberts destroy you like all the rest?"

"I don't know."_Harry wheezed the_words out. "I really don't_know."

"Release_him,_Sergeant," Carlos