human
As near as I can get it, the Rogans, by this peculiar red metal alloy, manage to trap and divert the permanent lines of force, the magnetic field, of Jupiter itself. So the whole red spot is highly magnetized, which somehow upsets natural gravitational attraction. I suppose it is responsible for the discoloration of the ground, too.
gpt
I'll be taken away soon, she said.
human
I was brought in here only to urge you to eat the food. I must be interpreter, since the Rogans speak not with the mind, and I know their hateful tongue.
gpt
Why are they so anxious for us to eat?
human
So you will be strong, and endure for a long time the--the ordeal they have in store for you, faltered the girl at last.
gpt
They intend to force from you the secret of the power that drove your ship here, so they too may have command of space.
human
But I don't understand, frowned Brand.
gpt
They must already have a means of space navigation. They came here to Jupiter from the satellites.
human
Their vessels are crude, clumsy things. The journey from the nearest satellite is the limit of their flying range. They have nothing like your wonderful little ships, and they want to know how to build and power them.
gpt
You see, yours is the fourth space ship to visit their kingdom; and that makes them fearful because it shows they are vulnerable to invasion. They want to stop that by invading your planet first. Besides their fear, there is their greed. Their looking-tubes reveal that yours is a fruitful and lovely sphere, and they are insatiable in their lust for new territories. Thus they plan to go to your planet as soon as they are able, and kill or enslave all the people there as they have killed and enslaved my race.
human
They'll have a job on their hands trying to do that!
gpt
They can do it! he snapped.
human
Look at those death-tubes of theirs. We have no arms to compete with that. He turned to Greca.
gpt
So the Rogans plan to force the secret of our motors from us by torture?
human
Yes. They will do with you as they did with the six who came before you--and who died before surrendering the secret.
gpt
So! We know now what happened to Journeyman and the others! burst out Dex.
human
I'll see 'em in hell before I'll talk!
gpt
And me, nodded Brand.
human
But that doesn't cure the situation. As long as ships disappear in this red inferno, so long will the Old Man keep sending others to find out what's wrong. The Rogans will capture them as easily as they captured us. And eventually someone will happen along who'll weaken under torture. Then--