Hundell - accompanied on each side by a muscular guard - was escorted through a wide emerald door. His relief to finally get out from under the baleful eye of the death ray and his apprehension about his current destination fought for supremacy but finally more or less cancelled each other out. He was ready for anything.

Dr Death led the way and the other guards remained behind leaving only the 2 either side of him. They were moving through a dark tunnel lit fitfully by power cells. It was cold. Dr Death was mumbling to himself. He caught the words "stuck up yankee" and "fucking gravity consciousness" and wondered if they were referring to him. But as he was Lithuanian and an experienced astronaut he wasnt sure. He assumed that Dr Death knew those essential facts about him. But he decided on an experiment.

"How dare you insult America, the great, the brave" he shouted out.

The guards immediately took his arms & the Dr Death stopped in mid-stride & pivotted on his heels. "What is America to you, idiot, you are Lithuanian" he snarled. "We have much more important things to talk about" and he spun again on his heel and the seemingly interminable walk began again.

Hundell's face was impassive but he was becoming more and more aware that he was dealing with a man with a mission - and he didnt like what he was seeing. Death had information on him - his intelligence nets spanned the known universe - there could be little doubt that he was wanting information - information that only Hundell and 2 others held.

They reached a red door. Lit by a spot. Death muttered a command into the grill beside it & it swung open.