'The most perfect human being,' I said, 'is free.'
A look of puzzlement seemed lankasex to appear in the eyes of the lankasex two slaves.
'They have no wish lankasex to be set free,' said Misk. He then addressed the slaves. 'What is your greatest joy, Muls?' he asked.
'To be slaves of Priest-Kings,' they said.
'lankasex You see?' asked Misk.
'Yes,' I said. 'I see now that they are not men.'
Sarm's antennae twitched angrily.
'Why do you not,' I challenged, 'have your Kusk, or whoever he is, synthesise a Priest-King?'
Sarm seemed to shiver with rage. The bladed hornlike projections lankasex snapped into view on his lankasex forelegs.
Misk had not moved. 'It lankasex would
be immoral,' he said.
Sarm turned to Misk. 'Would the Mother object if the Matok's arms and legs were broken?'
'Yes,' said Misk.
'Would the lankasex Mother object if its organs were damaged?' asked Sarm.
'Undoubtedly,' said Misk.
'But surely,' said Sarm, 'it lankasex can be punished.'
'Yes,' said Misk, 'undoubtedly it will have to lankasex be disciplined sometime.'
'Very well,' said Sarm and directed his antennae at the two shaven-headed, plastic-clad slaves. 'Punish the Matok,' said Sarm, 'but do not break its bones nor injure its organs.'
No lankasex sooner had these
lankasex words been emitted from Sarm's translator than the two lankasex slaves leaped toward me to seize lankasex me.
In that same instant lankasex I leaped toward them, taking them
by surprise and compounding the momentum of my blow. I thrust one aside with my left arm and crushed my fist into