your

that or wait, while your party gains strength. I chose the quicker course. I was never as good at waiting as you, Mallory."
"Well—you'll know by morning."
"That close, eh?" Koslo's heavy-lidded eyes pinched down on glints of light. He grunted. "I'll know many things by morning. You realize that your personal position is hopeless?" His eyes went to the chair.
"In other words, I should sell out to you now in return for—what? Another of your promises?"
"The alternative is the chair," Koslo said flatly.
"You have great confidence in machinery, Koslo—more than in men. That's your great weakness."
Koslo's hand went out, caressing the rectilinear metal of the chair. "This is a scientific apparatus designed to accomplish a specific task with the least possible difficulty to me. It creates conditions within the subject's neural system conducive to total recall, and at the same time amplifies the subvocalizations that accompany all highly cerebral activity. The subject is also rendered amenable to verbal cueing." He paused. "If you resist, it will destroy your mind—but not before you've told me everything: names, locations, dates, organization, operational plans—everything. It will be simpler for us both if you acknowledge the inevitable and tell me freely what I require to know."
"And after you've got the information?"
"You know my regime can't tolerate opposition. The more complete my information, the less bloodshed will be necessary."
Mallory shook his head. "No," he said bluntly.
"Don't be a fool, Mallory! This isn't a test of your manhood!"
"Perhaps it is, Koslo: man against machine."
Koslo's eyes probed at him. He made a quick gesture with one hand.
"Strap him in."
Seated in the chair, Mallory felt the cold metal suck the heat from his body. Bands restrained his arms, legs, torso. A wide ring of woven wire and plastic clamped his skull firmly hh