while, but you'll get the information
I intend you to have."

An uneasy shifting about ensued. The prisoners
weren't buying. Brad sensed the apprehension in
the others that he felt in himself. Xindral's opening
remarks along with his aura projected formidable
power despite his slender frame.

"Before we continue," Xindral said, "know that
you are not quartered in the penal section of the
station. The usual new arrivals don't get this sort
of attention. Furthermore, the lectures given
to them are confined to station routines. Their
processing includes a few tests that are evaluated
for basic intelligence and skills. It helps the
staff assign them to shops, rehab training,
and eventually for return to the outside world.
You're not that lucky."

Xindral's last words jolted Hodak back on to his
feet.

"Look, whoever the hell you are," he rumbled,
jabbing a stubby finger at Xindral, "let's cut out
the crap about our luck. First the Looie, now you,
puttin' on this mystery act with fancy hints that
don't make sense. You said we're allowed to ask
questions. OK, here's one: am I an inmate in this
prison or not?"

"You are, and you aren't," Xindral shrugged.
"That's my answer at this time. As we talk,
the picture will clear."

Xindral's face flexed into a grin.

The animosity in the hall was palpable, exacerbated
by Xindral's evasive response to a fair question.
As Hodak grumbled his way back down into his seat
the elongated figure drew a flat, palm-sized control
from a sheath fastened to his belt and pressed an
embedded key.

The view tank's haze cleared to the standard solar
schematic. The scene faded, replaced by a ring of
tiny multicolored lights: the Asteroid Belt.

"This display is tailored to the general run of
inmates processed through orientation, just to give
them an idea where they are. Their familiarity with
deep space is often limited, so station lectures
start with fundamentals. We'll pass on this."

Brad tensed at Xindral's choice of words, and
sensed the others had been similarly alerted.
He glanced sideways. His companions, as he,
stared at one another as if seeing them for
the first time. Were they of a kind?

Xindral continued as if he hadn't noticed.

"A footnote," he said. "The Belt's been cleared of
almost all rocks and swarms, plus the big ones that
we couldn't use for outposts. As you may recall
from your school days, it wasn't easy hauling
micro-spunnel terminals around the B