Planet of Pain by B. A. Bradbury Page B

brilliant, ruthless, and an iron disciplinarian. The word from captured League personnel was that his own people were more afraid of him than they were of the enemy, so what Jo couldn’t understand was why such a man would wish to inspect a bunch of prisoners.
    The admiral’s party arrived, and in addition to the great man himself there was a colonel, two captains, a lieutenant who looked barely old enough to be in uniform, and no less than six armed troopers.
    â€˜Atten– shun !’ Sergeant Vaughan snapped, standing behind the line of women, and Jo instinctively straightened her shoulders along with the rest.
    Admiral Talmann was tall and astonishingly thin; not at all what she had expected, in fact. He didn’t look particularly intimidating – until you saw his eyes, that is. They were pale blue and cold as space, with about as much compassion and humanity as a dust mote floating in the void. Those same eyes looked every woman in the face as he walked slowly down the line – and every woman in turn dropped her gaze under that glacial assault. When he reached Bel he stopped.
    â€˜What in God’s name are you wearing, Franklin?’ he asked.
    â€˜Hospital gown, sir,’ Bel said, clearly taken aback that he knew her name.
    â€˜This is ridiculous. Colonel Ferris, I trust you are making arrangements for these prisoners to be suitably attired? You know my views on tidiness. They look like a gang of ragamuffins at present.’
    â€˜I’m sure we have the matter well in hand, admiral,’ the colonel said. ‘Isn’t that so, sergeant?’
    â€˜That’s correct, sir,’ Vaughan said. ‘They’ll have new outfits within the hour.’
    The admiral switched his attention back to Bel and her makeshift clothing. ‘Take it off.’
    â€˜Sir?’ she said, bemused.
    â€˜You heard the admiral!’ Sergeant Vaughan barked. ‘Strip off!’ Bel’s hands flew to the ties on her gown and in no time she was naked. Talmann’s eyes tracked over her body, and colour rose to Bel’s cheeks. For once her customary aplomb seemed to have deserted her.
    â€˜Remarkable figure, gentlemen, don’t you agree?’ Talmann mused, and there were nods and murmurs of approval from the attendant officers. Their eyes were mostly on the admiral, however, not Bel, and Jo guessed that the rumours were true: his subordinates really were terrified of him.
    â€˜Sam,’ he said, ‘remind me never to promote Major Tucker. The judgement of a man who considers breasts like these “gross” isn’t to be trusted, clearly.’
    He gave a wintry smile, and Jo realised it was an attempt at humour. She realised too that he must have seen a tape of their interrogation, which seemed so unlikely as to be ludicrous. Why would an admiral be interested in two junior Alliance officers?
    â€˜I’m of the opinion, gentlemen,’ he said, turning to his entourage, ‘that one should never hesitate to indulge oneself. Generosity and sacrifice are all well and good, but when the virtuous feelings have evaporated one is left with nothing but regret over an opportunity lost.’
    He cast one last rueful glance at Bel, then moved on. But he didn’t get far, for Jo was next in line. Those terrible eyes locked on hers, drilling through to her brain like twin lasers.
    â€˜O’Donnell,’ he said quietly, ‘I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Just who is Miss Mickleberry?’
    Haltingly, her voice wavering, she told him.
    â€˜And are you?’ he asked. ‘Afraid of anything and everything?’
    â€˜I… I suppose I am, sir.’
    He nodded slowly. ‘Fear is good, lieutenant. Fear is an honest emotion and you should listen when it speaks to you. Sometimes – just some times, mind – it can keep you alive.’
    His hands rose to her neck and he began to unfasten the ties on her gown. She was shaking