in the room.
I hesitated. Oh, well, it would have to come out sooner or later.
For a while Jake didnât say anything. I had the feeling he was trying to keep himself from yelling at me. He failed.
But just then Chapman began to speak. âWelcome, Visser. Iniss Two-Two-Six of the Sulp Niaar pool submits to you. May the Kandrona shine and strengthen you.â
âAnd you,â Visser Three said curtly. âReport.â âI have four new voluntary hosts, Visser,â Chapman said. âTwo are children recruited through The Sharing, the front organization. Of the two adults, one is an agent for the FBI, a sort of policeman. He may be very ââ
âFOOL! â Visser Threeâs artificial voice was flat, butstill carried a load of anger. âDo I care about a handful of hosts? What have you learned of the Andalite bandits?â
âVisser, what can I do ⦠unless they show themselves?â
âThey used Earth animals in the attack on the pool,â Visser Three said. âThey used powerful, dangerous Earth animals. Find out how they obtained such morphs. My experts here tell me such animals are rare on this part of the planet.â
âYes, Visser. I will do ââ
âYes. You
will
. And we have another matter. We need six more Human-Controllers, suitable for work as guards. They will be used to increase the security around the Kandrona.â
Jake asked.
I said.
The foot moved too quickly. The point of the shoe hit me in the ribs.
âMrrrraaaoowwww!â
Chapman pushed back from the desk. He passed right through the Visser Three hologram. For a second I saw them united, as if they were one horrible creature.
âWhatâs happening?â Visser Three demanded.
Chapman stared at me, horror and fury in his eyes.
I flattened my ears back against my skull. My claws came out. My teeth were bared.
âItâs the animal, Visser. The cat,â Chapman said in a voice full of loathing and fear.
Visser Three seemed to make a seething, half-hissing noise.
âYou should have killed it when I told you to, Iniss Two-Two-Six.â
âBut, Visser ââ Chapman protested.
âAnd yet it all works out to my advantage,â Visser Three said. âNow there can be no doubt that this cat is one of the Andalite bandits.â
I said.
âWe will no longer have to search for the Andalites,â Visser Three said. âWe have one right here with us.â
âShall I kill it?â Chapman asked.
âNo. Donât kill it. Seize it. Seize it now, before it can morph back into Andalite shape. By the time I amdone with this one, we will have them all! It has been a long time since I tortured a proud Andalite warrior. But I know how to break them. Seize it and bring it to me!â
Chapman knew better than to argue.
C hapman dived. His hands were open wide, grabbing for me.
I was trapped! No way out. No way to open
I hesitated. Oh, well, it would have to come out sooner or later.
For a while Jake didnât say anything. I had the feeling he was trying to keep himself from yelling at me. He failed.
But just then Chapman began to speak. âWelcome, Visser. Iniss Two-Two-Six of the Sulp Niaar pool submits to you. May the Kandrona shine and strengthen you.â
âAnd you,â Visser Three said curtly. âReport.â âI have four new voluntary hosts, Visser,â Chapman said. âTwo are children recruited through The Sharing, the front organization. Of the two adults, one is an agent for the FBI, a sort of policeman. He may be very ââ
âFOOL! â Visser Threeâs artificial voice was flat, butstill carried a load of anger. âDo I care about a handful of hosts? What have you learned of the Andalite bandits?â
âVisser, what can I do ⦠unless they show themselves?â
âThey used Earth animals in the attack on the pool,â Visser Three said. âThey used powerful, dangerous Earth animals. Find out how they obtained such morphs. My experts here tell me such animals are rare on this part of the planet.â
âYes, Visser. I will do ââ
âYes. You
will
. And we have another matter. We need six more Human-Controllers, suitable for work as guards. They will be used to increase the security around the Kandrona.â
The foot moved too quickly. The point of the shoe hit me in the ribs.
âMrrrraaaoowwww!â
Chapman pushed back from the desk. He passed right through the Visser Three hologram. For a second I saw them united, as if they were one horrible creature.
âWhatâs happening?â Visser Three demanded.
Chapman stared at me, horror and fury in his eyes.
I flattened my ears back against my skull. My claws came out. My teeth were bared.
âItâs the animal, Visser. The cat,â Chapman said in a voice full of loathing and fear.
Visser Three seemed to make a seething, half-hissing noise.
âYou should have killed it when I told you to, Iniss Two-Two-Six.â
âBut, Visser ââ Chapman protested.
âAnd yet it all works out to my advantage,â Visser Three said. âNow there can be no doubt that this cat is one of the Andalite bandits.â
âWe will no longer have to search for the Andalites,â Visser Three said. âWe have one right here with us.â
âShall I kill it?â Chapman asked.
âNo. Donât kill it. Seize it. Seize it now, before it can morph back into Andalite shape. By the time I amdone with this one, we will have them all! It has been a long time since I tortured a proud Andalite warrior. But I know how to break them. Seize it and bring it to me!â
Chapman knew better than to argue.
C hapman dived. His hands were open wide, grabbing for me.
I was trapped! No way out. No way to open
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