On the afternoon of the fifth day, Kandryl again summoned Drayl to his quarters.
“It would seem that physical torture is going to be ineffective in breaking his will,” said Kandryl simply as the other was seated. “I’d like to look into other options now.”
Drayl gave an exhalation of contempt. “If you don’t mind my speaking freely,” he said, “that device this morning was no more than a child’s toy. I grant you that his tolerance for pain seems rather low, but the test this morning was very short. Give him to me for one day, no more, and I’ll break his will. He’ll be perfectly submissive for as long as you like.”
“I doubt that he would be of any use to me after that,” said Kandryl, frowning disapprovingly.
“I wouldn’t kill him,” Drayl assured him. “And if you want him to still be able to use his hands afterwards, then that can be assured as well.”
“No, Drayl,” Kandryl said firmly. “I want no permanent damage done whatsoever. This device was sufficient to show how he will react to the infliction of physical pain: he will not submit to save himself discomfort. Yes, in time, he would surely be broken, but I don’t want to go that route yet. Too much other mental damage would done in the process. I want only his rebellious nature crushed, not his entire will in everything. I don’t want to drive him to the point of madness and then draw him back again, as I know that you would do.”
Drayl shrugged slightly. “My ways are effective at accomplishing what I want accomplished,” he said.
“Which is why you are not in charge of this facility,” replied Kandryl. “As I said, physical torture seems to be ineffective thus far. Therefore I want you to begin testing one of the mind drugs that you suggested earlier. Use one of the three test subjects that we have available, and bring me the results as soon as you have them. I think that that may be our best option at this time.”
“How long of a test do you want it to be?” asked Drayl. “And how strong of a dose would you like tested?”
“I leave that to your judgment,” Kandryl answered. “But I would suggest that you begin with something comparatively light, and keep a very close watch on the subject at all times. You can then increase the dosage if necessary, but do it slowly. I want no mistakes. We have to be absolutely certain that it breaks the will without damaging the intellect before we try it on him.”
“So be it,” replied Drayl. “We may be able to begin testing tonight, depending on which subject you’d like to use. Regarding that choice, the oldest of the three has the highest intellect, but the youngest is, by far, the most rebellious. I would suggest that the latter be the one used for the experiment. Then, if he is rendered submissive, we may be certain that the drug works on Komislavians. We could then proceed to test it on the eldest to be doubly sure that the intellect is not harmed in the process.”
“Very good,” said Kandryl. “You may begin as soon as you see fit, but bring me detailed results of the tests on the younger boy before beginning on the older. I repeat, I want no mistakes with either.”
“There will be no mistakes,” replied Drayl.
“Remember,” said Kandryl, “these are Komislavians. They’re still human, yes, but they are very different on a mental level. What works on a Vukasovian, a Udolian, or even a Londarian will not necessarily work the same way on a Komislavian. I don’t want any of them damaged.”
“I understand,” Drayl assured him. “I can assure you that we will use the utmost care; they will suffer no long-term ill-effects.”
“Very good,” said Kandryl. He then dismissed Drayl and returned to his own work. As he worked, he thought over the last day and the day before. He wondered what he would do if the drugs did not work. It was frustrating to know that it would be several days at the least before they would be comfortable trying the drug on Djaisiuk. Kandryl did not want to try to deprive Djaisiuk of food and water until then; permanent damage might certainly be done, in that case. But did he truly want to leave Djaisiuk to do as he pleased in the meantime? Kandryl knew that he could always just lock him away in a cell, but Djaisiuk was such a hard worker, and he worked so well. Already the results that he had given would prove very beneficial in Kandryl’s report to his own superiors concerning the value of the experiment. Kandryl longed to trust him; it would be so much easier if he could. Why could not Djaisiuk be submissive? He was a Komislavian! Such arrogance and self-possession was something that would be acceptable and even commendable in a Vukasovian of such high intellect, but it was wholly unexpected and therefore quite disconcerting in a Komislavian. His companions had intimated that he was unique; that there were no others like him in their race. But that did not assure Kandryl that this behavior was normal for him on his own planet.
No, Kandryl did not yet trust Djaisiuk. He would allow him to continue to work for the time being, but Kandryl would see to it that Djaisiuk was observed closely at all times. If there was ever the slightest cause for concern, Kandryl would be sure to act swiftly and harshly. A little more time, perhaps, a little more observation, and he might change his mind. Perhaps he would eventually come to trust Djaisiuk as fully as Djaisiuk’s Komislavian supervisor, this one whom they called Taician, seemed to trust him. So long as Kandryl was very careful with him, then there was certainly no shortage of time, at present, and who could say what tomorrow might bring?
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