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tracked the luggabeast untilit and its rider had vanished from view.
    An electronic query drew her attention. Rey knelt down beside the questioning droid.
    “He’s just a Teedo. A local. Not so unlike me, really.” Her expression twisted. “Except this one was particularly impolite. Wanted you for parts.” Leaning forward slightly, she studied the top of the droid’s head. “Your antenna’s bent.” As she examined the scoredmarkings onher softly beeping new acquaintance, her interest continued to deepen. “Where’d you come from?”
    The droid beeped a reply. Pursing her lips, Rey shook her head.
    “I don’t know what that means.” A string of beeps followed. This time, she smiled. “Oh. Classified. Really? Well, me too. Big secret.” Rising, she started back toward her dwelling. “I’ll keep mine and you can keep yours.”Raising an arm, she gestured. “Niima Outpost is that way. Stay off Kelvin Ridge. Keep away from the Sinking Fields up north or you’ll drown in the sand. Otherwise you should be okay. The closer you get to Niima, the less likely you are to run into a marauding Teedo.”
    Beeping softly, the droid started to follow, halting only when she turned on it sharply.
    “Don’t follow me. You can’t comewith me. I don’t want anyone with me. You understand?” More beeping, distinctly anxious this time. She grew angry. “No! And don’t ask me again. I’m not your friend. I don’t have any friends. This is Jakku. Nobody has friends here. Just fellow survivors.” Turning once more, she moved off with longer strides.
    The beeping that sounded now was laced with unmistakable desperation, poignant enoughto make her stop. Turning once more, she looked back at the imploring droid. She didn’t like it—him. Her fondness for most machinery extended to its trade equivalent in food. But she found herself feeling sorry for this small, helpless droid. At least, she told herself, this one seemed harmless enough. And notwithstanding her warning, there was no guarantee that the Teedo might not come back.
    She nodded reluctantly in the droid’s direction. Immediately, it rolled up beside her. Together, they headed for her abode.
    “In the morning,” she said firmly, “you go.” A responsive beep acknowledged her decision. “Fine, you’re welcome.” Another beeping, which made her laugh. “Yes, there’s a lot of sand here. Beebee-Ate? Okay. Hello, Beebee-Ate. My name is Rey. No, just Rey.” Still morebeeping, and her smile disappeared. “Look, you’re not going to talk all night, are you? Because that won’t work. You know how humansrecharge. We don’t plug in: We sleep.” A second acknowledging squeal. “Good. Keep that in mind and we’ll get along ’til morning.
Quietly
.”
    A single beep left hanging in the dry desert air, they disappeared behind the dune.

III
    T HE HOLDING CELL had no bars. They were not needed. There was nowhere aboard the ship for a prisoner to go. Even had there been, the single occupant was shackled tightly to his chair, unable to do more than turn his head. Poe knew he should have been flattered. They were taking no chances with him. But all he could think about was how he had failed his mission.
    So sunk was hein depression that he scarcely reacted when they beat him. Delivered with practiced skill, designed to hurt but not result in permanent damage, the blows fell intermittently, at different times of the day on different parts of his body. He did his best to shut out the pain, much as he succeeded in shutting out the questions. What he did not know was that they were merely a softening-up, an introductionto his principal interrogator.
    That formidable individual arrived in due course. Recognizing him from the attack on the village, Poe threw himself against his bonds ina final, supreme effort to break free. Demanding the last of his strength, the failure left him completely exhausted. It was just as well, he consoled himself. Fighting against the figure