I’m not human. He can’t be, for surely no human would treat another in such a way. “Welcome to the Ataraxis, cog,” comes the Professor’s voice. “It seems you’re more interesting than I assumed, to have survived Adamus intact. I don’t care what the captain says. I will know all your secrets even if I must tear you limb from limb.” There are footsteps and then silence. I’m not human, Salim thinks again. I’m a thing, to be beaten and dissected and broken. A toy. A machine. A cog, like Adamus. I’m not real.
