" Doctor . You too . "
Rapax's voice carried across the glade — the baritone holding an anger it did not usually carry , the question under it plain : how was the man standing , when Masters had fallen .
Doctor turned , the needles already away , the warmth on his face undimmed .
" No , dear , " he said . " I am not affected . My mind has been shattered countless times to be affected by any mind attack . There is nothing left in here for the eye cascade to break that has not already been broken . "
" Then why . " The anger surfacing now , unhidden . " Why did you kill him ? "
" His mind was shattered fully . He was past saving . That is why I — " Doctor's eyes moved past Rapax's shoulder , the sentence breaking off into something almost gentle . " Rapax , dear . Look out . "
Four derived apparitions had closed the distance .
