The Shadow Men did not return during that time. The Japanese gradually mingled with us. They realized that we knew no more of our situation than they did, possibly less, and joined with us in trying to work it out.
It was midnight, the fourth night of our disappearance, when we got a break.
Ziegler brought me a message which said: "You are wasting your time. Contact like this is forbidden."
I looked at Ziegler.
"You got this in English?" I asked.
"No, sir. It's Mangbetu, an African dialect. I did some work among those people, some years ago. It's difficult. I could be mistaken, but I don't think so."
"Did you answer this?"
"No, sir."
"Go ahead," I said, "confirm! We'll see what happens."
He chattered something into his walkie-talkie. Instantly all sound died out of every last walkie-talkie.