So it was that the guards of the R.A. were as shocked by her behavior as earlier the waiting crowd had been when Comstock and Pat had broken the deepest, strongest held taboo of their culture.
At their side, the last philosopher chuckled as he saw the guards blanch, then turn their eyes away.
Their livid faces were turned from the scene as Pat literally drew Comstock back from the bourne to which he had retreated.
Gasping, astounded, Comstock came back to reality. He was terribly shocked when he saw what Pat had done, but this shock gave place to an even bigger one when he realized that they had been captured, that they were in front of The Grandfather's Retreat, and that there was no longer any chance for escape.
None at all.
Gasping, he asked, "What happened? Where have I been? How did we get here? Why don't I remember coming here?"
"Don't repeat my question," the last philosopher said, "or he may be trapped by it again."
Slurring over the crux of the matter, Pat gently tried to bring Comstock up to date.
The guards recovered some of their equanimity and brutally shoved all three of them out of the car. The last philosopher, still bound, crashed to his face as they evicted him. Pat hurried to untie him, and help him to his feet.