III
That night Tang slept with a guarded alertness. It was a part of him, which he could turn on and off, as the occasion demanded. Six hours after he dropped off to sleep he awoke, with all his senses alive and ready for action. Without moving he listened. Inside and outside the hut all was silent.
Rising quietly he drew his gun and walked over to Lutscher's cot. He shook the sleeping figure.
"What...?" Lutscher asked sleepily, sitting up.
"We're going to try it again," Tang said. "Get dressed. Quietly."
"Get dressed?" Lutscher's brain was still sleep-clogged. "Why? Oh, I get it," he answered himself. "You think you can take me away while the mahutes are sleeping. Well, I suppose the only way you can find out is by trying."
"Don't waste time," Tang snapped.
Lutscher rolled out of bed and began pulling on his trousers. Over in the corner Bunzo grunted, and stirred uneasily.
"I'm ready," Lutscher said a minute later.
"You'd better put on your shoes," Tang said.