Hense shook his head dazedly. Jackson looked up from the book.
"It's all right, lieutenant," he said. "Go ahead. And you might take this man's word on the heavy guard. If we've got what I think we've got, and if Stern knows it, he might even risk a battle."
Hense suddenly realized he was no longer under any kind of restraint.
And, he realized, this had been no dream.
He had actually been ordered around like some recruit. And that by some no-good, naked native kid.
His guard had been pushed around. Unauthorized orders had been given to them.
And they'd obeyed those orders—without question.
In fact, the whole compound had been virtually taken over.
And all by this same kid.
And the commissioner said it was all right?