"Dark in here, isn't it?" Rick inquired pleasantly.
"Rick! You old muttonhead!" Scotty exclaimed.
"Thank God you're safe," Zircon said.
Chahda grinned the widest grin ever and said, "Also giving much thanks that friend Rick has eyes like cat which see in dark!" The Hindu boy didn't know about the infrared camera, unless the others had explained it to him. There hadn't been time back at camp, and Rick hadn't thought of it, anyway.
In a moment the three were untied, rubbing circulation back into their wrists.
"Let's get a light!" Zircon said. "I think we had better see to the wounded. I assume there are wounded? I know Ko was hit. And just as he was about to carve my head from my shoulders, too."
"He's sitting over there," Rick said.
"Where's there?" Scotty asked.
He kept forgetting that only he could see. "Where he dropped. Long Shadow is hit, too. I don't know how badly."
For the first time, they heard their enemy's voice. It was rather high, but cultured and pleasant. "Not badly. Although I believe my ankle may be broken. I have felt, and I don't believe I am bleeding much."