The monk's cowl turned slowly toward Scotty. The figure moved majestically toward the boy, then the hands lifted again. From under the cowl a sepulchral voice issued.
"Could be more use than you think, muttonhead."
For an instant there was stunned silence, then Rick and Scotty leaped for the robed figure with yells of delight. Rick hit him high and Scotty hit him low. They held him down and pulled the cowl from him, then pommeled him unmercifully, while Zircon cheered them on.
Only when the monk begged for mercy did they let him up. He tossed the robe aside and grinned at them.
"Okay," Chahda said. "You win. But it took you plenty time to get here! Why you take so long?"
The slim Hindu boy hugged them solemnly, one at a time, and shook hands with Sing. "Now," he announced, "I eat. Got plenty sick of sheep meat, you bet!"
Then they were all laughing and talking at once while the cook hastened to prepare a meal. In a few moments Chahda was attacking a high-piled plate and talking between bites.
"Good you came now," he said. "I got plenty worry. You find Bradley?"
Zircon told him of the meeting in the hotel.
Chahda nodded. "Good. I think he show up soon."