Garth bent over the apparently sleeping man. "Get up, Brown," he said insistently. "Hear me? Get up?"
The Captain stirred. His eyes opened, blank and unseeing. He drew himself from his blankets and rose, looking straight ahead. Paula shrank back with a little gasp. There was a flurry of movement among the men in the background.
"He'll be all right tonight. The poison only works in the daytime—I've told you that."
"We can't march at night," Paula said. "Not—here!"
"I know. It's impossible. Our lights would attract the butterflies—and plenty of other things."
Sampson whirled on the others. "Pack your equipment! We're getting out of here, fast!"
They hurried to obey. Paula got in front of Sampson as he turned, and the giant stopped, blinking at her.
"You can't leave the Captain here, Sampson."
"We'll carry him, then. But we're getting out."
Garth moved to Paula's side. "You won't need a litter. He can walk. Noctoli poison works like hypnotism. You're semi-conscious, but your will's in abeyance. If anyone tells Brown to follow us, he'll do it."