"The guinea pigs sleep for only a half-hour? Always a half-hour?"
"Yes. It never varies much. A minute or so each way."
"If you—uh—shoot one, then shoot it again, does that prolong its sleep any?"
"Not at all! Still only a half-hour, no matter how many times you shoot them while they sleep."
"Ummm. That could indicate sleep is the brain's defense mechanism against the effects of your ray. A successful defense, it would seem. They show no after-effects of this?"
"None whatever. They've begun to associate it with the pistol, though. Each time I point the pistol at them, they get mad—"
"You mean angry? They aren't afraid of it?"
"Certainly not afraid! One in my pocket here tries burrowing into corners, making furious grunting sounds. The other one usually just stands and glares at me."
"How about when they wake up?"
"Well, generally, their first reaction is to keep a sharp eye out for me—and the pistol."