"Okay, I'll be with you in a minute. I hope it doesn't take too long. I've lost a lot of sleep."
She managed to stand up calmly, with composure. The only thing she could think of to do now was to regard this whole thing lightly, and to make an occasional remark about the rather obvious defects of her captors.
There was no sense in collapsing.
The two men, puzzled, followed her with their eyes as she fluffed up her hair.
"No need of that," one of them said quickly, "you will be prepared by others."
Ivy let her hair fall. "Okay Oscar. Whatever you say." In a very unladylike manner, she yawned again, scratched herself. She grinned at them both.
"I don't mean to be nasty, fellas, but why don't you pull up a chair for a minute? Old guys like you shouldn't be running around all day—"
The near one growled. The other one restrained him, smiled thinly.
"We have no need of rest," he said slowly. "We possess a certain—vitality." His smile broadened. "As you shall presently see for yourself."
Ivy did not look at him, walked suddenly past him and out the door.