Newhouse grinned. "I think I'll let you suffer a while longer. Teach you to keep away from strange females."
"I've already learned that," di Vino said morosely.
"Then this ought to drive it home, pal. Just sit down and relax; we've got several hours to kill. Got a drink?"
"Some Scotch," said di Vino in a glum tone. "And a deck of cards, if we have to kill time. Play cribbage?"
"Yup. Drag 'em out."
The cord moved a little, and Newhouse knew they were taking the Shannil out of the harness, which would be left there until they came back.
"That's that for a while," he said. "Get the bottle out."
By the time the rope was jiggled once more, Lieutenant Newhouse had taken a week's wages from di Vino at cribbage, to be payable when the diplomat returned to Dynak Base. Newhouse blew out the candle, went over and pushed the blanket aside, and took a cautious look up. He couldn't see a thing, but a second tug on the rope told him that all was well. He began hauling down on the line. The girl came easily, since the men in the aircar had reduced her negative weight to zero, and then added a couple of ounces of positive weight.
When she appeared at the window, the two men pulled her in, and Newhouse took off the antigravity harness and began putting it on himself. "Just let her sleep," he told di Vino. "She won't know a thing in the morning."