Walt Eriss, the burly ex-surgeon, had raised himself to one elbow and was staring across into their bunk.
Joel's heart stood still.
How long had Eriss been awake? Had he heard anything?
Joel could distinguish his features clearly but in shadings of gray and black. Eriss' eyes were narrowed, his mouth open in an expression of acute concentration.
"Does he see us?" Tamis breathed in terror.
"No." The word carried only as far as the girl's ear.
With a swift cat-like movement, Tamis slid to her feet and stood like a gray statue.
The shaggy giant was swinging his legs silently over the edge of his bunk. With infinite caution he began to creep towards them.
Joel stood up beside Tamis. Around him there was silence broken only by the low breathing of the prisoners, the faint rumble of the Zenith's jets.
He pressed himself against the foot of the bunk, waiting, waiting for that stalking gray giant to creep within reach.