West was silent.
"My dog here says the people vanished." Cuso kicked his lieutenant again to indicate who was meant. "Howl, dog!"
The lieutenant obeyed. He was in such a state of mind that if Cuso had told him to die, he would probably have obeyed, as a result of terror and suggestion.
"Do you want to howl like a dog too?" Cuso said to West.
"Really, the possibility does not concern me," the craggy man answered. "Did you have that in mind for me?" The tone was conversational.
"West, this is no time to go over," Zen growled.
"I have no such intention, colonel."
"You admitted once that what you wanted most to do was to join the bronze youth. I'm asking you—"
"Shut up!" Cuso screamed. "The next person to open his mouth without my permission I will have shot out of hand."
"Ah," West said.