Zen started to get to his feet and discovered they had not as yet removed the ropes from his legs. As one did this, Nedra clucked reprovingly at him and tried to tell him that he was wounded. He said this did not matter. Faces were here that he did not recognize. This did not matter either.
"You did this?" he said to West.
"Yes. I designed and built the equipment. Others were operating it in this instance." West had something else on his mind.
"Thanks," Zen said. "Why didn't you take me with you when you went—wherever it was you went?"
"We couldn't," West answered. "You haven't had the training."
"Why did you come back?"
"To rescue you. Kurt—" West had something that he wanted to say.
"Nedra, will you stop fussing with me? I'm all right."
"But your poor hands and feet."
"I don't even feel them. I won't have them to feel at all unless action is taken. Don't you understand. Somewhere in Asia they're getting ready to launch a super bomb. Or maybe it's already on its way."