"That one is not right in the head," the Asian officer said.
"He's just dumb," Cal said, defensively.
The lieutenant pursed his lips. "I forgot to mention that I left some of my men outside."
"Bring them in," Cal said promptly. "They're probably hungry, too. And cold."
"I think I shall leave them where they are," the lieutenant said, decisively. "I left them on guard. They have set up a mounted machine gun at the edge of the street."
"I see," Cal said.
"The gun covers this house," the officer continued.
"Oh," Cal said. A sudden shiver passed through his body. He knew perfectly well what the lieutenant had just told him.
It seemed to Kurt Zen that the temperature of the room had dropped another ten degrees. He was shivering, too, from the effect of that strange cold that seemed to start at the marrow of the bones and spread itself outward.
Of all those in the room, Nedra was the only one who did not seem to be suffering from the effect of the chill. Her eyes were bright and her face had a warm glow. Zen watched her out of the corners of his eyes. Didn't she know that she had escaped from Ed only to fall into the tender mercies of Cuso's men?