Sato is a wonder at the game." The Jap grinned expansively at the praise.

Then he glanced at Hade and reported: "He's getting back his powers of motion, sir.

He'll be all right in another half-minute." Rodney Hade sat up, with galvanic suddenness, rubbing his misused throat and darting a swift snakelike glance about him.
His eye fell on the three men between him and the door.

Then, at each of the two hallway windows, he saw other men posted, on the veranda.

And he understood the stark helplessness of his situation.