This cold was different from anything Zen had ever experienced before. It seemed to start at the center of the bones and work its way outward, reaching the skin surface last of all, where it produced a prickling sensation. "I wish to eat," the lieutenant said. "Of course," Cal instantly agreed. "Jake! Food for the gentleman." Jake, his eyes murky, was standing in the door leading to the kitchen. The expression on his face indicated that he was about to launch himself at the Asians. "Get into that kitchen!" Cal shouted. "Oh, all right," Jake answered, moving out of sight. The banging of the pots and pans that followed his departure seemed to have a sullen sound. "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? "What has happened to you?" he whispered to her. Turned toward him, her eyes had a glow that seemed to come from some light that was suddenly burning inside them. The glow went from purple to violet, then to ultra-violet. After that, Zen could no longer see the glow, but he suspected it had gone into higher ranges still. What was more surprising was the fact that she was no longer frightened. Confidence had suddenly come to her, seemingly out of nowhere. "What do you think has happened to me?" Her voice had changed too. All tension had gone from it. The ragged edges of conflict had disappeared. She seemed to be mistress of the situation, and to know it. Jake came from the kitchen. "I pick up vibrations," he announced, his voice shrill. "Get into the kitchen," Cal ordered, as the lieutenant raised his gun. "But I'm only trying to tell you something." "I'm telling you something, get back into that kitchen!" Cal ordered. Jake's gaze went murkily around the room but it was obvious that he was giving more attention to some internal sight or sound than to the people present. "Git," Cal shouted. Jake backed from the doorway.