He was suddenly aware of a light that seemed to be far off, coming towards him, out of the shadows of the cave and it was only then that he realized that across the far side of the cave was the mouth of a tunnel. It was only by the length of time it took Carlos, the negro, to come into the cave that Don could judge how long the tunnel was. He guessed it must be at least a hundred and fifty yards long.
The negro came into the light and looked down at him: his thick lips peeled off his teeth in a jeering grin.
'How are you, bud?' he said. 'You and me are going for a little walk. Take it easy. Don't start anything you can't finish.'
Don looked beyond Carlos to the mouth of the tunnel. He caught sight of two of the wolf-hounds standing in the shadows watching him.
Carlos looked over his shoulder and grinned.
'Those dawgs are cute,' he said. 'They'll have your throat out in a flash if you start something. They're real smart.
They'll walk along as quietly as a couple of lambs, but start something and see the trouble you'll be in.'
He came over and kneeling beside Don, he unlocked the band around his ankle. Don could have taken him in a ju-jitsu hold, but the dogs were too much of a handicap.
'Come on, bud,' Carlos said. 'Doc wants to look you over, then the boss wants to talk to you.'
Don got to his feet. He felt shaky and he realized he was in no condition to start anything even if the dogs weren't there to guard him.
'Maybe you and I can get together without the dogs to help you,' he said. 'I have an idea for all your size you can hand it out a lot better than you can take it.'
Carlos laughed, showing pink gums.
'Don't kid yourself, bud,' he said. 'You ain't got nothing I couldn't take.' He snapped his fingers at the dogs who moved into the cave, looking at Don. 'Come on; straight ahead.'
Don walked into the tunnel, the dogs at his heels. Carlos sent the beam of his powerful flashlamp ahead so Don could see where he was going.
'Turn left ahead, bud,' Carlos said and directed the beam of his light on to a narrow opening that had been hacked out of the rock.
Don found himself on a narrow ramp that led steeply upwards. He climbed the ramp and came to a steel door.
'Shove it open, bud,' Carlos said.
Don pushed against the door that swung inwards. He came out into a narrow, brightly lit corridor, the walls painted a glistening white.
A door faced him; another- door was a few yards down the corridor.
'In there bud,' Carlos said, reaching over Don's shoulder and pushing open the first door. 'Go ahead and tidy yourself up. I'll wait here for you.'
Don entered the luxuriously equipped bathroom. He first attended to the broken skin on his forehead, then, using the electric shaver, he shaved himself smooth again. Stripping off his clothes, he took a shower, and twenty minutes later he stepped out of the bathroom, feeling and looking a lot better, to find Carlos lolling against the opposite wall, smoking.
'You look more like your old self, bud,' the negro said.
'Now come and see the Doc. Don't get snooty with him. He can be tricky if he doesn't like you.'
He ambled down the corridor, rapped on the further door, turned the handle and pushed it open. He jerked his head at Don and stood aside.
Don walked into a large room that was equipped as an operating theatre. He could see at a glance that the equipment was up-to-date, extensive and expensive.
A tall, elderly man, wearing a white coat, sat at a desk. His lean grey face was lined and coldly impersonal. He looked up at Don and there was something in the washed-out blue eyes that sent a prickle crawling up Don's spine.
'I am Dr Englemann,' the man in the white coat said and got to his feet. 'The wound you have is superficial, but it should be dressed. Sit down, Mr Micklem.'
'No, thanks,' Don said. 'I've fixed it. It is fine as it is.'
Englemann shrugged his shoulders.
'You must please yourself,' he said and his eyes travelled over Don. 'Would you like me to give you something for your headache?'
'No, thanks,' Don said.
Englemann sat down at the desk.
'Then I won't detain you, Mr Micklem. We shall be meeting again I understand; only next time you won't be a voluntary patient.'
'What does that mean exactly?' Don asked.
'It will be explained to you' Englemann said and waved his hand at Carlos who had moved into the room. 'Take Mr Micklem away.'
Carlos touched Don's arm.
