Fennel answered immediately.
Garry explained the situation and told Fennel the elevator was working. Fennel said there were still lights showing in the windows of the two extreme wings of the house.
'The light on the right is mine,' Garry said. 'The other light is from Kahlenberg's quarters.'
'The left wing light has gone out,' Fennel reported. 'The only light now showing is where you are.'
'Kahlenberg told me the grounds aren't patrolled, Lew,' Garry said, 'but I don't trust him. Take your time and use every scrap of cover as you come. There could be some of the Zulu guards around.'
'I'll watch it. I'll start now. It'll take me a good half-hour to get to you. Ken will remain here until we signal him.'
'Roger . . . out,' and Garry switched off. Turning to Gaye, he went on, 'He's on his way now. All the other lights have gone out.' He crossed to the bedside lamps and turned them on, then he turned off the ceiling lights. Going to the window, he peered into the darkness. The big moon was partially hidden by clouds, but after a few moments, his eyes became used to the darkness and he could make out the terrace furniture and beyond the beds of flowers.
'We could be flying back to Mainville in a couple of hours,' Gaye said. 'I'm going to change.'
She went into the bedroom, took off the sari and put on her shirt and shorts. When she returned to the lounge, she found Garry had also changed. They sat on the bed, looking through the window, waiting for Fennel.
The minutes dragged by. Both of them were keyed up as they sat, waiting. After what seemed an age, Garry put his hand on Gaye's arm.
'He's here.' He got to his feet and went to the window.
Fennel came out of the darkness and paused at the window and nodded. He lowered his tool kit to the ground and came to the terrace doors. With the aid of a pencil flash light, he examined the lock. Looking at Garry, he jerked up his thumb, then reached for his tool kit.
In a few minutes, the terrace doors swung open. Picking up his tool kit, Fennel moved into the lounge. He ignored Gaye as if she wasn't in the room. Turning to Garry, he said, 'Been doing yourself well, huh?' He looked around the room. 'Ken and I certainly caught the crappy end of this stick, didn't we?'
'Tough,' Garry said, smiling. 'Never mind. You'll recover.'
Fennel gave him an evil look, then turned away. Seeing the mood he was in, Gaye watched him, but didn't speak.
'Where's the lift?' Fennel asked. 'This job could take me three or four hours.'
Garry turned to Gaye.
'You'd better stay here if it's going to take that long.' She nodded.
'All right.'
'How about the TV snoopers?' Fennel asked.
'They're there in the museum, but I've no idea where the monitor-room is or if anyone keeps watch at night.'
Fennel flushed with rage.
'Your job was to find out!' he snarled.
Garry went to the door, opened it and beckoned to Fennel.
'Take a look . . . there are about thirty-five doors down that corridor. It could be behind any one of them. We can't walk in and check. Did you see any Zulus as you came through the garden?'
'No. What's that to do with it?'
'The chances are if they aren't patrolling the grounds, they don't keep watch at night on the TV monitor.'
'If they do, we're sunk.'
'There it is. Have you any ideas how we can check?'
Fennel thought, then shrugged.
'It could be anywhere . . . could be in one of the huts away from the house.' He hesitated. 'It's taking a hell of a chance.'
'We either take the chance or we leave without the ring.'
