61 CHAPTER 60

THE SLATE OF VALE

It should be one o'clock pm.

Jeff could guess that from the duty shift by the men guarding the entrance of the laser protected door.

There were four men in total. The first duty shift was always from six in the morning to six in the evening and the second shift completed the cycle. Each of them spends at least six hours standing, and the evening guards always wear a different patch cloth because of the coldness of the stone.

One of the night guards, the shortest amongst them, always goes out once every one hour and once every two hours he comes back with two cups of coffee. Says it keeps him warm.