He desperately wanted a smoke, again, but that was out of the question.
It seemed to him, there in the dark and stillness, one of the fateful moments of time, pregnant with possibilities unlimited.
The Master, Alden, Rrisa, mere vague blurs among the ferns, remained motionless.

If their nerves were a-tingle, they gave no hint or sign of it.

Where might the others of the Legion be?
No indication of them could be made out.

No other living thing seemed in the woods encircling the stockade.

Was each man really there and ready for the predetermined role he was to play?
It seemed incredible, fantastic, to suppose that all these adventurers, each separate and alone, each having no contact, with any other, should all have taken their assigned posts.