The awakening came suddenly, the chair jerked from beneath his feet, his body hurled backward.

He fell, gripping at the window seat, so that he was flung against the support of a side wall, able to retain his feet, but not to wholly ward off a vicious blow, which left him staggering.

Half blinded, West leaped forward to grapple with the assailant, but was too late.
Hobart rushed back out of reach of his arms, and rapped sharply on the door panel.

It opened instantly, and big Mike, closely followed by another man, pushed forward into the room.

West was trapped, helpless; one man pitted against three.