Chapter 16Several silent, tedious, and hazy minutes after this conversation, Dr. Alcott lay down upon one of the reed mats and, in spite of only having half an inch of rough ‘padding’ between her and the hard, stony earth, fell asleep almost immediately. I was not far behind. When I awoke, and had acclimatised enough to my grogginess and aching skull to take note of things, I saw from the slightly faded light through the palisade that the afternoon was somewhat advanced. I was surprised we had been allowed to rest for so long when Necocyaotl had seemed so impatient to leave, but then I became aware of something else: although Dr. Alcott was still sleeping where I had last seen her, Phoebe and Johan were nowhere to be seen.
I went over to the palisade and called out to the guards, without
