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Rh tap-tap (pause); tap-tap-tap-tap (long pause); tap-tap”—it stopped.

And immediately, from another cell, alert, tense and affirmative: “Tap-tap; tap-tap; tap-tap.”

Then, again from the first cell, very softly, but with insistence, the first call: “tap-tap (pause); tap-tap (long pause); tap-tap-tap-tap-tap (pause); tap (long pause); tap-tap-tap (pause); tap-tap-tap (long pause); tap-tap.”

And from far down the corridor, a third cell spoke; decisively, almost ragefully: “tap-tap; tap-tap; tap-tap.”

“Tap-tap,” began the first cell again; “tap-tap; tap-tap-tap-tap-tap”

It broke off short; to 9009 came again the prison’s uncouth breathing; then, shadowy, a guard passed along the cells, hissing in his rubber shoes.

The tapping was not resumed. It was some alphabetical communication, 9009 knew; he had heard of such a thing. Lying on his back he thought of the four men—of Miller, the gaunt Rh