He summoned Craig, Schroeder, Barber and Anders. They went to the chamber where Bemmon slept and there, almost at once, they found his cache. He had it buried under his pallet and hidden in cavities along the walls; dried meat, dried fruits and milk, canned vegetables. It was an amount amazingly large and many of the items had presumably been exhausted during the deficiency disease attack.

“It looks,” Schroeder said, “like he didn’t waste any time feathering his nest when he made himself leader.”

The others said nothing but stood with grim, frozen faces, waiting for Lake’s next action.

“Bring Bemmon,” Lake said to Craig.

Craig returned with him two minutes later. Bemmon stiffened at the sight of his unearthed cache and color drained away from his face.

“Well?” Lake asked.