If the time spent in a little dark cell is too short, it loses its meaning... For example, if it's as short as eight hours or less, that would be nothing more than turning the lights off for someone before they sleep.
Tommy Lohar was detained yesterday afternoon; he must be held for at least a full cycle of twenty-four hours.
Then they could tell him that he had been detained for thirty hours. Hunger and fear would extend his perceived duration of confinement, so Tommy would think he only had one day left—when in fact he had one day and six hours remaining.
These extra six hours were the margin of misinformation created by the Guardian.
By two o'clock on Thursday afternoon, the Guardian arrived on time at the Supervisory Bureau's sub-branch in the Red Queen District.
But when they opened the secret room and turned on the lights, they found the room was already empty.
Only a brass ring lay quietly on the cold stone bed, its golden brilliance twinkling under the light.
