Hoxworth asked stiffly, turning unwillingly to see a brash-looking young man in flannel trousers and white linen coat.

"What sort of reward could buy back the time we've lost," Kai asked stiffly, "or health?"

He asked stiffly: 'What do you propose, then?'

Nefer asked stiffly, still smarting from his encounter with the Magus.

Todd asked stiffly, and then the name registered.

Offended, her mother stiffly asked, "What is the matter, dear?"

Second Speaker asked stiffly, glancing down at the offensive hand.

Sunder asked stiffly over the pain of his ribs.

And Pete Schneyman, who had been in charge of the Observatory during her enforced absence, asked stiffly, "Which one is going to be the director?"

Bond asked stiffly, as though just getting over a shot of Novocain.