King Lamus Intervenes 261
advantage of the fact to watch your discomfort as if
it were somebody else. When you find that you can
enjoy this instead of blindly rushing to heroin for
relief, you will already have gone a long way in the
direction of acquiring mental control.”’
Several times during the night Lala intervened
vigorously in such a way that it was impossible for us
not to give her our attention. We found out later that
this was part of the plan, that we were being watched
for symptoms of acute disquietude, and that whenever
these appeared, she interfered to prevent our dwelling
on the subject.
I was astonished to find it about four o’clock in the
morning, when King Lamus said :—
“T’ve just been thinking that we should all be the
better for a little heroin,’ and proceeded to hand it
around. ,
The effect was extraordinary. I was aware of an
infinite sense of relief; but it was evanescent. It could
only have been a few instants before I sank into a
dreamless slumber.