he 'd know they would n't go far , given the sterile and gloomy countryside all around , but he 'd also know that if there were attackers at the north end of the compound , there might be rescuers standing by at the- and there he was , thank the gods and gan-sai pimli prentiss , staggering and winded and clearly in a state of shock , with a loaded docker 's clutch swinging back and forth under his meaty arm .