Thief of Time - Sleep

'But everybody has to sleep!'

'Yes, but not yet,' Lu-Tze insisted. 'We can rest in the caves down at Songset. Can't fold time while you're asleep, see?'

'Can't we use the spinners?'

'In theory, yes.'

'In theory? They could wind out time for us. We'd only sleep for a few seconds-'

'They're for emergencies only,' said Lu-Tze bluntly.

'How do you define an emergency, Sweeper?'

'An emergency is when I decide its time to use a clockwork spinner designed by Qu, wonder boy. A lifebelt's for saving your life. That's when I'll trust an uncalibrated, unblessed spinner powered by springs.
When I have to. I know Qu says-’

***

The Thief of Time - p167-168