"Okay, just a minute while I--what? Venus? Why?" Larson stared. His
little eyes shifted to Jhongan. "About that plan of his, huh? I'm
ready. Let's go."
Venard told him everything he knew, with intermittent injections from
La Crue.
"It's about as clear as that Venusian mud's gonna be," said Larson.
"You need a left hand. That'll get us inside S.S.C. or rather get
you inside. We hope. A few have taken advantage of their body bank
facilities; but S.S.C. doesn't encourage it. There are stories of
horror coming out of S.S.C. And you know the one I was telling you
about the concept of an alien God."
"Yeah," breathed Larson. "That alien god. I don't like that."
La Crue cut in, "A small Scouter's ready to blast off from a
subterranean cradle near here. The Underground has several of them
cradled at strategic points for emergencies."
"Let's go, Kewpie Doll," snapped Venard. "And don't try to guess why.
Although in your case, I can't see the danger."
"Goodbye," said La Crue as a Guard appeared to lead them through secret
tunnels to their waiting Scouter. "And good luck...."