"As I was saying, gentlemen. Using the electric secondaries from the
ships, with submerged electrodes, you can set up a high-voltage,
low-amperage barrier across the slough that will stun without killing.
If this first attack can be warded off without killing, perhaps we can
establish friendly relations."
"What makes you think they could be friendly?" a man asked suspiciously.
"Because of a girl named Xintel who would undoubtedly become their
leader if Komso were killed or discredited. She saved my life, and
since then we have lived together and fought side by side. She is
waiting on the edge of the swamp now, an outcast from her own people
because she dared help me."
Dorothy understood more from his tone than his words alone conveyed.
Her face paled.
"Barry," she began, her voice strained. "You--?"
The door opened again and three men crowded into the room. One was
Robson Hind. The electronics expert's face went gray as he saw his
supposed victim still alive. Barry itched to get at him but for the
moment too much was at stake to permit personal revenge.
"Rig the shock charges at once," he suggested. "Xintel and I will do
our best to head off the attack under water."
There were objections. Some considered it too dangerous. A heated
argument broke out, but at last the council of captains nodded
agreement. A sublethal current was to be used, but it was to be
backstopped by mortars, machine guns and flame throwers. Any creature
showing its head above water was to be blasted on sight.
"I'll attend to the power supply," Hind suddenly volunteered.
Barry guessed what was really in his mind. From Hind's unbalanced,
paranoid viewpoint it was essential he be removed to forestall an
investigation. He turned to the spaceship captains.
"I most strongly urge that someone other than Robson Hind take charge
of the work."
"Why?" Captain Reno snapped.
"My reasons are valid, believe me. I'll explain later."
"The man's crazy!" Hind spluttered.
Captain Reno looked at his fellow officers and they nodded.
"Podtiaguine, take charge of the installation," Reno commanded.
The dry air was hurting Barry's lungs; Komso might attack at any
moment; and Xintel was all alone where hostile swamp met hostile sea.
"I've got to get out," he declared. "Give me a pair of liquid fire
pistols."
A storekeeper hurried to get them, and as Barry buckled the holster
belt around his waist he looked for Dorothy. She was gone.
"Remember," he warned. "No killing unless absolutely necessary, but
watch out for tricks. If my luck holds I'll be back. I have things to
settle."
He looked meaningfully at Hind, then turned abruptly and strode down
the hall, his ragged trousers flapping damply, his Venusian sandals
squishing at every step. The warm, stench-filled Venusian mist closed
around him, revivifying him and soothing his tormented lungs as he
started toward the swamp.
"Barry!" It was Dorothy.
"Barry, I want a straight answer."
"Yes?"
"Have you stopped loving me?"
His answer was unhesitating. "No, and I never will. But I have no right
since I became--like this."
She made a sound between a gasp and a sob.
"But that Venusian girl?"
Barry fumbled for words. "I--I love her too. It's just that
I--well--you and she belong in different worlds and I'm--I'm part of
both but not fully of either."
"Oh! But you'll come back--for short periods at least?"
"If I live through what's coming," he answered soberly.