Sam shrugged morosely.
The fat man steepled his fingers and leaned forward solicitously. "Tell
me--aren't you the Daniel Elliot who cracked up a spaceship in the
jungles five years ago?"
"That's me," Elliot said.
The fat man nodded. "Mr. Elliot, I understand that you were near
the Venusian Temple of Light--that you actually saw the Dragonbird
with your own eyes. Can you tell me if the thing is a robot or is it
actually alive?"
Elliot grinned. He had seen the fabulous bird from the jungle, hidden
from the Venusian priests who worshipped it, but even at a distance he
could tell the thing was alive. No robot could have moved with such
sinuous grace. "It's real," he said.
The fat man smiled unpleasantly. "I had hoped so, Mr. Elliot. I want
that bird. You're the only one who can lead me to it."
Elliot rose to his feet and glared at the fat man. "Not me, mister.
I don't like the jungle--and I don't like the idea of taking the
Venusian's pet god, either."