Kanza went out, still giggling. Bucky closed the door.
"Jig," he said, "those vapor worms were all right when we went in.
Somebody followed us down and let them out. On purpose."
I hurt all over. I growled, "With that brain, son, you should go far.
Nobody saw anything, of course?" Bucky shook his head.
"Question is, Jig, who wants to kill us, and why?"
"Beamish. He realizes he's been gypped."
"One hundred U.C.'s," said Bucky softly, "for a few lousy swampedge
mining camps. It stinks, Jig. You think we should back out?"
I shrugged. "You're the boss man. I'm only the guy that beats off the
creditors."
"Yeah," Bucky said reflectively. "And I hear starvation isn't a
comfortable death. Okay, Jig. Let's go sign." He put his hand on the
latch and looked at my feet. "And--uh--Jig, I...."