Randy laughed softly, and the laugh had all the old familiar
recklessness in it, but it couldn't hide the fear. "You will, Hale. I
got into this mess trying to do what you always told me to--get a new
start on some other clod. There are plenty of jobs on Venus. Maybe I
can still stowaway to Venus. I swear that's where I'll go, if you'll
only let me through that door."
"Venus has a skid-row, too."
"I'm through with it. So help me!"
"You killed that redboy."
"He tried to kill me. He knew I had a gun. What was I supposed to do?
Only a redboy--"
Hale said slowly, "What about George and the others? I'll have to face
them on this."
"They'll find you on the floor with a lump on your head. They'll never
hold it against you." Randy spread his hands. "I'd rather you'd kill
me--now--than take me out there for the redboys."
* * * * *
Hale felt baffled. It had been like this in the old days, Randy had
always had his way. Coming to Mars in the first place had been Randy's
idea, and he'd pressed it, and Hale had done well on Mars. Maybe Randy
had a break coming. Hale thought, five years isn't such a long time,
after all. He said tiredly, "All right. You can have your chance. Good
luck. And I'll take those twin-stones, Randy."
Randy let out a long sigh and looked up at the roof of the temple, as
if he could see far-off Venus in that thick blackness. He brought the
glowing stones from a pocket. "Here's Phobos--here's Deimos," he said
wryly. "I thought maybe you'd forget."