Hume put down the needler he had been charging. He studied Yactisi across that weapon.
"Who are you?" His voice was soft but carried a snap.
For the first time Vye saw the tall, lean civ really smile.
"A man of many interests, Hunter—shall we let it go at that for the present? Though I assure you that Wass is not one of them in the way you might believe."
Gray eyes met brown, held so straightly. Then Hume spoke. "I believe you. But I have told you the truth."
"I have never doubted that—only the amount of it. There must be more talking later on—you understand that?"
"I never thought otherwise." Hume set the needler inside the flitter. The civ smiled again, this time including Vye in that evidence of good will before he walked away.
Hume made no comment. "That does it," he told his companion. "Still want to go?"
"If you do—and you can't do it alone." No man could take on the valley and Wass and his men.
Hume made no comment. They had rested briefly after their return to the safari camp, and Vye had been supplied with clothing from Hume's bags, so that now he wore the uniform of the Guild. He went armed, too, with the equipment belt taken from Rovald and that other's weapons, needler and tube. At least they started on their dubious rescue mission with every aid the safari camp could muster.