"Perhaps I am." Jay thumbed the line of his jawbone. "I feel a, sort of warmth ... a happiness ... when they are near."
Onin snorted out a disgusted exclamation. "Or perhaps you are like a dog worshipping its master."
Jay swung his fist at Onin's jaw. Onin dodged, grinning.
"You are wrong," Jay spat out. "I am a man!"
Onin shrugged. "All X here, animat. Call yourself a man."
"We will take all the batteries from the others," said Jay, disregarding Onin's jeer. "Perhaps the searchers will not find the wreck and we can go on living here. There are books and recordings to study."
Onin's mouth twisted. "Small chance. They know the ship crashed somewhere in this area. And with the Draper female aboard they'll spare no expense."
"I heard rocket motors yesterday," admitted Jay.
A sodden thud-thud of approaching feet warned them of another's advance. Jay gripped his club tighter and waited, crouching.
"A butrad?" Onin muttered, referring to the gray-skinned froglike natives of Venus.