"And was sent to the Hole. But for you, Waltk, my plan would have failed. I needed your strength—your instinct—your eyes. I promised you a pearl, too."
"You have already given it to me," Waltk said quietly. "Freedom from The Hole, if only for a while. Because you led me from the Hole, I will help you until your quest is ended. I swear it."
Jarl Gare chuckled to himself. The simple-minded brute! He thinks he's free. For the moment, sure, but when he meets the Venusians he's done. Good riddance. A tool should be discarded if there's no more use for it.
The gentle touch of Waltk's big hand on his shoulder awakened him. "The Chameleon men," Waltk whispered.
Hastily, Jarl Gare slipped on the glasses and seized the light. "Where?" he asked.
"They are in a circle about the tree."
Jarl Gare swerved the light around the tree. A hundred yards away was the edge of the circle. The infra-red showed them—dark, hunched figures.
"They just seem to be waiting for something," Jarl Gare said.
"Us," Waltk said laconically.