"It's all off, Greeno," Flint said. "We ran across a bat on the way out! It's headed toward the Ring. Take these people back to Saturn and—" But the man in the space suit had whipped out his hand, caught Karen Vaun by the wrist.
It was only then that Flint remembered Greeno couldn't hear him, not only couldn't hear him because he was deaf but couldn't read his thoughts because he was surrounded by the metal hull of the ship. He stepped over and grabbed him by the shoulder, pointed to the girl, shook his head violently. "Cut it out! Skip it! It's all off!" he mouthed, hoping Greeno might read his lips.
"Who is it?" Hudson and Leggett looked on nervously. "What's he trying to do?"
Flint started to explain, but then how could he explain that he'd planned to kidnap Karen Vaun and changed his mind. He continued his sign language at Greeno.
Karen struggled, trying to free herself. "I don't understand! Stop him!"
Finally, Flint threw an arm around Greeno's neck. There was nothing else to do. Hudson grabbed Greeno's arm, tried to pry loose his grasp on the girl.
The wiry Venusian twisted out of Flint's arm before he could get a head-lock grip. Coming up with his other hand, he threw an uppercut at Hudson. The lawyer saw it coming, jerked his head back like a turtle. But Flint didn't see it coming.
The full force of Greeno's swing caught him exactly on the point of his chin.
The room spun wildly. Then it dissolved into blackness.