"No. Not if we had known. But now—" Bukal broke off and whirled round. "You"—this to the burly man—"take your people and head south to protect our village. The rest of us will run the barrier and try to intercept the raiders. As for you, alien"—he turned back to Craig, eyes hot and scornful—"you'll go south also. But as prisoner, not one of us."
Craig looked to the others; searched their faces.
Their eyes held no mercy.
"All right, you. Come on!" The burly man started towards Craig.
Craig whipped up his fire-gun and laid the barrel hard along the other's temple.
The man slumped to the ground.
Craig said tightly, "To hell with the lot of you! I'm no man's prisoner!"
"Curse you, alien!" Bukal took a quick step forward.
Craig leveled the fire-gun at the flat, bronzed belly.