Fox said anxiously, "How about it, Captain? Do we go with them?"
"I don't want to go," said Van Gundy, trembling. "Don't make me go, Captain."
"I'll be damned if I'll go," muttered Garcia. "I'm going back to the rocket."
Captain Torkel nodded. "You two can go back to the rocket."
Fox leaned forward. "The rest of us can go, can't we?"
Captain Torkel frowned at Fox and Lieutenant Washington and Kelly. The fear was still in him, but he said softly, "All right, we'll go."
Garcia and Van Gundy ran back toward the Star Queen, white-faced, shoulders hunched. Captain Torkel and Fox and Kelly and Lieutenant Washington, led by the young Sirian, stumbled down a wide forest trail. Other Sirians darted on either side of them and behind them, half hidden by the thick foliage. They were like happy, dancing nymphs. Every second or two the forest echoed their clear, melodious laughter.
"We forgot to introduce ourselves," Captain Torkel said to the Sirian. "My name is Torkel, Captain Jeffrey Torkel."
"My name is Taaleeb," replied the Sirian.
"A pretty name. You are the leader of your people?"