Perfect, he thought. Thank you, God.
He stepped out of the foliage.
Taaleeb's features broke into a smile. "Good evening, our friend from Earth-Star. We come to escort you back to our—"
The smile died. Alarm flooded his face.
Captain Torkel raised the pistol. "That won't be necessary. There's been a change in plan."
The Sirian's dark gaze speared into his skull. "Yes, I see," he murmured....
A few minutes later Captain Torkel returned to the meadow, the five scowling Sirians herded before him. Each carried an uprooted grapevine.
"You know what to do?" he asked, brandishing the pistol.
"Your mind has told us," said Taaleeb sullenly.