During those tortured days of waiting Nick had developed a strange liking for the ancient, uncomplaining Martian.
"A half-track caught us. We had to scatter, and lost Klev in the darkness."
"He's probably been killed by now. No time to look." Nick felt a sense of shame as he said this. But it was true. The ship came first.
He glanced apprehensively to where the rim of one of the moons was peeping over the horizon. Then they were in the shadow of the hull, struggling through the mud beneath its outcurving surface toward the portable metal stairway leading to the port. The stairway was tilted to one side where its wheels had sunk deep into the soft mud, and the steps were slippery with slime. Nick started up, holding his gun ready.
Suddenly a mocking laugh came from the entry port above. "Stay where you are!" a voice said.
"Harmon!" Sue gasped.
The nozzle of a bulky flame gun appeared over the edge, followed by a head. The nozzle swung downward as they clung helpless on the slippery stairway. On the ground below Merlo made some involuntary motion and the weapon swung to include him in its range.
"Any last words?" Harmon mocked.
Susan said something, using extremely nasty words that Nick had never expected to hear from her lips.
"Such a sweet child," Harmon gloated. "And such a pity to break up your tender scene."