An undersea cliff loomed craggy and irregular ahead. As the group slanted up toward a black hole in its face the voices of the men took on tones of happy relief.
But the girl was frowning.
The group which had held together compactly during the long swim broke up, each man heading for the cave mouth at top speed. Barry saw that huge boulders had been piled one upon another to narrow the entrance until not more than three abreast could pass.
Xintel motioned to Barry to stay close behind her. She seemed to be anticipating trouble.
It came as they started to enter. A huge, bull-necked man with a well fed appearance in marked contrast to the lean muscularity of the other Venusians, stepped out and barred their passage, arms outflung. Heavy glittering bracelets jangled on his wrists. Something in the contrived melodrama of his gestures told Barry that unseen eyes were watching from the darkness.
"Xintel! What is this thing you bring to the portal of Tana?" the man asked harshly.
The girl stood her ground. "He comes with me!"
"He's an alien. He must die!" The man's tone was arrogant.
Xintel stiffened angrily. "He will not be killed, Komso. He is not a noru."