"Then there will be hypervirulent bacteria. You know what that means!"
"Why should they attack us?" someone demanded.
"You're strange to them, alien, and there is a leader among them who fears outside influences will undermine his absolute control."
"All right! Let's get ready, shoot the works, and give them what they're asking for!" The man who spoke had been a close friend of Evans.
"No!" Barry said decisively. "That would be the worst thing possible!"
"What would you advise?" one of the captains asked.
"Many of them would be friendly if given a chance," Barry explained. "But if you plant mines in the slough and wipe out the attacking party it will mean enmity between colonists and the surviving Venusians for all time to come. Both sides will be vulnerable, you to bacterial attack, they to depth charges, and the surface of Venus will be rendered uninhabitable for years or even centuries."
"What's the alternative?" Captain Reno demanded.
The door opened and Barry glanced around. Even in mud-streaked coveralls Dorothy Voorhees was beautiful. He had forgotten just how desirable she was.
"Barry!" she cried joyfully, and ran to him.