Captain Reno looked at his fellow officers and they nodded.
"Podtiaguine, take charge of the installation," Reno commanded.
The dry air was hurting Barry's lungs; Komso might attack at any moment; and Xintel was all alone where hostile swamp met hostile sea.
"I've got to get out," he declared. "Give me a pair of liquid fire pistols."
A storekeeper hurried to get them, and as Barry buckled the holster belt around his waist he looked for Dorothy. She was gone.
"Remember," he warned. "No killing unless absolutely necessary, but watch out for tricks. If my luck holds I'll be back. I have things to settle."
He looked meaningfully at Hind, then turned abruptly and strode down the hall, his ragged trousers flapping damply, his Venusian sandals squishing at every step. The warm, stench-filled Venusian mist closed around him, revivifying him and soothing his tormented lungs as he started toward the swamp.
"Barry!" It was Dorothy.
"Barry, I want a straight answer."
"Yes?"