Once he looked back. The Venusians were following, and on each face was a look of adoration. Barry knew then he had made himself the new leader of Tana. They crowded close, anxious to get away from the bewitched waters. He motioned them to keep a safe distance.
And then suddenly he reached open water and the last of the monsters died in fire. Barry looked down at the pressure gauges. The tanks were empty.
The Venusians gathered around but kept a respectful distance from his person.
"Get back to Tana, all of you!" he commanded. "Remain there until either Xintel or I tell you otherwise!"
Without further questioning they obeyed.
He would have missed the half submerged tree entirely except for something white on the bottom, something from which small carrion-eaters scuttled at his approach. Hind's skeleton, already half buried in the ooze. Gunshot or drowning? Dorothy or Xintel? What matter?
The two women were still watching each other warily on the bank. But, he saw with relief, they had laid their weapons aside.
Together, each in her own language, they bombarded him with questions.
He managed a faint smile although the skin of his face felt stiff and scorched from the flame thrower's heat.