"Fair, boys, fair,” answered the hulking hunter complacently. He turned. “Meet some lads from up in Karies."
He pointed to the disguised Planeteers, introducing them to the crowd by the false names that Thorn had given him.
A hard-faced, ample-figured old Saturnian hag reached over the drinking-counter with an outstretched hand.
"Pass over the guns, Kribo,” she, ordered harshly.
"This is Mother Bombey,” Kribo told Thorn with a grin. “She makes us check our guns when we come in, so that our little arguments won't wreck the place."
Thorn made no objection to handing over the heavy atom-guns, for he and Sual Av and Gunner Welk retained their atom pistols inside their jackets.
"Drinks or vibrations for everybody!” ordered Kribo, slapping down a platinum coin with a lordly gesture.
Thorn ordered fungus wine, which he knew was the Saturnian favorite. Sual Av and Gunner Welk followed his lead.
"Here's better times and plenty teeth for every hunter!” proposed Kribo, quaffing the pale liquor.
John Thorn could not help liking the hulking hunter. He sensed that here was a representative of the real population of the League worlds, hardworking, fundamentally decent people all, when not whipped up to war fever by an ambitious dictator's inflammatory lies.