"They say any rocket-plane that flies within five miles of that spaceport is gunned down,” Kribo declared. “I always give the place a wide berth."
Thorn nodded. For the moment, as he stared at the gathering armada that was intended to carry conquest and destruction to the inner worlds, he could not trust himself to speak.
"Here we are,” boomed Kribo a few minutes later. He added proudly, “It didn't take long in this machine, did it?"
Their rocket-plane was gliding down over the flat, black roofs of the city. They poised in the rainy mist, edged into a descent-level, and presently came down on a parking-roof.
Kribo turned genially to Thorn and his comrades as the party of slith hunters emerged from the battered machine.
"You three lads come along with us to Mother Bombey's place,” he boomed. “It's our favorite drinking spot here."
"Sorry, we can't,” Thorn told him. “We're out of money, and these few teeth we have won't bring more than enough to pay our way back to Karies."
"Who said you would need money?” demanded Kribo indignantly. “I'm paying for everything, lads. I know what it is to come back from a hard trip with only a handful of teeth."
Thorn thought rapidly. He had a plan for seeking Lana, but could not try it until night came. The Planeteers would be safer if they stayed off the streets in the meantime.
"All right, we're your men if you're paying,” he told Kribo with a grin, as they descended to the street.