"Dunno," the next man said, turning to look back.
They waited. One of the pedestrians came sprinting. "Hey, the detectors found a whopping vein of psithium—bigger than the one that started the old-time rush!"
"Huh, is that all?" Horseface demanded. "Forget it! We got to save Trixie!"
The borer had traveled faster than Horseface had imagined. He didn't come in sight of it until the party reached Saturday. It was just stopping in front of Goreck's tavern, "The Martian's Fancy". Goreck was handing Trixie down from it.
Saturday was a lot less of a ghost-town than Finchburg. Maybe there were weeds in its main street, but every house had its occupants, and some had coats of paint besides.
Elmer braked at the borer, his claws deeply furrowing the dust. Horseface called, "Trix, come on back! We come to save you in spite of yourself!"
Goreck whistled, and a flock of his boys materialised on the porch of "The Martian's Fancy".
"Trouble, boyss! Sstand ready!"
Then he smiled at Horseface and the other Finchburgers. It was a masterpiece of insult. "I don't like blast-play or dangerouss fighting, but if necessary, I'll resort to it. You've no authority to argue, sso go before you get hurt. Trixie iss here because she wants to be here—no, my dear?"