"So you turned her loose?"
"I was afraid to. I figured as long as we held her nothing much could happen to us. But I was wrong-they poured something on the door that ate it right away and they were in the ship before we could stop them. They killed my crew, just overran them-but we must have gotten at least twice as many of them, the brutes!"
"How come you're still breathing?"
"I locked myself in the com room and sent out the call for help that got you here. They didn't find me there until they went through the ship, compartment by compartment. I must have passed out from the fumes when they melted their way in-anyhow I woke up while they were bringing me here."
"I see." Oscar sat a while and thought, his knees pulled up under his chin. "This is your first time on Venus, Stinky?"
"Well, yes."
"I thought so. It's apparent that you didn't know just how stubborn and difficult the Little People can be if you start pushing them around."
Burke looked wry. "I know now. That's why I distinctly called for a regiment of marines. I can't imagine what the Department was thinking about, to send three cadets and a watch officer. Of all the brass-hatted stupidity! My old man will raise plenty of Cain about it when I get back."
Tex gave a snort of disgust. "Did you think the Patrol was invented to keep a jughead like you from having to pay for his fun?"
"Why, you-"