"Yes, that will be possible—though difficult. Vanning—" Zeeth's eyes hooded.
"Yeah?"
"Callahan is not here."
"What?"
The Venusian made a quick gesture. "He awoke when I did. He told me to say that he had no wish to go to prison—so he was leaving."
"Where to?" Vanning asked quietly.
"Venus landing. He left the ship an hour ago to get food and weapons, and by this time he is in the southern swamps, well on his way. At the Landing, he said, he would embark on a space-ship heading—somewhere."
"I see. He'll reach the Landing before we do, then. Before we leave, we'll have to get things in some sort of order."
Both Hobbs and the girl were moving slightly. Presently they would awaken—and then the work would begin. With the city emptied of the Swamja, it would be easy to organize the slaves, get up a party to march to Venus Landing—