Tom Brazier's eyes were vague. "I had it checked."
This surprised Brooks. "You didn't mention it before."
"No. Nothing to mention, really. Something I can't quite put my finger on."
"Looks like a pretty old settlement."
"It is. It began as a mining town back in 1890. Some silver veins out in the hills. They ran out though and the place became a ghost town shortly afterwards."
"A short life and happy one."
"Short, anyhow. After the silver piddled out they all left except one or two old sand fleas. Since then it became a stop-over place for casuals."
"But there must be forty or fifty people there now. Where did they come from?"
"Drifted in the last few years I suppose."
"If you have any suspicions, we ought to check. Even if they can't be from outer space."