"We been yellin' for help to the CDT, over on Ivory," said Potter. "But you know these Embassy stooges."
"We heard they were sending some kind of bureaucrat in here to tell us to get out and give the oases to the Flap-jacks," said Swazey. He tightened his mouth. "We're waitin' for him...."
"Meanwhile we got reinforcements comin' up, eh, boys?" Bert winked at Retief. "We put out the word back home. We all got relatives on Ivory and Verde."
"Shut up, you damn fool!" a deep voice grated.
"Lemuel!" Potter said. "Nobody else could sneak up on us like that."
"If I'd a been a Flap-jack; I'd of et you alive," the newcomer said, moving into the ring of fire, a tall, broad-faced man in grimy leather. He eyed Retief.
"Who's that?"
"What do ya mean?" Potter spoke in the silence. "He's your cousin...."
"He ain't no cousin of mine," Lemuel said slowly. He stepped to Retief.
"Who you spyin' for, stranger?" he rasped.