"Perihelion," Shluh said dully. "To begin now the long fall back."
"Not quite," Retief said. "I figure eighty-five seconds to go." He scanned the instruments, frowning.
"We will not reach the surface, of course," Shluh said in Terran. "The pips on the screen are missiles. We have a rendezvous in space, Retief. In your madness, may you be content."
"They're fifteen minutes behind us, Shluh. Your defenses are sluggish."
"Nevermore to burrow in the gray sands of Groac," Shluh said.
Retief's eyes were fixed on a dial face.
"Any time now," he said softly. Shluh counted his eye stalks.
"What do you seek?"
Retief stiffened.
"Look at the screen," he said. Shluh looked. A glowing point, off-center, moving rapidly across the grid....