Varnik and Baya were not far away. Baya was leaning against a wall, with her mouth wide open. She was not used to running. Varnik was standing beside her looking sulky. He scowled at Durham when he came out of the alley. Durham stopped, bracing himself and ready to yell for help. But Varnik shook his head. "Nyuh!" he said.
Baya panted. "What's the matter, you afraid?"
"Yes," said Varnik. "Those two little green ones, they are not playing for fun. And that black one—" He quivered all over. "I'm afraid. I see you again, Baya."
He went away. Baya was close onto tears, partly from her own fright, partly from sheer fury and frustration. But she did not cry. She turned and looked at Durham.
"What got into you?" she said. "It was all set, and then you had to louse it up." She cursed him. "It's just like you, Lloyd, to cost me a nice chunk of money."
"Who are those people, Baya?"
"They didn't tell me. I didn't ask."
"Total strangers, eh?"
"Turned up this afternoon at my apartment. I should think you could tell. They're not the type I run with."
"No." He frowned, still breathing hard and wiping sweat from his face. "How did they know about us?"