Kerrel shook his head. "You wouldn't kill her, Trehearne."
"No, I wouldn't," Trehearne answered. "But I'm only one and there are others aboard. Eleven men of Thuvis, who feel that one life is very little to pay for escape from this hell-hole. Come on, Kerrel, how much is Shairn worth to you? You can have her—free, clear and alive."
Kerrel asked, "What do you want?"
"A head start."
"It won't do you any good. You can't outrun a cruiser."
Joris said, "We'll take that chance!"
Again Kerrel hesitated. "What are your terms?"
Trehearne said, "You will allow us to take off and we'll guarantee to land Shairn safely on the other side of this planet. You will keep your ship here until you receive our message that that has been done. We will both be able to check each other's actions by radar and if your generators are started before our second take-off we'll know it."
Kerrel thought, and then asked sullenly, "What assurance have I that you will actually release her?"
"You can take my word for that," Trehearne told him. "Either that or blow her to bits with the rest of us."