His black eyes were inky pools of consternation, and his healthy bronze had faded a dozen shades. He recovered his composure quickly when he saw his companions, and a thin smile fought through.
"Looks like a one-bug plague to me," he remarked. "—Whoops, here comes our cowpuncher!"
Angus McClellan still had his one-sided grin as he shook his long lanky body and looked quizzically at the disheveled group of humans.
"Never had anything like that around Sidney," he said. "Chamber of Commerce wouldn't allow it. What's the next installment anyway of the 'Clue of the Chitin Claw'?"
Randall shook his head. "That's all of us, I guess. Anybody hurt?"
Everyone looked around, and finally all shook their heads.
"That is, if you don't count a damaged ego and a completely wrecked peace of mind," added Blake Garnet. "Now what, for heaven's sake?"
"May as well look around," suggested Randall. "I see some kind of buildings across the field."
The others followed the Agent's gesture; saw several dozen low, domed structures squatting in even rows a few hundred yards away.
Randall started toward them, the others following cautiously. When they were within a dozen yards of the structures, a door in the first one opened and a man stepped out.