There was something—
The man looked around, saw him.
The man was old, his face was expressionless. His eyes were all right, were dark and usual, but his nose was alien.
There was no doubt about that. To any other human it would look merely odd, but to Web it was alien. Knifelike and alien.
They stood facing each other across the few feet of store. Web reached again for the gun he did not have. Quickly—but with a gliding smoothness, in no hurry at all—the alien turned away. He sat down on a stool at the fountain.
Web stood for several seconds in the booth, watching.
He tried to think, but there was no time. Others would be gathering outside. He fought the impulse to run. After a long moment he opened the door of the booth and walked out into the store. The alien did not turn. The huge glass window of the store was unblocked. Web could see dozens of shoppers pass by in the night. In the crowd there would be old men. To go out now was foolish.
He walked over to the fountain and sat down two seats away from the alien. There was a fat, soda-eating woman between them. He ordered coffee.
No way out. They were not likely to come in, but there was no way out. Through the back door would be useless. Darker, less people. He looked down toward the alien. The little man was sitting quietly, the glass untouched before him. The nose was sharp in profile.
Web made up his mind quickly, in the only way possible. His strength, his size was his only asset. He would have to use it.