Hardesty interrupted coldly, "Am I to understand, Garroway, that this man is no longer under your protection?"
Garroway shrugged.
"I have washed my hands of him," he said carelessly. "Come, guards!"
He turned away as Meacher screamed, vainly struggled to escape the vengeful trio closing in on him.
"Take him, Vurrth!" ordered Hardesty succinctly.
The great Venusian's hands closed briefly around the traitor's throat, stifling his garbled cries. With revealing ease he lifted the Earthman, held him dangling like a sack of meal in midair, and looked at Hardesty for orders.
"Put him down," commanded Neil. "We will settle our differences elsewhere."
Vurrth grunted, and obediently loosed his grip. The body, of Fred Meacher slumped to the floor awkwardly ... and lay still. Brian Shaughnessey bent over the crumpled figure. He glared up angrily at his comrade.
"Confound you, Vurrth! He's dead!"
Vurrth grinned slowly.