Tears welled in her eyes. She bit her lower lip and tried to control her fluttering throat. "I—I tried to scream. When they carried him out I couldn't do a thing." She burst into tears.
She was normal again. Mike got to his feet. "I've got to check the ship. When I get back I want some answers and you'd better have them ready."
He hurried from the lounge and up the ladder, almost slamming into Nicko as he gained the companionway. Nicko's scales were a sickly, pale green. He tottered weakly on his stumpy legs using all four of his arms to support himself against the bulkhead.
He grinned hideously. "Friends of yours?"
"I don't know who the hell they were. You all right?"
"I'm fine."
Mike scowled up and down the companionway. "What shape are we in?"
"Bad."
"How bad?"
"The worst. The pile's gone."