"As long as you needed us—" Cal began.
"But I no longer need you to help me find the hidden ones," the lieutenant answered. "That makes things different, doesn't it?"
"It sure does," Cal agreed. "But why did you shoot him?"
"I made up my mind months ago to shoot him as soon as I no longer needed him," the Asian officer answered. "He was too crazy to trust."
"But he found this place for you and he got you past those hell generators," Cal said.
"That is true. But the place is now found and we are past the odd devices that make weaklings afraid." His tone said that this also made the situation different and that the ragged man had better understand this and guide himself accordingly. Cal started to speak, then changed his mind.
"What were you two talking about?" the Asian asked.
"He said he saw a face in the air," the ragged man answered. "I told him that he was nuts and to shut up."
"Was there a face?"
"I didn't see nothing," Cal answered.