It took him two days of cautious footwork before the settlers completely dropped their hostility toward him. Then one evening he told them simply that they still had Bigger Bailes to worry about.
"When he discovers he's been fooled, it's possible he might head for Titan and try to loot the settlement. We have to be ready. For several weeks we'll have to be on guard. The space ship will be camouflaged. For awhile we'll suspend building operations.
"We'll be ready for offense and defense. We have three life boats which are maneuverable in empty space or in an atmosphere. These life boats must be equipped with food, with water, with weapons. I'm calling for volunteers to help me with that job."
It was a rude shock to Unterzuyder when Fayette became the first volunteer.
By the fourth day, the life boats were deadly offensive craft.
Unterzuyder paid particular attention to one of the life boats himself. Quite accidentally, it became loaded down with extra weapons and supplies.
Only one thing bothered him. Fayette was underfoot all the time.
As the time of leaving approached, his nerves began to get the better of him. The time, however, did come. At 22:04 on the fifth day, in the middle of the sleeping period, he dialed open the airlock door to the blister in which the stout little life boat nestled. He closed it behind him, turned around. Fayette was standing at the hatch of the little ship, slickly dressed in shiny boots, smart beige jodphurs, and a blouse open at the throat.
She was holding her pet neutron gun with the snout pointed toward him. She was smiling confidently.