"I'll leave Charley with you."
Denver broke the girl's clasp on his arm and edged slow to the doorway. He shouted.
"Hey, Caltis!"
There was stunning silence. Then a far, muted crackle in his earphones.
A voice answered, "Yes? I'm here. What's on your mind, funny boy?"
"A parley."
"Nuts, but come on out. I'll talk."
"You come up," Denver argued. "I don't trust you."
Big Ed Caltis considered the proposition. "How do I know you won't try to nail me for hostage?"
"You don't. But I'm not a fool. What good would it do even if I killed you. Your men are down there. They'd still want the mine. I don't think they care enough about you to deal. They'd kill us anyhow. Bring your gun if it makes you feel more like a man."