"Yeah. But take it easy, stupid. It'll be worth it. A weapon like that, what power...."
"I don't know. We better find it soon. The wife's in Chawka City on Io, and there's a damn saloon-keeper there—"
"Haw, haw, haw! A family man, a regular family man, that's what we got with us. But don't worry, we'll find it. The Ruskies left that thing here someplace, and don't worry, we'll get it. The boss ain't no dodo...."
"Well, I'd feel a lot better if we got rid of those guys in the other dome. It'd be a lot safer."
"Just shut up. When the boss tells us to do something, we'll do it. Otherwise, stop yammering."
So our pessimistic friend wanted us dead too? I hoped that his wife would commit the unpardonable crime with every man-jack in Chawka City. It would serve the rat right.
Then there was a lot of garbled static and no more talking. Evidently the two men had entered their dome again and had removed their helmets. No more talking, exactly as if they had ceased to exist. And after the one way contact had been established, it was almost eerie.
Gramps was jubilant. "There y'are, kids. Simple as that."
"As what?" I said.