They didn’t stop as they went by. “Ask the old man,” said Stoworth, going past with an uncharacteristically hurried step.
Rynason went on in through the open door. Manning was in the front room, amid several crates of stunner-units. He looked up quickly as Rynason entered and waved brusquely to him.
“Help me get this stuff unloaded, Lee.”
Rynason fished for his sheath-knife and started cutting open one of the crates. “Why are you unloading the arsenal?”
“Because we may need it. Couple of the boys were just out at the horse-pasture, and they say the friendly natives have disappeared.”
“Jules and Stoworth? I met them on the way in.”
“They were doing some follow-up work out there … or at least they were going to. There’s not a single one of them there, not a trace of them.”
Rynason frowned. “They were all there this morning.”
“They’re not there now!” Manning snapped. “I don’t like it, not after what you’ve told me. We’re going to look for them.”
“With stunners?”