“I said get clear. You’ve done all you can there.”
“Damn it, there’s no need for any fighting!”
Manning’s voice sounded cold even in the faint reception of the hand-radio. “That’s for me to decide. I’m running this show, remember.”
“You’re running a massacre!” Rynason shouted.
“Call it what you like. Mara says they weren’t so docile when you broke in.”
Rynason’s mind raced; he had to stall for time. If he could get Manning to stop those men until they cooled down….
“Manning, there’s no need for this! Didn’t she tell you that the altar is just a computer? These people haven’t had anything to do with the Outsiders since before they can remember!”
The radio carried the faint sound of Manning’s chuckle. “So now they’re people to you, Lee? Or are you one of them now?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Lee, my boy, you’re sounding like an old horsefaced nursemaid. You linked minds with them, and you say you were practically a Hirlaji yourself when you went into that linkage. Well, I’m not so sure you ever came out of it. You’re still one of them!”