"Yes, and then!" she cut in passionately. "Don't you see, Parr? Relations between Mars and Earth are at breaking point now. They have been for long. The Martians are technically within their rights when they dump us here, but you'll be a pirate, a thief, a fugitive from justice. You can cause a break, perhaps war. And for what?" "For getting away, for giving freedom to my only friends on this asteroid," said Parr. "Freedom?" she repeated. "You think they can be free on Earth? Can they face their wives or mothers as they are now--no longer men?" "Boss," said Ling suddenly and brokenly, "she tell true. No. I won't go home." It was like cold water, that sudden rush of ghastly truth upon Parr. The girl was right. His victory would be the saddest of defeats. He looked around him at the beast-men who had placed themselves under his control--what would happen to them on Earth? Prison? Asylum? _Zoo_?... "Varina Pemberton," he called, "I think you win." The hairy ones crowded around him, sensing a change in plan. He spoke quickly: "It's all off, boys. Get out, one at a time, and rush away for cover. Nobody will hurt you--and we'll be no worse off than we were." He raised his voice again: "If I clear out, will we be left alone?" "You must give back that armor," she told him. "The Martians insist." "It's a deal." He stripped the stuff from him and threw it across the floor to lie beside the bound prisoners. "I'm trusting you, Varina Pemberton!" he shouted. "We're getting out." They departed at his orders, all of them. Ling and Izak went last, dropping the stolen guns they had held so unhandily. Parr waited for all of them to be gone, then he himself left the ship. At once bullets began to whicker around him. He dodged behind the ship, then ran crookedly for cover. By great good luck, he was not hit. His beast-men hurried to him among the bushes. "Huh, boss?" they asked anxiously. "Ship no good? What we do?" He looked over his shoulder. Somewhere in the night enemies hunted for him. The beast-folk were beneath contempt, would be left alone. Only he had shown himself too dangerous to be allowed life. "Goodbye, boys," he said, with real regret. "I'm not much of a boss if I bring bullets among you. Get back home, and let me haul out by myself. I mean it," he said sternly, as they hesitated. "On your way, and don't get close to me again--death's catching!" They tramped away into the gloom, with querulous backward looks. Parr took a lonely trail in an opposite direction. After a moment he paused, tingling with suspense. Heavy feet were following him. "Who's coming?" he challenged, and ducked to avoid a possible shot. None came. The heavy tread came nearer. "Boss!" It was Ling. "I told you to go away," reminded Parr gruffly. "I not go," Ling retorted. "You no make me." "Ling, you were boss before I came. Now that I'm gone from you--" "You not gone from me. You my boss. Those others, they maybe pick new boss."