Her skin was a strange blue-brown. Her features were delicate, intelligent, very different from the savage faces of the males he had battled. Her dark hair grew further down the back of her neck than was customary on Earth, forming a short, silky mane between her shoulder blades. She was slender of body, except that the muscles running down her sides from armpit to waist were amazingly well developed. Her high-set, compactly pointed breasts were uncovered, and he could see that any sort of upper clothing would interfere with full use of those unusual swimming muscles. Her skirt was short and close-fitting. Her eyes, though, were filled with hatred, defiance, terror. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said, hoping his tone would convey the meaning. She seemed more puzzled than grateful as he slid the knife gently between her ankles to sever the binding cords, and she shrank under his touch as he rolled her over to reach her wrists. "There you are," he said, and started to straighten up. Something struck him from above and many hands clutched at him. Within seconds he was flat in the mud. Two Venusians held each arm and leg. Another stood over him with spear poised. But the girl shouted and grasped the spearman's arm. The girl spoke with rapid urgency, pointing from Barry to her erstwhile captors. Barry could not believe his ears. The sounds were familiar. He could even understand a word here and there, and in these entirely alien surroundings the effect was eerie. A Venusian looked at the pink clouds of diluted blood rising from the bodies, then gazed apprehensively up into the dimness overhead. "Kill him quickly and let us go," he suggested. "The torvaks will soon come." The girl turned upon him. "He lives!" she snapped. "From what yort he comes I know not, but assuredly he is no noru!" Although his right arm was pinioned Barry still clutched his knife. Now the girl stooped and touched his fist without attempting to pry it open. Barry surrendered the weapon. The men allowed him to sit up, but they remained wary. Meanwhile the girl was examining the knife with intense interest. Barry smiled at her, and being careful to make no sudden motions that might be misinterpreted he held out his hand. Hesitantly she laid the knife on his palm while around him his guards raised their spears and crossbows. He closed the blade. Then, showing her exactly how it was done, he pressed the button that let the five-inch blade snick out. Repeating the demonstration, he handed it back with a gesture indicating it was a gift. The girl smiled and spoke to him, and although most of her words were unintelligible he gathered she was asking if he wanted to accompany them. Emphatically he nodded, overcome with a sudden dread of being left alone on the sea bottom. Her suggestion created consternation among the others. "We must consult Komso," one suggested uneasily.