"We heard Fred shooting out beside the slough," someone explained. "But by the time we got there he was dead and there was nothing in sight." "Don't underestimate these Venusians," Barry warned. "They live under water. No knowledge of fire or explosives--they lost those when they went aquatic--but their bacteriology is advanced. They once staged a full scale bacterial war. And they knew enough biological science--a damn sight more than we know--to deliberately become water-breathers to escape the mess their war created." He noticed sceptical looks on some of the faces. "Just look at me," he said. "What happens by accident can be done on purpose. This colony is facing death. A fanatical group of Venusians are planning to wipe us out, and the attack will come soon. They will use a chemical that attracts every swamp beast and water monster within miles. "It works. I know it works," he insisted, and shuddered as he remembered the torvaks. "Then there will be hypervirulent bacteria. You know what that means!" "Why should they attack us?" someone demanded. "You're strange to them, alien, and there is a leader among them who fears outside influences will undermine his absolute control." "All right! Let's get ready, shoot the works, and give them what they're asking for!" The man who spoke had been a close friend of Evans. "No!" Barry said decisively. "That would be the worst thing possible!" "What would you advise?" one of the captains asked. "Many of them would be friendly if given a chance," Barry explained. "But if you plant mines in the slough and wipe out the attacking party it will mean enmity between colonists and the surviving Venusians for all time to come. Both sides will be vulnerable, you to bacterial attack, they to depth charges, and the surface of Venus will be rendered uninhabitable for years or even centuries." "What's the alternative?" Captain Reno demanded. The door opened and Barry glanced around. Even in mud-streaked coveralls Dorothy Voorhees was beautiful. He had forgotten just how desirable she was. "Barry!" she cried joyfully, and ran to him. Instinctively he responded to her kiss--until he remembered Xintel and his own condition. "I won't be able to stay," he told her, deliberately making his voice harsh. "I'm not cured and probably never will be." "But--but your water machine can be fixed," she protested. "There's more than that," he said, and with an effort turned away. IX "As I was saying, gentlemen. Using the electric secondaries from the ships, with submerged electrodes, you can set up a high-voltage, low-amperage barrier across the slough that will stun without killing. If this first attack can be warded off without killing, perhaps we can establish friendly relations." "What makes you think they could be friendly?" a man asked suspiciously.