"Because of a girl named Xintel who would undoubtedly become their leader if Komso were killed or discredited. She saved my life, and since then we have lived together and fought side by side. She is waiting on the edge of the swamp now, an outcast from her own people because she dared help me." Dorothy understood more from his tone than his words alone conveyed. Her face paled. "Barry," she began, her voice strained. "You--?" The door opened again and three men crowded into the room. One was Robson Hind. The electronics expert's face went gray as he saw his supposed victim still alive. Barry itched to get at him but for the moment too much was at stake to permit personal revenge. "Rig the shock charges at once," he suggested. "Xintel and I will do our best to head off the attack under water." There were objections. Some considered it too dangerous. A heated argument broke out, but at last the council of captains nodded agreement. A sublethal current was to be used, but it was to be backstopped by mortars, machine guns and flame throwers. Any creature showing its head above water was to be blasted on sight. "I'll attend to the power supply," Hind suddenly volunteered. Barry guessed what was really in his mind. From Hind's unbalanced, paranoid viewpoint it was essential he be removed to forestall an investigation. He turned to the spaceship captains. "I most strongly urge that someone other than Robson Hind take charge of the work." "Why?" Captain Reno snapped. "My reasons are valid, believe me. I'll explain later." "The man's crazy!" Hind spluttered. Captain Reno looked at his fellow officers and they nodded. "Podtiaguine, take charge of the installation," Reno commanded. The dry air was hurting Barry's lungs; Komso might attack at any moment; and Xintel was all alone where hostile swamp met hostile sea. "I've got to get out," he declared. "Give me a pair of liquid fire pistols." A storekeeper hurried to get them, and as Barry buckled the holster belt around his waist he looked for Dorothy. She was gone. "Remember," he warned. "No killing unless absolutely necessary, but watch out for tricks. If my luck holds I'll be back. I have things to settle." He looked meaningfully at Hind, then turned abruptly and strode down the hall, his ragged trousers flapping damply, his Venusian sandals squishing at every step. The warm, stench-filled Venusian mist closed around him, revivifying him and soothing his tormented lungs as he started toward the swamp. "Barry!" It was Dorothy. "Barry, I want a straight answer." "Yes?" "Have you stopped loving me?" His answer was unhesitating. "No, and I never will. But I have no right since I became--like this." She made a sound between a gasp and a sob. "But that Venusian girl?" Barry fumbled for words. "I--I love her too. It's just that I--well--you and she belong in different worlds and I'm--I'm part of both but not fully of either." "Oh! But you'll come back--for short periods at least?"