Seconds passed, and then there was a whizzing, hissing sound moving through the water at tremendous speed. A streak of light. Barry barely glimpsed the shark-like creature that burst through the ranks of Komso's men. Straight as an arrow it came, ignoring those it knocked aside. Komso's third scream broke in the middle, unfinished. Then there was only a spreading pink stain and a few remnants. The dead silence that followed was broken by a yell of horror. Out to sea specks of light grew brighter by the second. Warriors and women alike milled in confusion, leaderless, and when one man started a panic-stricken dash up the slough, the others dropped their weapons and followed. Barry hung in the water, still not comprehending, until Xintel shook him out of his stunned inaction. "Quick, Barry!" Her legs churned the water at top speed and she guided him with occasional touches. Once he glanced over his shoulder, and the glow around the slough's mouth disclosed huge black shapes gathering. Torvaks! The girl swam close to shore where the water was thick and muddy and fetid with the reek of decay. After a while she cut her speed so he could come up beside her. No Venusians were in sight. "His own curse!" she said. Barry understood. Komso had been carrying a vial of his secret lure. Barry's random kick had broken it, saturating the priest's clothing. The beasts of the ocean had done the rest, and now, in addition, they had the smell of fresh blood to attract them. "I've got to get ashore at once!" Barry panted. Trapped between the electric barrier and the monsters prowling the slough, the Venusians would be doomed. With their leader dead, and ravening death at their heels, they would have forgotten all about attacking the colony, Barry hoped. X Once more they reached the spot where the tree lay at the water's edge. "Wait here, darling," Barry said hurriedly, and climbed out. He lay on the tree trunk a moment, coughing the water from his lungs. When he glanced up Robson Hind was standing there. Under his arms was a submachine gun. "You damned degenerate fish-man!" he said. Barry could only stare helplessly as Hind's trigger finger tightened. The man looked mad. A shot barked from the swamp and at the same instant a slender arm from the water caught Hind's ankle and jerked. The submachine gun roared an unaimed burst as he toppled backwards. His head thwacked dully against the wood, and then there was a splash as he sank. Barry stood up trembling. A coveralled and hooded figure emerged from the swamp, carrying a carbine from which a wisp of smoke still curled. "Barry, did I--?" Under the smears of mud Dorothy's face was pale. "What are you doing here?" he demanded. "I saw him following your trail, and I guessed--" A head broke water beside the log. Dorothy fired, but Barry knocked the muzzle skyward just in time to deflect the bullet. Then he knelt to give Xintel a hand up.