Signalling the others to remain aboard, Wilding moved away from the ship to begin exploration. Cautiously, gun in hand, he poked through the main cavern with its stockpiled supplies, then on, investigating the nearer passages. Already out of sight of his cohorts aboard the supply ship, he halted suddenly at a hint of furtive movement among the jagged rocks. Three men sprang up and faced him. All three were armed and ready. It was not difficult to recognize Credus and his two chief supporters. "I'm taking over," said Credus. "Not so easily," Wilding warned. "It's still a deadlock. I have a gun on you." Credus shook his head slowly. "You're too good a gambler to play against such odds. You wouldn't dare shoot." Wilding was aware of a faint sound behind him. For a moment he hoped that Grouth or Concor had disobeyed his orders and followed him. He even risked a quick glance over his shoulder to see. Two yards behind him stood Tichron, aimed blaster in hand. On Tichron's face was an expression of unholy glee, his lips curled up to expose wolfish fangs. Tichron held the balance, and knew it. "Start bargaining," he suggested. "I'll deal with you," said Credus quickly. "I have the girl, Amyth. She's yours ... if...." Tichron licked dry lips. His cold eyes questioned Wilding. Wilding groaned. "I've nothing to offer but a fair deal--" Tichron's trigger finger tightened. A thin beam flicked from the blaster. Sound and light jarred the caverns.... V Echoes of the blast died away in the distance. For a fragment of time, the curious tableau held, then thought and perception began again. Wilding, his face bleak, was amazed that he still lived. At such range, a miss was impossible. But where Credus had stood was an untidy heap of smoldering cloth and calcined rags of flesh. Dazed by concussion, the survivors of Credus' party stared at the grinning Tichron. "I'm playing along with Wilding," he told them. "The one thing nobody ever thought to offer me is a fair deal. I guess I'm just curious." Still over aimed guns, the two groups faced each other as the strain mounted between them. "Go on, shoot," urged Wilding. "The odds are even now. You can kill both of us, but we will take you with us. You have one second to drop your guns or start shooting." Indecision tortured the pair briefly, but their nerve failed. Weapons clattered on the floor. "What are you going to do with us?" one asked unhappily. "Nothing, if you do as you're told. Where is everyone?"