"Try the other one." It was the woman's voice. "Perhaps the muddy Earthian will talk to save his friend if not himself." Flip sat up and stared at them, gathering his wits. Charlie had a rope about his neck. The man Voss held a pistol at his back. Charlie grinned at him. "Proud of you, boy," he said. His right arm dangled at his side. Failing the first time, Flip's scene was to be repeated with a new performer. "No," said Flip. "No! Charlie doesn't know where the mine is--he had nothing to do with this." "No matter," said the woman. "Perhaps seeing him in the mud will affect your obstinacy." "That mine's worthless," Flip said. "It's no good any more. Since I.M.C.--" "I know," she replied. "Hush, Flip," said Charlie. "There's more going on than we know about. Don't tell her. I'm an old man and--" "Throw him in," said the woman impatiently. Flip got to his feet, ignoring the gun in his face. Voss picked up the end of the rope around Charlie's neck. "Stop," said Flip. "I'll tell you." He couldn't let Charlie go through with this. It wasn't his problem and he had a broken wrist already. "Be quiet," said Charlie. "I don't--" "Talk," the woman told Flip. The mine must mean a lot to her, Flip thought. Why? He was positive about the present market price. Could the radio report have been wrong? No. Not in a quotation affecting five planets. "What do you want with that mine?" Flip stalled. "You know the market price." "Your questions are unhealthy, Earthman. Tell me the mine's location or your friend goes in the swamp--without a rope." Flip told her. He didn't lie. He gave the exact Venusio-magnetic direction he'd taken to find it. But he was sure of one thing--that there was more here than he knew. The radio report must have been wrong.... "You shouldn't of told her, Flip," said Charlie. "Your life will be short if he lied," said the woman. She glanced up at the fog. It was a shade darker than when they had come and the rain was stronger. The mist was thickening and it was much cooler, Flip noticed. "Come," said the woman, "we must prove his words while there is light." She turned, walked up the rock toward the ship. "Tie them in the cabin," she ordered over her shoulder. "If he lied, we shall return. If he spoke truth--they have only to free themselves before they starve...." * * * * * When the men left, Flip immediately tried the rope. Pulling with all his strength, he couldn't slacken it and, with the pain in his arm, there was little Charlie could do. "Lordy!!" said Flip. "What now?" "We're lucky to be alive," said Charlie. "Captain Vixen must have taken a fancy to you." Flip strained at his ropes with the thought of her. Venusian women were the beauties of the Universe and this woman had surpassed them all, but in her dull beauty, thought Flip, there was nothing feminine. She had no heart. She had but one emotion--the pursuit of her goal.