“Yo’ papiss,” the alien rasped.

“Who’s your friend, Captain?” Retief said.

“Never mind; just do like he tells you.”

“Yo’ papiss,” the alien said again.

“Okay,” Retief said. “I’ve seen it. You can take it away now.”

“Don’t horse around,” the Captain said. “This fellow can get mean.”

The alien brought two tiny arms out from the concealment of the mantle, clicked toothed pincers under Retief’s nose.

“Quick, soft one.”

“Captain, tell your friend to keep its distance. It looks brittle, and I’m tempted to test it.”

“Don’t start anything with Skaw; he can clip through steel with those snappers.”

“Last chance,” Retief said. Skaw stood poised, open pinchers an inch from Retief’s eyes.

“Show him your papers, you damned fool,” the Captain said hoarsely. “I got no control over Skaw.”

The alien clicked both pincers with a sharp report, and in the same instant Retief half-turned to the left, leaned away from the alien and drove his right foot against the slender leg above the bulbous knee-joint. Skaw screeched and floundered, greenish fluid spattering from the burst joint.

“I told you he was brittle,” Retief said. “Next time you invite pirates aboard, don’t bother to call.”

“Jesus, what did you do! They’ll kill us!” the Captain gasped, staring at the figure flopping on the floor.

“Cart poor old Skaw back to his boat,” Retief said. “Tell him to pass the word. No more illegal entry and search of Terrestrial vessels in Terrestrial space.”

“Hey,” Chip said. “He’s quit kicking.”

The Captain bent over Skaw, gingerly rolled him over. He leaned close and sniffed.

“He’s dead.” The Captain stared at Retief. “We’re all dead men,” he said. “These Soetti got no mercy.”

“They won’t need it. Tell ’em to sheer off; their fun is over.”

“They got no more emotions than a blue crab—”

“You bluff easily, Captain. Show a few guns as you hand the body back. We know their secret now.”

“What secret? I—”

“Don’t be no dumber than you got to, Cap’n,” Chip said. “Sweaties die easy; that’s the secret.”

“Maybe you got a point,” the Captain said, looking at Retief. “All they got’s a three-man scout. It could work.”

He went out, came back with two crewmen. They hauled the dead alien gingerly into the hall.

“Maybe I can run a bluff on the Soetti,” the Captain said, looking back from the door. “But I’ll be back to see you later.”

“You don’t scare us, Cap’n,” Chip said. “Him and Mr. Tony and all his goons. You hit ’em where they live, that time. They’re pals o’ these Sweaties. Runnin’ some kind o’ crooked racket.”

“You’d better take the Captain’s advice, Chip. There’s no point in your getting involved in my problems.”