Of the hundred arguments, pleas, threats, and persuasions Al could have used, he afforded time only to the most pragmatic: “They might, but we blow in here, go straight fer this room where he last was, an’ then go straight out?…They’s gon’ know anyhoo, Precious. An’ ounce o’ brains in they heads,an’ any analysis is gon’ make it plain as day what we was after. Plus Presto obviously done mentioned Veljanov ta whoever it is he’s talkin’ to. An’ there’s that elf, too. Ain’t got time ta go back an’ waste him – nor should we fer any reason, a guy that’s come so close ta helpin’ find a cure fer thousands o’ poor headcases. Nope, murder gains us nothin’ but all kinds o’ bad fallout, includin’ losin’ our safe passage deal with Presto’s contact, an’ with no benefit at all whatsoever.”

He sighed and looked again at the line of Valkyrie units. “Hate ta say it, but I think Presto’s source is tellin’ the truth…logs say ain’t no one here was sick, an’ one o’ these mobile modules missin’. I say keep workin’ on that there ‘link while we make our way out’n here, hope Presto’s deal is good.”