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white human skull which he held up for Warblegrub’s inspection.
    “Very nice!” he observed with distaste. “Are you making a necklace?”
    Fardelbear nodded.
    “Very macabre,” said Warblegrub, and looked round at the discarded jumpsuits and helmets, wondering if their owners had been such terrible people. He squatted down in front of Fardelbear and looked him in the eye. “We need to talk!”
    Fardelbear’s growl, rather like that of a large cat, was unmistakably negative.
    “We have to deal with the humans!”
    “I’m dealing with them.” The feline impression was not dispelled when he spoke.
    “You can’t kill them all!”
    “Watch me.”
    “I forbid it!” Warblegrub’s tone was surprisingly commanding.
    Fardelbear’s eyes flashed. “You forbid it!”
    Though a lesser being would have turned to jelly, Warblegrub simply nodded.
    “They’ve broken the law,” Fardelbear snarled. “They must pay the price!”
    “Only those who are guilty,” replied Warblegrub firmly.
    “Intergalactic Law,” Fardelbear reminded him. “Article 15,789, Section C!”
    “I know! ‘No human, or human-guided craft, may enter the atmosphere or land on the surface of Restricted Planet 1743. Formerly known as ‘Earth’.’ ”
    “There! They’re all guilty, and any breach of the article carries the death penalty!”
    “The law’s too harsh,” said Warblegrub.
    “Not harsh enough in my opinion but that’s the way it is. Besides, we can’t risk letting them reach the harbour! Can you imagine the disaster if they get their grubby little hands on those weapons?”
    “All too well, and I’ll let you deal with any of them I can’t persuade to turn back.”
    Fardelbear snorted. “I knew it!”
    “Knew what?”
    “This isn’t about justice!” His voice had grown less harsh, black pupils were forming in his fiery eyes and his face was taking on a decidedly human shape.
    “What then?”
    “You’ve missed them!”
    Warblegrub shrugged. “They do bring a bit of excitement to the place.”
    Fardelbear laughed out loud but, seeing Warblegrub’s resolve, he relented. “I’ll spare those who turn back,” he conceded. “But every one of them who doesn’t will know terror before they die!”
    Then his eyes blazed again and all human semblance was gone.

Chapter Seven
    With shimmering turquoise wings and a bright orange breast, the little bird seemed to have sprung from another dimension, a halcyon world where colours were more intense. From the moment it darted into view 395 was enchanted. He sat on the trunk of a fallen tree to watch it fish in a pool, the previous night’s horrors forgotten for a while.
    “Do you know his name?” asked a familiar voice.
    “Alcedo atthis,” 395 replied, drawing his sidearm slowly, “also known as the Kingfisher or the Icebird .” He stood up and the bird darted away upstream.
    Warblegrub gave him a withering look. “Do you really think you need that thing with me?”
    Embarrassed, 395 returned the gun to its holster. “How come you’re alive?”
    “It’s hard to explain.”
    “Try.”
    Warblegrub looked him over doubtfully. “You might understand when you’re old enough.”
    “Old enough?”
    “Maybe in a thousand years or so.” He knelt down, washed his face in the cold, clear water then sat on the tree trunk next to 395. “Now, how about telling me your name?”
    “Science Officer 395.”
    “Not that number nonsense again!” groaned Warblegrub and turned back to the stream.
    There was an uncomfortable silence until the dazzling bird returned. It perched on the same overhanging twig and started to fish again, diving deep into the pool. As he watched it swallow fish after struggling fish, 395 recalled the previous night’s events.
    “What about that creature, Fardelbear , will he return?”
    “Not if you humans see sense.”
    “Sense!” 395 flared and the kingfisher flew off again. “That monster murdered dozens of my comrades!”
    “Hypocrite!”