Looks like a jungle. Sounds like a jungle," said McShane, arm sweeping the surrounding greenery."Not a jungle," said D'Trelna, holding up the small, flat surveyor, amber readout toward McShane.The Terran squinted at it. " 'Flora—none. Fauna—none.' So?" he shrugged. "If we'd believed all your nice little toys over the past year, we'd be dead."Good God, man! Use your senses! Feel that hot, fetid air, smell the rotting vegetation, and listen—listen to the nonexistent fauna!"Sweat-drenched, the two stood on the trail they'd followed from the armorglass gate—a trail leading straight toward the point set in D'Trelna's locator. A thick mist hung low over the trail, obscuring all but the closest brush. Strange, fierce cries sounded in the distance. Once, thinking they heard something large moving through the undergrowth, they'd stopped, rifles ready, waiting. The sound hadn't resumed, so they'd moved on, D'Trelna finally calling a halt to recheck his readings."Fake," said D'Trelna, clipping the surveyor back onto his belt.
