None too soon! The fake Friendly tree had lashed down with a terrible stroke that missed his face by inches. It was no Friendly tree at all, but an imitator, luring prey within reach by its apparent harmlessness, then striking with knife-sharp spikes.
Ham gasped. "What is it? I never saw one of those before."
"A Pharisee! It just looks like a Friendly tree."
She took her automatic and sent a bullet into the black, pulsing trunk. A dark stream gushed, and the ubiquitous molds sprang into life about the hole. The tree was doomed.
"Thanks," said Ham awkwardly. "I guess you saved my life."
"We're quits now." She gazed levelly at him. "Understand? We're even."
Later they found a true Friendly tree and slept. Awakening, they trudged on again, and slept again, and so on for three nightless
