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Her brows met； and she was about to ask what he meant； but just then Vance Hasslewood； standing at the foot of the boarding ladder； thrust his face up into Rick's。 〃Young man！ Your name； what is it； hah？
Rick threw him a sarcastic salute。 〃Lieutenant Rick Hunter； sir。〃
〃Well； Lieutenant Rick Hunter； I expect you to take good care of Minmei！ She's a very busy person； and she must get back to the ship on time。〃
Minmei surprised both men by jumping in on Rick's side。 〃Don't worry； Vance！ I feet perfectly safe！ Rick's a very good pilot！〃
Hasslewood backed off a bit。 〃Er； yes； I'm sure he is； but he's so young； I； uh…〃
Rick wondered just who and what Hasslewood really was。 Certainly； Minmei's astounding popularity had been very lucrative for the man； and he was very proprietary about her。 But what else was there to the manager…client relationship？
Nothing romantic； Rick was pretty sure of that； even at her most career…hungry； Minmei wouldn't have fallen for an abrasive hustler like Hasslewood。 But how had Minmei gotten permission for even a brief visit to her parents when the SDF…1 was virtually quarantined？
To be sure； Rick's confidential orders were specific enough： Make sure that Minmei had no access to outside media interviews。 Just the family visit； and then right back to the SDF…1； whatever that took。
Rick had thought about Minmei's brief liberty privilege and could only e up with one explanation： Her talents and appeal had been a major factor in keeping up morale and fighting spirit during the long return voyage to Earth。 And no matter what the public information people were saying； the war wasn't over and there was still a threat of invasion。 If Minmei could do for the general population of Earth what she'd done for the people on SDF…1； she would be a tremendously important resource。 That gave her and； in turn； Hasslewood； an awful lot of leverage。
Right now； though； Rick wasn't worrying about infiuence or power。 He stuck his face into Hasslewood's； cutting him off。 〃How about standing back？ We're taking off now。〃
Hasslewood just about fell over his own feet； retreating。 〃Sure； kid； don't get touchy！ Have a good trip； Minmei！ Hurry back！〃
Rick pulled on his goggles and headset； lowering the cockpit's front and rear canopies。
Vance Hasslewood mopped his forehead with his handkerchief； watching as Rick increased the propfan RPMs。 The manager prayed silently for a quick； uneventful flight； all his personal marbles were riding in that rear seat。
Rick turned the fanliner's nose and taxied。 The sport plane wasn't equipped for cat launch； but it was so little and light that there was more than enough runway for a takeoff。 With Daedalus's bow turned into the wind； the little ship fairly leapt up off the deck。
Minmei sighed happily； looking down at the SDF…1； savoring the freedom of the flight。 〃Ahhh！ It's been a long time！〃
〃It sure has；〃 Rick murmured； bringing the plane onto its course for Japan。 A vivid； seductive fantasy had begun running in the back of his mind； of being forced to land with Minmei…marooned on some idyllic desert island； perhaps； of things being the way they once were。
〃I forgot how I felt about her。〃
〃What？〃 Minmei asked； leaning forward to peer around his seat。
He hadn't meant to say it aloud。 Flustered； he hastened； 〃Oh； nothing； nothing！〃 But his face was reddening； and she looked at him oddly。
He tried to concentrate on his flying as she settled back in her seat。 But that little fantasy just wouldn't let him alone。
CHAPTER TEN
We weren't deaf to the innuendo； of course。 Claudia and the Terrible Trio and I heard all the sniping about 〃Gloval's Harem；〃 though people were very careful not to say anything around Claudia after she decked a cat crewman。
There is a loneliness to mand； it's no myth。 But there's also an area around the mander…where you're not in charge but not part of the rest of the ship's plement； either…that's often a difficult place to be； too。
Lisa Hayes； Recollections
The United Earth Government's mand plex was like a landlocked iceberg…only a fraction of it was visible aboveground。 In fact； the munications towers； observation and surveillance structures； defensive emplacements； landing pads； and aircraft…handling facilities constituted less than half a percent of the cubic area of the enormous base。
It was still a highly classified installation。 The fighters escorting the transport plane bearing Gloval and Lisa wouldn't have hesitated for a moment to open fire on any unauthorized aircraft that entered its restricted airspace and failed to respond to their challenges。
Changing the angle of its engine blast； the transport eased in for a vertical landing。 Lisa； glancing out her viewport； saw Battloids pacing on guard duty。
Once the plane's authenticity and clearance were verified； its landing pad became an elevator； lowering it deep beneath the bleak； subarctic landscape。
Lisa and Gloval released their seat belts and gathered their things。
〃I hope they're prepared to listen；〃 Lisa said。 〃Captain； we've got to convince them！ Surely they'll listen to reason！〃
〃That would be nice for a change；〃 Gloval growled。
The Ikkii Takemi…designed fanliner rolled and soared； glinting in the sun。
〃Woo…hoo…ooo！〃 Rick exulted。 Piloting a Veritech through deepspace had its appeal； but there was nothing like feeling control surfaces bite the air and making a light stunt plane do exactly what you wanted it to。
〃Having fun； Minmei？〃 He laughed again； and she joined in。 He adored the sound of her laugh。
Maybe； he thought； he could just set down on some little island and say he wanted to check out the engine。 Then he'd have a chance to talk to her； would have her full attention for a while。
While he was turning the idea over in his mind； a familiar voice came over his headset。 〃Veritech patrol to Minmei Special。 Hey； Lieutenant！ It's Ben and Max！〃
〃Huh？〃 Rick saw them now； back at five o'clock。 The fighters had their variable…sweep wings extended all the way for the extremely low speed needed to keep pace with the sport plane。 He was a little embarrassed that they'd managed to sneak up on him。
〃We understand you have a VIP aboard；〃 Ben went on。
〃Some guys have all the luck；〃 Max added suggestively。
〃We're returning to base； have a nice date；〃 Ben finished； laughing。 The Veritechs waggled their wings in salute； then peeled off onto a new course。 Their wings swept back to an extreme angle as they picked up speed； punching through the sound barrier。
They were doing better than Mach 2 and still accelerating when Rick lost sight of them。 〃So long； wise guys；〃 he called over their tac net。 〃See you later。〃
〃Ben and Max are silly； but it does sort of feel like a date。〃
He felt his pulse race。 〃Yep。〃
She inhaled the cold； clear air； watching the glitter of the sun on the canopy。 〃It's great to get away for a while； but when I get back； I have a whole lot of work to make up。 You should see all the things they want me to do！〃
Show biz again！ 〃I suppose it fills your time；〃 Rick snapped； vexed。
She hadn't noticed his tone； ticking off her projects on her fingers。 〃Oh； yes！ I've got to do a televisi