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suit … the cost of which had e from the advance on her contract； and which she never begrudged。 Whatever else on this gilded cesspool of a yacht did or did not work as designed； her own personal self…contained suit would。。。 or her family would enjoy the large sum which Xeniks guaranteed if any of its suits failed。 She wasn't worried … only twice in the past fifty years had Xeniks had to pay out。
When she was still a corridor away from the access bay； the alarm went off。
For an instant she thought something had gone wrong on the bridge； but then she realized what it must be。 One of those fools hadn't waited for her。
〃Captain！〃 Gavin bleated in her ear。 She thumbed down the volume of the suit unit。
〃What is it？〃 she asked。 〃I'm at E…7； right now。〃 Ahead of her； a gray contamination barrier flapped down from the overhead and snicked tight； its central access closed。
〃puter says dangerous chemical … sulfur something … and the motion sensor said someone was there； but isn't moving。 But they're in suits …〃
〃Get those backups down here；〃 Heris said； mentally cursing civilians in general and the ship's former captain in particular。 〃Make sure they have their helmets locked on。 I'm going in。〃 Despite her faith in Xeniks's legendary suits； she shivered a moment。 The gas in there was deadlier than many military weapons； but so familiar throughout human history that people just did not respect it。 She wriggled through the access iris； which lengthened into a tube and sealed itself behind her。 The suit's own chemical sensors flicked to life； giving the readout she expected： hydrogen sulfide； here in less than life…threatening concentration。
Heris hurried； even though she knew it would almost certainly be too late。
Around the er； she came upon Timmons； who had suited up but not locked on his helmet。 Presumably he'd planned to do so when he got to the access bay itself。 He lay sprawled on the floor； one arm outstretched towards Iklind； slumped against the open access； wearing no protective gear at all。
She went to Timmons first； locking his helmet in place and turning his oxygen supply to full with the external override。 Her suit had all the necessary drugs for standard industrial inhalation accidents … but she'd never used it； nor was she a medic。 She'd have to rely on the backup team。 Iklind wasn't breathing at all； and no wonder … the hydrogen sulfide concentration in here had peaked at over 1；000 ppm； according to the monitor above the open access hatch。 Inside； someone … presumably Iklind … had cracked the seal on a sludge tank。 It was brimful； far above the safety line。 A black line of filth drooled over its lip。
Heris picked up the wrench on the floor； closed the cover； and tightened the seal； then closed the hatch。 Now the monitor indicated the concentration was below 200 ppm； still dangerous but not instantly lethal。 They were lucky； she thought； that the agitator hadn't been on in the sludge tank （and why not？） or the concentration could have been a log or so higher。
A shadow moved at the corner of her vision。 The backup team … that would be the number two engineering officer and the off…shift senior mole … came around the corner and stopped。 Even through their helmets their eyes showed wide and staring。
〃e on；〃 Heris said。 〃Get Timmons to the medbox … he might have a chance。〃
It seemed to her they moved too slowly； but they did wrestle Timmons back up the corridor towards the contamination barrier。 Heris called the bridge。
〃Iklind's dead；〃 she said。 〃Hydrogen sulfide … apparently he opened the sludge tank without any protective gear … 〃 Gavin started to say something； and she overrode him。 'We have three problems here … Timmons first： is that medical AI capable of handling inhalation injuries？ Second： we've got to clear up the rest of the contamination； and the system is too overloaded to resorb it unless you can e up with a cargo section full of reactant。 And third； of course； is Iklind。 We need medical and legal evaluation； I will take that up with Lady Cecelia。 Oh … and another thing … we're not going to continue in this unsafe condition。 I want Sirkin to plot a course to the nearest major repair facility； preferably on the way to our destination。〃
〃The medbox。。。 I don't know； Captain；〃 Gavin said。 〃It's not … you know … meant for major problems。〃
Heris managed not to snap at him。 〃At least you can tell it the problem。 All I know is it's a cellular poison； and there's some kind of antidote。 Now： send someone down with a recorder； so that I can document Iklind's position and the monitor readings。 Then we can bring his body out。〃 Even as she said this； she realized she was straining the crew's resources。
〃Milady；〃 said Heris； 〃we have several problems。〃
Just what I need； thought Cecelia。 Problems with the ship。 Now she'll start whining about how different this is from the military。 She nodded； trying for a cool distancing expression。 That and a straight back usually dissuaded plainers。
〃We've had a death among the crew； environmental technician Iklind。〃
〃What！ A heart attack？ A stroke？〃 Despite her determination not to react； she felt her heart lurch in her chest； and her voice came out shrill and harsh。
〃No； Lady Cecelia。〃 Heris had tried to think of a nonthreatening way to tell her employer … considering how old the woman was … but had not e up with anything better than the bald truth。 〃He died of hydrogen sulfide poisoning； the result of opening a sludge tank without protective gear。 In addition； another crewman is suffering severe inhalation injury from the same source。〃
〃But all we have is a medbox！〃 Cecelia felt as if she had just fallen off at a gallop。 A crewman dead； and another sick。。。 was this what came of hiring an ex…military captain？ She tried to remember the specifics of the medical unit。
〃It's a standard industrial pollutant；〃 Heris said。 〃The unit has the right medications and the right software to treat him … I checked that； of course； before ing to you。〃
〃Oh … I … 〃 Cecelia realized she'd slumped； and straightened again。
〃I'm very sorry to have given you this shock。 Perhaps I should call someone？〃
Cecelia recognized someone giving her time to pull herself together； and was caught between resentment and gratitude。 〃I've never lost a crew member before；〃 she said。 〃Not since I've owned the Sweet Delight。〃 She struggled with the mix of emotions； and tried to think clearly。 〃Poison gas from the sludge tank； you said？ Has someone put something in it？〃
Heris recognized the attempt for what it was； and masked her amusement that anyone … even a rich old lady … could travel in space and not know the most mon and deadly of the environmental by…products。 〃No； milady。 Sludge generates several toxic gases； which are normally converted into harmless chemicals used in your 'ponics sections； when the environmental system is functioning smoothly。 This isn't sabotage； just a mishap。。。。 Iklind apparently decided to open the tank without proper protective gear； and Timmons tried to rescue him； but hadn't sealed his own helmet。〃
〃Then who saved Timmons？〃 asked Cecelia。
〃I did；〃 Heris said。 Cecelia's eyes widened； but she didn't say anything。 〃I had t