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〃So would finding all the bad places； and being sure of them；〃 Heris said。 He nodded。 〃I want a safe ship； Mr。 Brynear； I'll take my owner's heat if you run a little over。 But。。。〃
〃It better be worth it … I understand that。 I tell you； Captain； I'm really shocked at Diklos。 They used to be good。 I'd have trusted 'em with my own ship； if I couldn't get here。〃
〃Mistakes happen；〃 Heris said； somewhat grimly。 〃But not on my ship； not again。 Now； if you have the hard copy estimates； I'll go see Lady Cecelia。〃
Chapter Five
Even in the garish purple uniform； Heris felt more fortable on the dockside； with honest ribbed deck…plates and not plush carpet beneath her feet。 Everyone here worked on ships； and in that way everyone here was one of her kind； someone she understood。 After a walk long enough to make her legs ache； she came out of Velarsin & Co。； Ltd's docks and into the mercial sectors。 She was glad she'd thought to have her luggage taken ahead； with her employer's。 Here； sleek transport tubes marked one side of the walkway； fronting the other were shops； hotels； and eating places。 None of the great logos bannered here； but often locals were as good。 Heris stopped to consult a map display； and decided to take a tram the rest of the way to Lady Cecelia's hotel。 As usual； the good hotels were as far as possible from the rumble and clatter of hard work。
She walked through a narrow door； with only the engraved plate with Selenor in slightly archaic script to indicate the identity； into a lobby that reached the stars。 After one flinching look； she realized it only seemed to。 The geometry of this Station allowed those with inside exposure to use the entire interior well as a private display。 Those tiny lights were on the far side。。。 except for the interior transports； sliding along maglines。
Meanwhile； the concierge was already smiling at her。 〃You must be Captain Serrano。。。。 Lady Cecelia gave us your description。〃
〃Yes …〃
〃And your room is ready； Captain。 In the mauve tower； 2314； adjoining hers。
Lady Cecelia said she didn't know when you might be in； but she supposed you'd like something to eat at once。〃
〃How very thoughtful。〃 She was hungry； now that she thought of it； but she needed to see her employer first。
〃She said to tell you she would be resting； but … oh； wait。 The light's changed。 She's up again。 I'll let her know you're on your way； shall I？〃
〃Yes； thank you。〃
The mauve tower droptubes were scented with a warm flowery fragrance that made Herds think of summer on one of the planets with native grasslands。 She emerged into a small lobby splashed with soft color； and felt like a large purple blot。 Lady Cecelia's suite unfolded its entrance for her； and a gust of pine fragrance overlay the summer grasslands。 Heris felt its carefully engineered stimulants flicking her cortex； and resented it。
〃Ah。。。 Captain Serrano。 And how is the Sweet Delight？〃 Lady Cecelia was not giving a millimeter。 She wore a formal dinner gown； cream…colored and drapey； with her graying hair swept up to a peak by a jade clip。 Behind her Heris could see a table set for two。 Heris wondered who her guest would be。 The entire sitting room of the suite seemed to be lined with mauve plush； on which cream…colored furniture floated like clouds in an evening sky。
〃Missing a lot of essential equipment；〃 Heris said。 〃I've authorized replacement rather than repair； since that is quicker and Diklos should reimburse you。 They're keeping a plete record of the damage for legal use。〃
〃Ah。 And will we be out of here in forty…eight hours？〃
〃Very likely； but I cannot guarantee that。 Sixty is the outside limit。〃 Heris looked around。 〃If you'll excuse me； milady； I'd like to clean up and eat something before I go back to the ship。〃
Lady Cecelia's brows raised。 〃Go back？ Surely you're going to rest。。。。 I intended you to eat dinner with me。 Don't you remember？〃 Heris had forgotten； but she couldn't say that。 Besides； the ship mattered more。
〃Considering what happened last time she was in for work …〃
〃Nonsense。 You need sleep the same as anyone else。 At least； have dinner here。。。。 go freshen up； get out of that uniform； and relax awhile。〃 Heris wondered if she had correctly interpreted the tone of that uniform。
〃Umm。。。 milady。。。 you would prefer that I not wear your uniform here？〃
Lady Cecelia's lips pinched； she sighed。 〃I would prefer that my sister Berenice had not tried to pensate me for Ronnie by insisting that I use her decorator。 I would prefer I had had the wit to refuse； but I was already rattled by the change in schedule； by Ronnie； by his friends …〃
Mental gears whirled。 〃You don't。。。 ah。。。 like all that lavender plush？〃
〃Of course not！〃 Lady Cecelia glared at her。 〃Do I look like the kind of silly old woman who would？〃 That was unanswerable； Heris kept her face blank。 Lady Cecelia shook her head and emitted a snort that might have been anger or laughter； either one。 〃All right。 You don't know me； you couldn't tell。 But I don't like it； and I'm having it out as soon as I decently can。 Your uniform … that's another thing Berenice insisted on。 Captain Olin had always worn black； and Berenice thought it was dull and old…fashioned。〃
〃Surely；〃 Heris said carefully； 〃there's something between black and loud purple with scarlet and teal trim？〃
Lady Cecelia snorted again； this time with obvious humor。 〃You don't know the worst： Berenice wanted me to approve cream with purple and teal trim。 She told me the gaudier it was； the more a new captain would be impressed。 The purple was the darkest thing offered。〃
〃Ah。 Then you wouldn't mind if I。。。 modified this a bit？〃
〃Be my guest。〃 Lady Cecelia scowled again。 〃Although I don't suppose you can arrange a plete redecoration while we're here？〃
Heris grinned； surprising herself as much as her employer。 〃To be honest； milady； I've wanted to get that lavender plush off the access tube bulkheads … for safety reasons； I assure you … since I first came aboard。〃
〃Safety reasons？〃 Now Lady Cecelia grinned； more relaxed than Heris had yet seen her。 〃What a marvelous idea！ Is it true？〃
〃Oh； yes。 There's a lot hidden on your ship that shouldn't be … it's pretty； but it's hard to see trouble in the early stages。 We certainly don't have time here for a plete redecoration； but a little undecorating won't slow things down。〃
〃Well。 Good。 Now； about dinner。。。〃
〃Let me change into something fortable。 Ten minutes？〃
Heris returned to her employer's suite in her own off…duty clothes … the first time she'd worn them since leaving the Service。 Since Lady Cecelia was wearing a formal dinner gown； she put on her own； and had the satisfaction of seeing her employer truly surprised。
〃My dear！ I had no idea you looked like that！〃 Then Lady Cecelia blushed。 〃I'm sorry。 That was unforgivable。〃
〃Not really； although it was your uniform that made me look the other way。〃
Heris knew very well what the close…fitting jet…beaded bodice did for her； the flared black skirt swirled around her ankles as she came to the table。 She would never have the advantage of Cecelia's height； but she had learned to use color and line to pensate。 〃Oh … one last bit of business b