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〃And arms； legs； and throat；〃 I added； pulling out a swivel stool from the side of his console and sitting down。 〃How's it flying？〃
〃Amazingly well； actually；〃 he said。 〃Rather surprising； I know； considering that it looks like a refugee from a Doolian scrap heap。 But whoever the designer was； at least the builder had the sense to install some decent equipment。〃
〃It's like that on the bridge； too；〃 I said。 〃Good equipment； odd placement。 I'll make you a small wager that it was a working spacer who designed it； not some so…called expert。 Tell me； did you have any problems out in the port back there？〃
His eyes narrowed； just a bit； and I saw his gaze flick to the side of my head where the plasmic near miss had slightly singed my hair。 I didn't think the marks showed； possibly I was wrong。 〃None at all；〃 he said。 〃Of course； I was only outside a half hour or so…up till then I was sitting on the fuelers making sure they did their job properly。 I take it there was some trouble I missed out on？〃
〃You might say that；〃 I allowed。 〃Tell me about yourself； Revs。〃
I'd been hoping my sudden change of topic would spark a telling reaction。 What I got was equally informative： no reaction at all。 〃What do you want to know？〃 he countered calmly。
〃Let's start with your background；〃 I said。 〃Where you picked up your drive certification； how long you've been flying； why you were at loose ends on Meima； and how you were hired for this trip。〃
〃I learned drive…jocking in the service；〃 he said。 〃EarthGuard Marines； stationed mostly out among the settlements in the Kappa Vega Sector。 I was in for ten years； left six years ago to try my hand in the private sector。〃
〃Odd timing；〃 I said。 〃Considering that by then the Patth had already swallowed up the lion's share of the Spiral's shipping。〃
〃It was a gamble； but I'd had enough of military life by then and thought I could make a go of it。 Mostly； I was right。〃 He shrugged。 〃As to the Icarus； I got signed up more or less simultaneously with my resignation from my previous ship。〃
〃Oh？〃
〃Yes。〃 His face hardened。 〃I'd just found out my freighter was actually mask…shilling for the Patth。〃
I frowned。 〃That's a new one on me。〃
〃It's the latest Patth twist to get around local protection ordinances；〃 he said。 〃On some of these worlds twenty to forty percent of cargo tonnage has to be carried by local shippers。 So the Patth hire a ship on the sly； load it to the gills with as much stuff as it can carry； and send it on in。 It skews the numbers； the Patth pocket the profits； and it pulls business away from the people the ordinances are supposed to protect。〃 He shrugged。 〃Typical Patth connivery。〃
〃I take it you resigned in something of a huff？〃
He grinned suddenly。 〃I don't know if 'huff' quite covers it； but I made damn sure I was loud enough for everyone in the taverno to hear what was happening。 Anyway； Borodin was there at the bar talking to someone else； and when I stomped out he followed and offered me this job。〃
He glanced around。 〃Though if I'd known what I was getting into； I might have looked a little harder for something else。〃
He looked at me； his eyes suddenly cool。 〃My turn for a question。 Do you always carry a gun on board your own ship？〃
I cocked an eyebrow。 〃I'm impressed。 I didn't realize it was so obvious。〃
〃Ten years in EarthGuard；〃 he reminded me。 〃Do I get an answer？〃
〃Sure；〃 I said。 〃Number one： It's not exactly my ship。 Number two： I was kidnapped in port by a couple of alien lads who wanted our cargo。〃
〃Interesting；〃 he murmured。 〃And you suspect someone aboard of plicity with them？〃
〃I can't imagine why anyone would be；〃 I said。 It was a perfectly true statement； even if it wasn't precisely an answer to his question。
〃No； of course not；〃 he agreed in a tone that implied he'd heard both the words I'd said and the words I hadn't said and would be mulling them over later on his own。 〃In which case； I presume this visit is for the purpose of judging whether or not I'll be helping you circle the wagons if and when the shooting starts？〃
I had to hand it to him； the man was sharp。 〃Very good；〃 I said approvingly。 〃I hereby withdraw all the unkind thoughts I've had toward EarthGuard Marines over the years。 Most of them； anyway。〃
〃Thanks；〃 Nicabar said dryly。 〃The answer's a qualified yes。 I've dealt with my share of pirates and hijackers； and I don't like them much。 You can count on me to help fight them off。 But。〃
He leveled a finger at my chest。 〃My support and my presence are conditional on the cargo being totally legit。 If I find out we're running drugs or guns or that we're mask…shilling for the Patth； I'm out at the next port。 Clear？〃
〃Clear；〃 I said firmly； hoping I sounded heartily on his side on this one。 If he ever found out about my connection with Brother John； I was going to have some fancy verbal dancing to do。 〃But I don't think you have anything to worry about on any of those scores。 Borodin told me the cargo had been cleared through customs on Gamm； and one would assume they were reasonably thorough。〃
〃Borodin told me that； too；〃 Nicabar said darkly。 〃But then； Borodin's not here； is he？〃
〃No； he's not；〃 I conceded。 〃And before you ask； I don't know why。〃
〃I didn't think you did。〃 He peered at me thoughtfully。 〃If you ever find out； I presume you'll tell me。〃
〃Of course；〃 I said； as if it went without saying； as I stood up。 〃I've got to get back to the bridge。 See you later。〃
I made my way back through the wiring undergrowth； wishing irreverently for a machete； and ducked through the aft airlock hatch into the wraparound。 Nicabar was sharp； all right。 Maybe a little too sharp。 Perhaps his lack of reaction to my story about being jumped was because he already knew all about it。
In which case； unfortunately； I ran immediately and solidly into the question of why he hadn't then done something to keep the Icarus from leaving Xathru。 Unless the Lumpy Brothers were just hunting cargoes at random； maybe working strictly on their own。
But that one didn't wash at all。 They'd known me by sight and name； and they'd known I'd e in from Meima。 And they sure as hell hadn't bought those corona weapons off a gun…shop rack。
I was halfway through the wraparound； still turning all the questions over in my mind； when I heard a dull； metallic thud。
I stopped dead in my tracks； listening hard。 My first thought was that we had another pressure ridge or crack； but that wasn't at all what the noise had sounded like。 It had been more like two pieces of metal clanking hollowly against each other。
And near as I could tell； it had e from someplace immediately ahead of me。
I unglued myself from the deck and hurried ahead； ducking through the forward airlock and into the main sphere； all my senses alert for trouble。 No one was visible in the corridor； and aside from the galley/dayroom three rooms ahead on my right all the doors were closed。 I paused again； listening hard； but there was nothing but the normal hum of shipboard activity。
The first door ahead on my right was the puter room。 I stepped up to it and tapped the release pad with my left hand； my right poised ready to grab for my plasmic if n