Memories glistened in the other man’s voice, haunted his face. They were less than pleasant. ?I mean, if you got a chance… just supposing… what would you say to her??

His companion frowned. ?What do you mean, if I got a chance??

?You know. If you got a chance.?Murphy was breathing harder now.

Frank considered. ?Just casual, you mean??

?Yeah. If she just came along by herself, like, without Andrews or Clemens hangin’ with her. How would you put it to her? You know, if you ran into her in the mess hall or something.?

The other man’s eyes glittered. ?No problem. Never had any problem with the ladies. I’d say, ‘Good day, my dear, how’s it going? Anything I could do to be of service?’ Then I’d give her the look. You know-up and down. Give her a wink, nasty smile, she’d get the picture.?

?Right,?said Murphy sarcastically. ?And she’d smile back and say, ‘Kiss my ass, you horny old fucker.’ ?

?I’d be happy to kiss her ass. Be happy to kiss her anywhere she wants.?

?Yeah.?Murphy’s expression darkened unpleasantly. ?But treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen… right, Frank??

The older man nodded knowingly. ?Treat the queens like whores and the whores like queens. Can’t go wrong.?

Together they heaved on the chains until the carcass was properly positioned. Frank locked the hoist and they stepped back, letting the dead animal swing in its harness.

Contemplative silence separated the two men for a long moment. Then Frank uttered a casual obscenity. ?Frank?? 51

51

?Yeah??

?What do you think killed Babe??He nodded at the carcass.

Frank shrugged. ?Beats me. Just keeled over. Heart attack, maybe.?

Murphy spoke from the other side. ?How could it have been a heart attack? How old was she??

?Charts say eleven. In the prime. Tough luck for her, good for us. You know the super won’t let us kill any of the animals for meat except on special occasions. So me, I look on this as a bonus for work well done. Chop her up. Later we’ll throw her in the stew. Animal this size ought to last for a while. Make the dehys taste like real food.?

?Yeah!?Murphy could taste it now, ladled over hot loaves of the self-rising, self-cooking bread from the stores.

Something on the cart caught his attention. Whatever it was, it had been pancaked, flattened beneath the massive bulk of the dead animal. Still discernible was a small, disc-like body, a thick, flexible tail, and multiple spidery arms, now crushed and broken. A look of distaste on his face, he picked it up by the tail, the splintered arms dangling toward the floor.

?What’s this??

Frank leaned over for a look, shrugged indifferently. ?Dunno. What am I, a xenologist? Looks like some jellyfish from the beach.?

The other man sniffed. The thing had no odor. ?Right.?

He tossed it casually aside.