“Yes. It’s not much of a gun, of course, but it’ll handle one person. I didn’t think it would take the both of you. Not, the way the Captain moves. So I decided to wait a bit in hopes of a better opportunity. I never expected you quite this obliging. Just goes to show. If you live right . . .”

The small boat rocked gently in the blue-green water.

“Where do you think you’re going in this teacup?” she asked. Her eyes never left the muzzle of the tiny pistol.

“I’m going to try and skirt the edge of that thing. That should allow me to try out a crazy idea I might as well have a crack at. If it doesn’t shift out, I ought to be able to slip into the city without being noticed. Current’ll help with the rough work. At that point I’ll have a number of options open. You’ll excuse me if I don’t elaborate. I don’t think you’d be sympathetic. Right now, I’m arming this toy.”

Laying the gun aside—not far enough aside—he set the keytab and tied down the trigger securely with a piece of cord.

“I can slip the knot on this fast enough if I have to. Gonna need both hands for steering. Anybody takes a potshot at me, either I’ll release the trigger manually or shoot it loose. Either way the drug will be released into the atmosphere. As soon as I get close enough to the city, rest assured I’ll do my best to stay upwind. You might as well stop staring at the gun. I’m not so feeble I wouldn’t beat you to it.”

He lowered the small air-compression motor into the shallow water.

“And now, my lovely-love, I bid you good-bye.” The sea bubbled like soda-water around the stern of the little craft. It moved slowly off along the edge of the reef, careful not to stray over the Vom.

Kitten stared for a moment, sighed deeply, and walked back to where Mal was sitting on the deck. He was rubbing the back of his neck. He did not look happy.

“Well, I’m sorry, already! I told you not to expect me to be ladylike about it.”

“Congratulations.” He looked around suddenly. “Well, where’s the case? And where’s the old man?”

“Uh, considering that you didn’t see anything, you’ve summarized the situation neatly.” She pointed out to sea. The small boat was now a good many meters off, still chugging slowly along the reef edge. Soon it would round the first spit of the island and be lost to sight.

“Well now, how did you manage that?”

“He had a gun.”

“He had a gun,” Mal replied slowly. “Why didn’t he pull it before now?”

She turned away. “He said he was waiting for a better chance.”