“We’re expected?” said Porsupah on catching sight of the lights. Kitten knew that he’d probably spotted them as soon as they’d turned down the quay. No point in letting their friendly pusher onto any Tolian abilities he might not be aware of.

“Hardly. No, I suspect the two pilots are up. The ship is normally engaged in transporting supplies to our host’s place of business. Sedda and Franz are perfectly trustworthy. You needn’t worry on that account.”

“Let’s hurry it up then,” said Kitten. “We do have other engagements, you know.”

The fat man slowed his pace slightly. “Someone is expecting you then?”

“No no! I just get impatient at times, merchant. I am . . . high-strung, you might say. Besides,” she added hastily, “hoveraft night-rides aren’t exactly the most luxurious form of transportation, you know.”

“The best at my disposal, I fear. Again may I say we will not be overlong. Our destination is but . . . but why should that concern you, eh?” He herded them on board.

Two men looked up from a game of femin-de-fer as the three entered the cabin. Both were simply attired in plaid work-pants and light water-repellent jackets. They looked very competent.

The one called Franz gave Kitten at least as thorough a look-over as he gave his cargo. He spoke to the fat man, who was peeling off his own jacket. The thick arms thus revealed showed a surprising amount of muscle.

“Well! York, your taste in merchandise is improving!”

“Watch your tongue, Franz. The lady and her friend are to be our guests. Class A-1, you understand?”

The burly pilot looked startled, then pleased. “Your pardon, m’lady. No offense meant.”

“None taken,” said Kitten, smiling archly and lighting up another smokestick.

The other pilot, Sedda, was already warming up the raft’s engines. A shudder went through the vessel as the big rotors began to turn over.

“Have a seat back among the cargo, then,” said Franz. He turned to the fat man. “I take it his Lordship’s approval will be forthcoming for this unscheduled journey, York?”

“No doubt on it,” the big man replied, making himself comfortable for the trip.

“That’s enough for me, then.” The pilot turned back to his position forward.

“If you’d give me a hand here first, Franz?” said York.

“My pleasure, enormous one.”

York had rummaged through a side compartment and come up with two blindfolds. “I say now,” began Porsupah uncertainly. “Are those things entirely necessary?”

“I fear that they are,” York apologized. “You understand, where merchandise of so, ah, controversial a nature is involved, extreme precautions are the norm.” He reached out and gently removed the stub of the smokestick from Kitten’s lips, deposited it carefully to one side.

Kitten squirmed slightly as dark cloth took away her sight. “Surely you can’t believe that, even if I were so inclined, which I am not, I could possibly retrace the route to your patron’s hideaway from what I might see while racing through the night over the waters of an utterly strange planet?”