The space-suited figure was down on the surface of the block. “Doesn’t look any more familiar close up than it did from a hundred kilometers away, Myke. Damndest looking stuff you ever saw, though . . . **fssst . . . sput** . . . corrugated in places, like carved fluting . . . almost has a greasy look . . . seems to be a port or something a little higher up . . . whole thing isn’t very big . . . yes, there is a transparent section . . . got a reddish tinge to it . . . I can see inside, I think . . . OH SWEET JESUS . . .”

“For summasake, man!” Reinke fairly pounded the console in frustration. “Open up!” Heavy breathing came back over the comm. “You sonuvabitch, if you don’t say something fast-quick I’m coming out there and—”

“Easy, Myke, easy. I’m fine. Just a little shocked. Calm down. You’ll need all your expletives later.”

“Okay, I’m calm. See? Now, what is it?” Reinke had to resist an urge to stomp on the floor. Breaking boot connection would send him floating helplessly about the cabin.

“It’s small enough to bring back on the one cable. You’ll see it soon enough.” M’wali’s voice was unnaturally subdued. “And brother, don’t eat anything until you do.”

“If we weren’t in such an awful hurry, I could almost enjoy the ride,” Mal said. “Despite the crowding.”

The five of them cramped the small forecabin of the hoveraft badly. Mal, in the only other seat, was trying to relax. Takaharu was handling the driving.

There was a slightly larger space for luggage and such located behind the forecabin, but it was completely enclosed. No one felt like sitting in the dark just now.

“I’ll be pleased to clear all this up and get back to work, Captain,” said the First Mate. “Devious intrigue isn’t my line. I’m not mentally constructed for subtlety and evasion.”

“We concur,” Mal replied. “Not only don’t I care for it, I’m not very good at it, either. But this young man, here . . .” he indicated the lanky form of Philip, draped angularly over an empty packing crate.

“What will you do now, Philip-al?” asked Porsupah.

“Well, I hadn’t given it much thought. I could look for another job, but I think maybe I’ll just kick around for a while. I can always get work. Something more interesting might turn up.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have to worry about credit for a time,” broke in Kitten cheerfully. “We promised you a reward in the name of the Church. They’ve a special fund for such situations. Even if they disagree with our recommendations, which they won’t, they can’t violate a promise made by one of their field operatives. Let alone two.” She looked over at Porsupah and he nodded affirmatively.

“You’re authorized to make that kind of decision?” asked Mal, a little skeptically.

“Ordinarily, no. But this isn’t the sort of assignment we’d ordinarily draw.”