Jason fell silent again. The hold was quiet except for the sounds of the sea against the ship's hull, the tromping of feet on the deck above, and the occasional skitter of what Kira was pretty certain were rats. She held out, knowing that the further they were at sea if discovered the less chance that the ship would waste time returning to port to get rid of her and Kira. Was there any way to avoid being discovered?

Kira heard someone enter the hold and walk past the crate she was in, pausing at intervals. She guessed that the cargo was being checked to be sure it wasn't shifting due to the rolls of the ship. She realized that her breathing was fast and shallow. She either needed to act now or perhaps die in this crate.

Kira rapped her fist against the inside of the crate twice, then twice again.

The footsteps stopped, then came close to her crate.

A pry bar appeared at one place near the top of the crate. Kira reached for her pistol, then stopped. Think before you use it. What happens if I do? I'm on a ship away from land. Am I ready to kill every person in the crew of this ship? Am I ready to kill even one of them?

She let her hand fall outside of her jacket and waited as the top of the crate was levered open by the pry bar.

A stout woman with a hard expression and the weathered skin of someone who had spent many years at sea glared at Kira and Jason. "Get out. Both of you."

Kira recognized the voice. This was the woman who had been arguing with the dock workers.

She pulled herself out of the crate, then helped Jason out. Jason gave her a questioning look and she shook her head. "Not this time," she said.

The woman looked them over, then pointed to Kira. "Your knife."

Kira pulled the knife from its sheaf and handed it over, then deliberately opened her jacket to show the pistol in its holster.

That earned her an even harder look. "You have that? Why didn't you use it?"

"Because I'm not a fool," Kira said. "I'm also not a killer."

"Hand it over."

Kira removed her shoulder holster, ensuring that the pistol was strapped into the holster, and gave it to the woman.

The woman looked Jason over again. "She's carrying all that and you have no weapons at all?"

Jason replied with a sullen shake of the head.

The first mate went through their packs quickly, then jerked a thumb to indicate which way they should go. "All right. Up on deck. We'll see what the captain wants to do with you."