“That’s going to be fun to figure out. Just how many SDRs is a starter motor for Artie Manfroid’s caterpillar worth?” Dek asked. “And what about things like light bulbs? Now that Tori Ashan at the glassworks and Sheyela Smith have gotten proficient at making light bulbs, what happens to their market when Turalon unloads a shipping container of bulbs?”

Shig said, “Most of the fixtures have been rewired from the Corporate-style bulbs to Tori and Sheyela’s. And it’s not like they don’t each have more than enough to keep them busy. But I’m sure there will be dislocations. We’ll just have to think our way through them.”

Kalico adopted a wry smile. “Things have gotten a little murky over the years. My beautiful Corporate Mine and my once-inviolable people have all been infected. It sort of crept in, but everything at Corporate Mine runs on crass PA capitalism these days.” She propped her chin, gaze distant. “That toilet-sucking inspector general is going to just love unraveling that ball of twine.”

Talina narrowed an eye. “Hard to see what he could charge you with. You were given Board authority to determine Donovan’s fate. Ultimately, everything you did was in The Corporation’s best interest. You sent them two starships full of plunder.”

“I’ve got fifty people coming up on contract who want to space back to Solar System on Turalon, and each of them is taking a sack of plunder back with them that’s worth a fricking fortune in Corporate SDRs or yuan.” A pause as she shared a glance with each of them. “Do you know how much trouble I would have spared myself if I’d just nuked you people from space the first time I arrived here?”

“Of course, Supervisor,” Shig said mildly, “but to have done so would have changed your tao, sent it down a path that would have left you drowning in tamas and dukkha. It’s just my opinion, but I suspect that with all you have learned on Donovan, you have saved yourself countless reincarnations into a bug’s liver to achieve the same sattva.”

A crash and a scream carried over the usual sound of conversation and rattling dishware. The room went silent.

Talina whirled—pinpointed the origin as coming from the restroom. In a wink, she was off her stool, sprinting for the rear. Even as people were rising from their seats, Talina raced down the aisle, dodged the stairs, and hit the aquajade door with both arms straight.

Blasting through, she found Kylee, one knee on Hofer’s chest, arm back, fist cocked. And whack! she smacked the builder in his already bloody face.

“Kylee! Stop, God damn it!”