The floor curved gently away from them in both directions, and a narrow mat of indeterminate properties seemed to grab hold of their feet.

“You didn’t tell me it was zero gravity in here,” commented Cain.

“Just make sure one foot is always on the mat,” replied Terwilliger. “You won’t float away.”

“I’ve been on G-mats before,” replied Cain irritably. “I just don’t like null-gravity situations too soon after a meal.”

“You should have told me.”

Cain was about to reply that he hadn’t known that there was no gravity inside the station but decided that he didn’t feel like repeating the entire conversation again.

Suddenly a humanoid being with a large cranium, deep-set golden eyes, and orange, reticulated skin began approaching them.

“What the hell is that?” asked Cain.

“An Orange Monkey,” replied Terwilliger. “The Rose uses them as security guards.”

“I never saw one before,” said Cain. “Where is it from?”

“Varien Four,” said the gambler. “They call themselves Hagibens; we call ‘em Orange Monkeys. It fits them better. They work cheap, they learn the language pretty fast, and they love zero gravity. It’s a hard combination to beat—especially when you consider how many alien races won’t work at all and couldn’t care less about money.”

The Orange Monkey stopped in front of them.

“Your business, please?” it said in a lilting voice that sounded more like song than speech.

“We’re here to see the Sargasso Rose,” replied Terwilliger.

“The Sargasso Rose prefers not to deal personally with our customers,” replied the alien. “If you will tell me what you need, I will direct you to the proper areas.”

“She’ll deal personally with us,” said Terwilliger. “I’m an old friend.”

The Orange Monkey looked at him. “You are Halfpenny Terwilliger, who was forcibly removed from Deadly Nightshade for cheating various staff members in a card game.” It paused. “I was among those who escorted you to your ship.”

“You were?” asked Terwilliger, surprised but unembarrassed.

“I was.”

“Sorry I didn’t recognize you, but all you Orange Monkeys look alike to me.”

“That is perfectly understandable,” said the alien. “We are all quite beautiful.”

“Well, as long as we’re old friends, how about telling the Rose we’re here?”

“I will tell her, Halfpenny Terwilliger, but she prefers not to deal directly with the customers.”

Cain stepped forward. “Do it anyway,” he said in very level tones. “Tell her our business concerns a mutual friend.”

The Orange Monkey stared at him for a moment, then turned and headed off to another area of the space station after summoning a companion to keep watch on them. It returned a few minutes later and walked up to Cain.

“The Sargasso Rose has instructed me to take you to her,” it said in its placid, singsong voice. If it was surprised or disappointed, it kept its feelings well hidden.