Janja squeezed her eyes shut. It was done. From peace and love on "barbarian" and "Protected" Ag-laya to captivity on Coronet to slavery on Resh to killer and penniless fugitive on Franji to s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p Firedancer with Corundum (and never mind her 224.

status) to Thebanis to s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p Satana, with h.e.l.lfire. And Raunchy.

And what was her status now?

Delighted, for starters. She was off Thebanis and away from Corundum, and she hadn't had to have that agonizing conversation with him-or worse-perhaps discovering that No One Leaves Corundum. And she hadn't really had to decide, either. She was happy.

And she replied. "I-I have learned more than you would believe about s.h.i.+ps and engines and SIPAc.u.m. I can almost qualify for mate. And . . . I've learned a few tricks from one of the greatest pirates of the s.p.a.ce-ways."

"Hmmm!" h.e.l.lfire's black brows rose and her eyes were bright. "I'll bet you have, at that!"

Flat on her back and still shaky, Janja only just managed to keep her hands off her captain. "I think even Captain h.e.l.lfire will welcome some of Corundum's ingenuity."

h.e.l.lfire stared down at her, musing. Then she laughed. Setting her hands against Janja's b.r.e.a.s.t.s to thrust herself off the bed, she stood. Janja gasped.

"No doubt. Oh Janjy! We are on our way! Within a year-standard or three we'll own the Saining s.p.a.ce-ways and people will wonder who Vettering and Corundum were!"