"Oh, I couldn't," Korash said. "I'll be back on our ship by then. But

how do you feel about it?"

"Horrible," Ky said. "I keep thinking I should have done more to prevent it-more to keep them from getting systems access, from grabbing Gary. But there were a lot of them and few of us. If I'd known who was behind it, I'd have spaced them to start with and saved us all a lot of trouble."

"Spaced-you wouldn't really space anyone-!"

Ky looked at him, a nice decent older man who had never faced

what she faced. She tried to soften her voice. "Actually I would, if necessary to save my ship. Mostly it's not necessary."

"That's hard," he said. His face was two shades paler; she could see

the sheen of sweat on him. "That's really hard." He swallowed. "I suppose that's the sort of thing you learned in the Academy."

"Yes," Ky said. It saved time trying to explain what couldn't be

explained.

"Things are different in the civilian world, you know," he said.

"I know that," Ky said. "But my first responsibility is still to my

ship and crew, even under civilian legal codes."

He had an odd expression, somewhere between curiosity and

revulsion. "How did you... er... I mean... do you carry a... a weapon?"

"You want to know how I killed them, is that what you're asking?"

He flushed, then; "I... I guess so."

"I shot them with a pistol bow that one of my crew had-a target

bow."

"You did that before?"

"I practiced, once I realized that we might have trouble with our

passengers. My crew member taught me how to use it. I suppose that shocks you..."

"I couldn't shoot anyone," he said firmly. "I just couldn't."

Her patience snapped. "Then I suppose it's a good thing you've never needed to." Before he could say anything else, she said, "You can tell Captain Furman-or I can contact him myself-I am going to get this ship repaired well enough to take my cargo to Belinta- myself-and he can consider himself free to return to his regular route. I will check and see if any of my crew wish to return with him, and I will prepare a message for my family. I'm assuming you came in by shuttle?"

"Er... yes."

"Well, then. When does it leave or was it a charter?"

"A charter..."

"You can spend a couple of hours here?"

"Yes... but I have to let them know when I want to leave."

"I'll speak to the crew shortly; I'm sure they'll want to stay for

Gary's memorial service, at least. So Furman can leave after that, if any of them want to go with him, or earlier if they don't. I can have that answer for you in... say... three hours. I'm sure you'd enjoy that time more on the station than on a small ship like this..."

"Er... as you wish..."

"You have an implant, yes?"

"Yes."

"Fine. Give me your number; I'll contact you."

At last he left, and gave her a vague sort of salute on his way out.

Ky took a deep breath and then tabbed the intercom.

"All crew, come to the rec area, please. I have an announcement."

A few minutes later, they were all there except for Beeah, still out

on the station."Captain Furman, of the Katrine Lamont, wants me to agree to sell this ship for scrap here, take all of you and the cargo aboard his ship, and go back to Slotter Key via Belinta. I'm not going to do that; I'm going to repair the ship with the money Mackensee paid me, take my own cargo to Belinta, and pick up our cargo there, and go on our original route to Leonora and Lastway. However-" She paused. "While I don't have direct orders from Vatta headquarters to do what Captain Furman says, I suspect that his report of my decision will generate some heat. Most of you are long-term Vatta employees. I will understand if you don't want to be involved in a dispute between me and my family's business. I will also understand if you don't trust me as a captain, after the death of a crew member you all knew for a long time. So I'm giving you the opportunity to transfer to the Kat if you want to. I'll give you all an exemplary report for your records."

"If we leave, what will you do for a crew?" Lee said. "We can't just leave you out here alone..."

"There are always transients," Ky said.

"Have you looked?" Quincy asked.

"Well... no. Not yet. But it's up to you, really. I don't want you staying out of some guilt thing." She yawned; she couldn't help it.

"Sorry. I'm going to go get something to drink, give you all a little while to discuss it."

"What about us?" Li asked. "We're not Vatta employees, really..."

"Furman says he'll take you at least a lot closer to Slotter Key, a mainline station," Ky said. "Or you can hire on with me, if you're willing to learn cargo work as well as your primary specialty. Talk to Quincy-she can tell you about Vatta, and about me." Ky pushed back her chair and stood. She was seriously tired, the accumulated strain of the past days settling on her shoulders like a sack of wet sand.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

She decided another shower would help-after the days of rationed showers, she enjoyed the opportunity for a long one-and stood under the warm spray for several minutes. She felt better, but also even more sleepy. She meant to sit on her bunk only a moment, but suddenly her beeper was sounding, and she opened her eyes... She had slept for an hour.

Not a good sign if the crew had needed an hour to decide what to

do. She braced herself to hear that they were all leaving.

"Coming," she said. Even that brief nap had helped; her eyes no longer burned. She finished dressing and returned to the rec area. To her surprise, only Quincy was there. The old woman looked up at her.

"Went to sleep, did you?"

"Sorry..."

"You needed it; you were dead on your feet. We would have let you

sleep longer, but we heard from Furman's messenger."

"Ah. And?"

"I have to tell you I'm not happy about going against your father's

wishes... I don't want to lose my retirement because he blames me for your decisions." So her father had told Furman to bring her

home?

"I'm the captain; they're my decisions. My father knows me; he

should know that I'm stubborn enough to ignore any advice you give me."

"Yes. I am taking that into consideration. But are you willing to tell

him that and save my reputation as a reliable baby-sitter?"

"Of course," Ky said.

"It's been a difficult voyage, Captain. For a moment here, I'd like to

talk to you in my role as designated grandma, not as crew."

"All right." What was coming now, a lecture about filial duty?

Quincy drew a visible breath and started in. "When your father