‘It’s been as interesting as ever.’ Keech shook hands all round. Then, eyeing Janer and Erlin, ‘I will see you again, perhaps.’
Retrieving Bloc from Ambel’s firm grasp he slapped that Old Captain on the shoulder. ‘Stay well, Ambel.’ Then he herded his prisoner off towards the runcible embarkation lounge.
‘We should be moving as well.’ Wade stood up.
‘Yeah.’ Janer quickly rose too.
The vending tray, now empty, abruptly swooped in on them. When Janer looked up, it was hovering only a metre in front of his face.
‘Janer Cord Anders,’ it announced, ‘you seem to have forgotten something.’
‘I beg your pardon?’
The tray opened two small laser ports situated on its underside.
‘You’re just no fun,’ grumbled Janer. He removed the singun from his jacket and tossed it onto the tray. ‘Can we go now?’
The tray floated higher. ‘Of course.’
Janer said only brief goodbyes, until he came to Erlin.
‘Will you ever come back here?’ she asked him.
Grinning widely, he took hold of her chin and kissed her hard on the mouth.
‘Oh definitely,’ he said, and turned away.
Feeling slightly discomfited, Erlin watched them disappear after Keech and Bloc. Ambel sat down beside her, studying her with some amusement, before both turned their attention to Captain Ron, who was still standing, arms akimbo, conversing with Captain Orbus.
‘Are you sure about this?’ he asked.
‘I’m sure,’ Orbus growled, then glanced at Drooble. ‘We’ve been on that ocean too long. We’ve got to do something new.’
‘And can you?’ asked Ron.
Orbus looked directly at Erlin as he said, ‘The change, it twists you round. Mostly that’s bad, but sometimes it twists you right.’ Feeling further discomfiture, Erlin found she could not meet his gaze. Returning his attention to Ron, he continued, ‘I’ve done some bad things in my life. But not any more.’
Ron nodded contemplatively, then slowly removed a palm console from a capacious pocket of his canvas trousers. He handed it to Orbus. ‘It’s all there: the manifest and the contract with the owners. They’ve no pilots out this way, so they’re glad to have you on board. Their only real requirement is that you get the Gurnard back in one piece.’
Orbus accepted the console, grabbed Drooble by the shoulder and turned away, heading for the spaceport airlocks.
‘How can Ron trust him?’ Erlin muttered to Ambel.
Ambel smiled. ‘We Captains, we’re old—we know how to judge people.’
‘Yes, I suppose.’
‘What about you? Are you staying or leaving?’ he asked.
‘I’ll stay—if you have the patience, and the time for me.’
‘I’ve got plenty of both,’ the Old Captain replied.