The Anchorage Port was a hive of activity with its docking facilities being shared by fishing boats, ferries, cruise ships and container vessels. The Fish Market was a gathering point for many of the passengers and crew, attracted to its bustling stalls and irresistible products of the sea. Titov, the Kudos captain, was waiting for Mas by a counter piled with Blue Fin Tuna. She was starkly pale, suffering the toxic combination of being on land and in fear of arrest or, with Mas, anything was possible.
‘The rest of the crew are hiding in the market and will try to kill you if I’m damaged,’ she said bluntly.
‘I should be offended, but I get it. After all, you were there when I killed your previous captain.’
‘Have you already forgotten his name?’
‘I’m not sure I ever knew it.’
‘You know full well it was Dragon Tay.’
‘That’s right, and the bird that shot him was only an eagle.’
Titov held out an alumodic memory stick. ‘There’s a boat moored at Pier 9 Bay 16. The coordinates enclosed here will take it to the Zopez. That’s assuming payment is made by the ten mile limit. Otherwise, you will be left to drift in quite a few little pieces.’
Mas plucked the stick out of her hand. ‘Fair enough.’
‘And I hope your time aboard the Zopez is going to be short. The passengers in the hold will not be contained for long.’
‘How are they?’
‘Fat, hungry and mean. The nastiest rodents I’ve ever seen.’
‘That’s good to hear. I can guarantee you will get paid but I can’t guarantee your safety. You know a half-secret. And even that is enough to get you killed. Take your cut and start a new life. Don’t look back.’