ninety degrees apart. Pole railings ran opposite each other along the other four bulkheads; they were useful as handholds, and the elevator traveled along them when the ship was underway. Strips of fluorescent lighting ran along all eight corners. After the dimness of the docks, the glare was harsh and bright.
"She's an old United Nations Belt freighter," said George. "Spent fifty years mothballed in orbit around the moon."
He started up the core. Lydia hastened to follow.
"Oh, my," she said. "I should have recognized her type. It's been a long time." She touched a bulkhead with something like love.
"I spent a fortune fitting her for star travel."
"What sort of systems have you got? Not the originals, surely."
"You'd be surprised," said George. "For power I got a used Frenn quantum tap. But all her old systems were brought up to spec during the rebuild. I kept the computers since they're ruggedized military units. Upgraded them with new processors custom-engineered to fit the old slots, and I added hypermemory."
"What sort of drive have you got?"
"Two working drives. A Yulian gravpulse system, but I had the fusion drive restored to original UN specs. That was the most costly part of the rebuild."
"You've got gravpulse but you don't keep a gee field?"
"Which way would be down?"
"Towards the stern. As if she were underway."
"Sure, but I like zero gee."
"I don't mind it." Lydia shrugged. "Can I ask what year it is?"
"By human reckoning? It's 2109."
She gave a little gasp. "Oh my God! So much time."
"That databand of yours is quite a relic. You talk as if you've served on a ship like this."
"I have. I was with NASA."
George's heartbeat stumbled in its rhythm. NASA had closed down when the United States Government had been dismantled, some forty years ago. She didn't look that old!
Belatedly, he remembered he had once read about the disappearance of Lydia Ruth Merritt. "Good heavens! How did you wind up out here?"
"It's a long story. I've spent a lot of time in enforced hibernation."
"You must have."
"I'd better tell you what the Zhianese have against me. They won't stop looking for me because I learned something about them they don't want known. They've found a place where they can exert control over the G-Net."
George stared, wide-eyed. "What do you mean? They can do stuff others can't?"
"That's exactly what I mean."
George gave a whistle.
"Only small things, at present." Lydia said. "They could attack the Lucky Star, for instance, and the G-Net would be blinded to it. For now, they wouldn't do so in front of witnesses."
"You call that a small thing?" George asked. "What do you call a big thing?"
"Military conquest of other civilizations."
"No!"
"They can't, not quite yet, but they're working on it."
George shook his head in denial. "That's supposed to be impossible."
"I waited for years to break free. I didn't think they'd pick up my trail so quick. Now that you know the stakes, do you still want me with you?"
George felt trapped. "Of course I do," he said valiantly. "Ah, here we are." They halted. "Ship, this is to be Lydia's assigned cabin. Compartment 2A."
"Acknowledged."
"Just make yourself at home," George said. He pressed a switch and the hatch whirred aside. "You want fresh clothes?"
She was silent a moment, gazing at him, searching his face with her eyes. Finally she smiled. "That would be wonderful. And thank you. For everything."
"Did you leave any baggage outside?"
"No, nothing."
"I can see you've been through a lot. So take a hot shower. I'll scrounge you up some clothing. I'll leave it out here, okay? Right by your door."
"Okay."
"Then I'll see about dinner. I'll call you on the intercom to let you know when."
"That sounds fine." She leaned toward him suddenly and gave him a gentle, feather-light kiss on the lips. He was too startled to return it.
"Thank you so much, George," she said softly.
He grinned in sheepish pleasure, lips tingling. "Why, you're welcome, Lydia."
Her answering smile was radiant. "I'll see you soon." She whirled away like a quick, graceful fish and disappeared into her cabin.
He drifted down the passage, his heart brimming with giddy warmth. How long had it been since he had seen a woman? Her presence filled a craving he had not known he had.
He was glad their paths had crossed. It would be worth some risk to have her around. The Zhianese be damned!
5
There was plenty of clothing sealed away in the ship's slop chest. Most of it had belonged to the original crew but was still serviceable and clean. He found some white coveralls like hers that would probably fit.
He left them for her, and then headed toward the command sphere. He was halfway there when the alarm sounded.
His heart began to pound. "What is it, Ship?" he demanded.
"There's a Reeshi requesting entrance." The ship's voice reverberated through the corridor.
"From the Dock Authority?"
"It says not. It's alone."
"Whom does it represent?"
"It claims no one but itself. It also claims you're in jeopardy."
He snagged himself to a halt, spun around, and launched himself in the opposite direction.
"I'm on my way," George said. "Is the visitor armed?"
"No armaments detected."
"Anyone else in the corridor?"
"There is no traffic at this hour."
"Hmmm."
"Please repeat."
"Never mind." George suspected he knew the identity of this unanticipated caller. He grabbed at a railing, braking himself to a stop. He twisted around and slung himself down the side passage.
"George?" came Lydia's voice. "I overheard the ship's side of that. Is there trouble?"
George hesitated. "Might be." He reached the airlock. "You'd better monitor this. If something goes wrong, have Ship break station and run for it. Understand, Ship? Lydia is authorized to give command level orders if I'm incapacitated."
"Understood."
"George, wait a minute!"
"It's just a precaution. I think I know who this is. Anyway, wouldn't you like to be First Officer?"
She gave a reluctant laugh. "Since you put it that way."
"Ship, outside intercom, translation mode."
"Command executed."
He took a deep breath. "This is George Wells, master of the merchant vessel Lucky Star. I understand you want to talk to me. Can you identify yourself, please?"
"Oh, yes, good sir! I served you beer today. Shall I specify further, or will that suffice?"
George laughed. "That will do. What's this about?"
"The Zhianese, good sir. They're angry. My people fear them greatly. May I enter?"
A whisper of fright coiled through George's stomach. "Yes. You'd better. Ship, open airlock."
The hatches rumbled aside. The Reeshi darted aboard, and the airlock shut on George's command.
George donned his databand. A subtle, painless pressure filled his head. Shadows of unfamiliar knowledge loomed in his mind.
The Reeshi's momentum carried it down the passage; it grabbed a handhold and swiveled around toward George.
"Welcome aboard," said George.
"Thank you for receiving me, good sir." It pulled itself nimbly in his direction, blinking uncomfortably. "It's very bright in here."
"Ship, lower illumination by two thirds."
The lighting dimmed, as if suddenly obscured by clouds. "Command executed."
"Thank you. May I advise you to get away from this planet at once?"
"That's the plan. We'll be departing in several hours."
`"We must depart immediately."
George stared. "You want to come?"
&nbs
p; "If you'll have me."
"I've got to settle up with the Dock Authority."
"I wouldn't bother, good sir. They would alert the Zhianese. If anyone should realize I'm here—" The Reeshi shuddered. "Please! Just blast away from this world. There isn't much time."
It rang true. George was filled with a sudden blazing excitement. "Okay! Follow me."
He started down the passage, twisting around when he reached the main core and launching himself up its length.
"Lydia!" he called. "Did you get all that?"
"Yes, George." Her voice echoed through the ship.
"I'm going to do as he says. Strap yourself down and prepare for sudden acceleration."
"All right." She gave a heavy sigh. "I really owe you, Captain."
"Oh, no!" cried the Reeshi. "The human woman is aboard."
"If that's a problem, head back to the airlock and I'll tell Ship to let you out."
"No! It's not a problem."
"Glad to hear it. Ship, set current illumination level as the new default."
"Command executed."
They were approaching the end of the passage. A round chrome hatch filled the bulkhead.
"Ship, prepare for immediate departure," said George. "Activate all flight systems. Open command sphere hatch."
"Understood. First and second commands, executed. All systems show green. Reminder: the visitor is not authorized to enter here."
George grimaced. "Give him a one-time authorization."
"Command executed." The hatch swung ponderously open.
"Contact the Docking Authority and request clearance for departure."
"Command executed. Awaiting reply."
The command sphere extended from the bow of the ship at the end of a short stem. It jutted from the tapered cylinder of the main fuselage, behind which lay the wide bulk of the swept-back, wedge-shaped drive section.
They passed through the stem to enter the interior of the sphere, the inner surface of which formed a continuous video display. Surrounding them, brightly arrayed on its surface, was a glowing rainbow grid of graphics and data windows.
The poles which led down the central core continued out to