The
other things broke. Before she could recover, Slade had stepped to the instrument and switched it live. "Sperm Bank," he said." Slade speaking." The tall woman strapped to the post was a warmth and odor.
"Slade, they want me to tell you that everybody's back at the ship," said Levine. "Except me, they wouldn't string a line, so I'm across the creek at this curst phone."
"Well, is it true?" the tanker demanded. "Are all the landmen back aboard?" Slade had great experience in projecting a facade of tank-like solidity. As with tanks, his interior was complex and had a way of displaying frustration at awkward times.
"Yes, yes," said Levine, "but—" and the words tumbled out through the background hiss—" Slade, there's eleven of them dead, corpses!"
"Do you know a way to bring the dead back to life, Captain Levine?" the tanker asked. He directed a bitter grimace at Dclores Rodrigues. The captive woman had shrunk back when the phone spoke of the deaths her plan had caused.
"Of course not!" snapped Levine. "What do you mean?
"I don't know a way either," Slade replied, "so let's not worry about that. Get back aboard, and be ready to Transit the instant the hatch closes behind me." The tanker waited a moment longer, but the phone popped with the sound of Levine switching off without further comment.
"Time to leave, boys," Slade said to the men and the woman who had stared at him throughout the conversation. "Let's see what kind of transport they've got for us." He waved the crewmen down the corridor ahead of him.
As the
"Slade, they want me to tell you that everybody's back at the ship," said Levine. "Except me, they wouldn't string a line, so I'm across the creek at this curst phone."
"Well, is it true?" the tanker demanded. "Are all the landmen back aboard?" Slade had great experience in projecting a facade of tank-like solidity. As with tanks, his interior was complex and had a way of displaying frustration at awkward times.
"Yes, yes," said Levine, "but—" and the words tumbled out through the background hiss—" Slade, there's eleven of them dead, corpses!"
"Do you know a way to bring the dead back to life, Captain Levine?" the tanker asked. He directed a bitter grimace at Dclores Rodrigues. The captive woman had shrunk back when the phone spoke of the deaths her plan had caused.
"Of course not!" snapped Levine. "What do you mean?
"I don't know a way either," Slade replied, "so let's not worry about that. Get back aboard, and be ready to Transit the instant the hatch closes behind me." The tanker waited a moment longer, but the phone popped with the sound of Levine switching off without further comment.
"Time to leave, boys," Slade said to the men and the woman who had stared at him throughout the conversation. "Let's see what kind of transport they've got for us." He waved the crewmen down the corridor ahead of him.
As the