to look
up from his perusal.

Max Rostoff's face had grown wolfishly thin in his anger. "Look,
bottle-baby," he sneered, "you're the only one that's vulnerable in this
set-up. There's not a single thing that Demming and I can be held to
account for. You have no beefs coming, for that matter. You're getting
everything you ever wanted. You've got the best suite in the best hotel
on Callisto. You eat the best food the Solar System provides. And, most
important of all to a rummy, you drink the best booze and as much of it
as you want. What's more, unless either Demming or I go to the bother,
you'll never be exposed. You'll live your life out being the biggest
hero in the system."

It was Don Mathers' turn to sneer. "What do you mean, I'm the only one
vulnerable? There's no evidence against me, Rostoff, and you know it.
Who'd listen to you if you sounded off? I burned that Kraden cruiser
until there wasn't a sign to be found that would indicate it wasn't in
operational condition when I first spotted it."

Demming grunted his amusement again.

Max Rostoff laughed sourly. "Don't be an ass, Mathers. We took a series
of photos of that derelict when we stumbled on it. Not only can we prove
you didn't knock it out, we can prove that it was in good shape before
you worked it over. I imagine the Fleet technician would have loved to
have seen the inner workings of that Kraden cruiser--before you loused
it up."

Demming chuckled flatly. "I wonder what kind of a court martial they
give a hero who turns out to be a saboteur."

* * * * *

He ran into her, finally, after he'd been on Callisto for nearly eight
months. Actually, he didn't remember the circumstances of their meeting.
He was in an alcoholic daze and the fog rolled out, and there she was
across the table from him.

Don shook his head, and looked about the room. They were in some sort of
night spot. He didn't recognize it.

* * * * *

He licked his lips, scowled at the taste of stale vomit.

He slurred, "Hello, Di."

Dian Fuller said, "Hi, Don."

He said, "I must've blanked out. Guess I've been hitting it too hard."

She laughed at him. "You mean you don't remember all the things you've
been telling me the past two hours?" She was obviously quite sober. Dian
never had been much for the sauce.

Don looked at her narrowly. "What've I been telling you for the past two
hours?"

"Mostly about how it