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Chapter 44




“WELL, MR. MAYHEW?” asked Grimes.

“To begin with, sir, the Lord of the Roost is not human . . .”

“A blinding glimpse of the obvious. I’m not a telepath but even I could see that.”

Mayhew flushed. “Let me finish, sir. I meant that his thought processes are not human. He would be incapable of being devious. He despises you for fighting for profit but realizes that you will be useful to him in the struggle for Kallan freedom.”

“The free rooster in the free barnyard,” said Grimes. “I don’t think that our two liberated ladies would approve of such freedom.”

“With the Hallicheki,” said Mayhew, “it’s a clear choice. Either the cocks or the hens must rule and roost. The cocks are the more intelligent, the more honest. The hens have mean, petty minds. And didn’t the ones who were towing us hate us! All the time they were thinking of tearing the flesh from our bones with their sharp beaks. Oh, we’re on the right side, sir. No doubt of that.”

“And Delamere?”

“I think that what you were thinking about him was quite correct.”

“Talking of Delamere, I suppose that his distant relative is still in the Survey Service.”

“Very much so. He’s a four-ring captain now, and loved by everybody.”

The telephone buzzed.

“Commodore here,” said Grimes.

Williams’ face formed in the little screen and he said, “The boat’s back and inboard, sir. Wally’s finished her mail run. The way she’s carrying on it must be beneath her dignity to act as postwoman.”

“My nose fair bleeds for her. Tell Mr. Stewart to arrange NST hook-up between all ships. I’ll give the captains time to read their Letters of Marque, then I’ll be up to control to give them a pep talk.”






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Framed