And Grimes got his own ship back when, at last, Sister Sue dropped down to Port Sparta. He got his name back on to the Register as Master and Billy Williams, surprisingly cheerfully, reverted to his old rank as Chief Officer, saying, "Now you can have all the worries again, Skipper."
And worries there were.
Discharge of cargo had just begun when a strongly worded request—it was more of an order, really—came from Admiral Damien by Carlotti deep space radio. This was that Grimes handle the salvage of Krait. He had done this sort of job before, back on Botany Bay, and the courier was a very small ship and Sister Sue had plenty of power and, even with most of her cargo still on board, could have lifted Krait bodily. As it was, throughout the operation the courier's stern remained in contact with the ground. And then she had to be stayed off so that she was safely stable while Grimes' engineers made repairs to her engines.
One consolation was that as Grimes, officially, was no longer connected with the Survey Service he would be able to put in a large bill for the services of himself and his ship.
And now his Earthbound cargo was almost loaded and, very soon now, Sister Sue would be secured for space.
Maggie sat with Grimes in his day room.
"And so," she said, "our ways part again."
"It was good while it lasted," he said.
"Yes."
"You could resign your commission," he told her, "and enter my employ."
"You resigned yours, John, but they pressganged you back into servitude. And my orders are that I must remain on New Sparta until the situation has stabilized. And . . . . And you must have noticed how things are now between Brasidus and myself."
"How could I not have noticed?"
"But you must understand, my dear, that it's all part of the job. My job. He must be taught that all women aren't like Ellena . . . ."
"Is that all?"
"No. I admire Brasidus. I'm sorry for him. And, if you must know, I love him in my fashion. But as soon as I have him back on an even keel—and as soon as this planet's back on an even keel—I shall be on my way. I've no doubt that Damien will find another job for me."
"To judge from my own experience of the old bastard, no doubt at all. But what a can of worms this one turned out to be!"
"And now that the chief worm has been removed the others should quiet down. But what a cunning bitch she was! Playing both ends against the middle. Both ends? I still have to find out just how many ends there were. And if it hadn't been for her plans to purge the high command of her own Amazon Guard she might still have pulled it off."
"How did Colonel what's-her-name find out what was in store for her?"
"You and I, John, were by no means the only intelligence operatives on New Sparta, although we were the only Survey Service ones. I had my contacts."
"You might have told me."
"The less you knew," she said, "the better."
"Mphm."
"Cheer up. You've got your ship back. Thanks to me you won't be getting Ellena as a passenger. I persuaded Brasidus that a dangerous woman such as her should be sent back to Earth in a warship, where she can be kept under guard. The destroyer Rigel will have the pleasure of her company. As you know, she's due in a couple of days after you lift off."
"I thought for a while that I might have the dubious pleasure of Fenella's company."
"She decided that there are still stories to be had on New Sparta. Too, she's set her sights on Brasidus." She laughed. "I might even let her have him. Who better to retail the scandalous gossip of a palace than one who's the subject of such gossip herself?"
"Mphm," grunted Grimes again. Brasidus, he thought a little jealously, was doing very nicely for himself, getting his hairy paws onto all of Grimes' women . . . .
There was a knock at the door.
"Enter!" called Grimes.
The door opened. Billy Williams stood there.
"Secured for space save for the after airlock, Skipper," he reported. "The two passengers, with their gear, have just boarded."
"Passengers, Mr. Williams?"
"I thought you knew, sir. A lady officer from the Palace, an Amazon major, came out with them and told me that everything had been arranged."
Two familiar forms appeared in the doorway behind the Chief Officer.
"Hi!" said Shirl (or was it Darleen?).
"Hi!" said Darleen (or was it Shirl?).
Maggie got to her feet, then bent to kiss Grimes as he still sat in his chair.
"See you," she said. "Somewhere, some when."
Billy Williams left with her to escort her to the airlock.
"Aren't you pleased to see us?" asked the two New Alicians as one.
Grimes supposed that he was.