It ain't like a hop to Mars or Titan.
This is as deep as you can go. If I was you, I'd want the best there is
in my crew. And from what I've heard about that young feller, he's the
best there is on the radar bridge. You know who his father was?"
"Who?" asked Mason.
"Ken--" Shinny suddenly closed his mouth tight. "Just another spaceman,"
he said, "but a good one!" He rose quickly. "Well, I'm supposed to meet
Manning in an hour at the Cosmos."
[Illustration]
The three men left the dingy hotel and walked out into the main street
of Spaceman's Row. In a few moments they arrived at the Cafe Cosmos.
Roger was already there, seated at the same table and watching the
door. When he saw Loring and Mason with Shinny, he eyed them warily.
"Hiya, kid!" greeted Loring. "Glad to see you took my advice and got
away from 'Blast-off' Connel." Mason waved a salute, and the three men
sat down.
Roger ignored Loring and Mason, speaking directly to Shinny. "Did you
complete our deal?" he asked softly.
"Nope," answered Shinny. "I brought you another one instead."
Roger held out his hand. "My one hundred credits--_now!_"
"Never mind the credits, kid," said Loring, "we've got more important
things to talk about.
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