Then the figure of Nadia Petrovna slipped soundlessly inside, eased the door shut. She stood over him, watching him with a desperate intentness. Satisfied that he slept, she set to work searching his cabin. Gavin lay quiet, observing her skill appreciatively. The girl was efficient. She went rapidly through his closet, his chest, his bags. She probed the lone chair cushion with a long needle, peered under his bed, then vanished in the shower. After a moment she reappeared, stood over him again, a puzzled expression on her pretty slavic features. "No luck, eh?" murmured Gavin pleasantly. He opened his eyes and sat up. Nadia gasped. Gavin narrowed his eyes and roared in a suddenly harsh voice, "What the hell are you prying through my luggage for?" The girl jumped. "I—I ..." she began, and then lapsed into confusion. He waited. "It sounds so foolish," she confessed, her long black eyes on the deck. Her fingers were twining about each other nervously. "But I can't get that dream out of my mind." She glanced up at him with a frightened expression. "What dream?" "The little death. When you turned out to be a T.I.S. agent. I—I begged you to give me a chance, let me try to escape." "Yes," asked Gavin with a show of interest. "What did I do?" "You laughed at me. I can't forget it." "I wouldn't laugh at you," he replied somberly. The girl's eyes softened. They were remarkable eyes, long and black and lustrous, the lashes half-hiding them. "Why, Gavin, I believe you're flirting with me." There was an odd little laugh in the words. It was the first time she'd called him Gavin. "Don't be too sure," said Gavin gruffly. His arms went around her waist. He pulled her to a seat beside him and kissed her roughly. Someone rapped at the door. Nadia sprang to her feet. Gavin called out, "Who is it?" "The steward, sir. The Captain sent me to fetch you to the messroom." When Gavin entered the officer's mess, he saw the Captain seated across a table from the thinnest man he had ever encountered. "This is Hendricks," Cabot introduced them. The Captain was cold sober and hard-eyed. "He's the factor here at the cantonment." Gavin shook hands. The factor had an amazing grip. His flesh hung on in tough strings. He looked more like an animated skeleton than a man, but Gavin was conscious of a tremendous wiry strength in him. "You going ashore, Mr. Murdock?" the factor inquired. Gavin nodded. "Miss Petrovna and I were planning to visit the cantonment." He saw a glance pass between Cabot and the factor. The factor said, "Splendid," and rubbed his emaciated hands together. "Allow me to play host. The officers are already at my establishment." Gavin thanked him.