* * * * * The Vegan girl smiled timidly, taking hope. "But you did," the beautiful Earthgirl said. "I was on the _Polaris_ today, Captain. You were to be the pilot, until Interstellar Transfer here on Irwadi was planetarized." "I didn't see you. Dressed like that I wouldn't have forgotten you." "I wasn't dressed like this." The girl smiled, very sure of herself. "I read your mind when you came in. The costume's had the desired effect, I see. But you needn't broadcast your animal desires so blatantly." "Nobody asked you to read my mind. Besides, you needn't broadcast your physical assets so blatantly." "Touché," said the Earthgirl. "Listen," Ramsey began. "We're in a jam. We're in a hurry." "So you told me. I couldn't have wished for more. It looks like I didn't need this costume and its obvious inducements at all, if you're really in a jam." "What the devil is that supposed to mean?" "My name is Margot Dennison, Captain Ramsey. I have managed to buy an old starship, small and held together by spit and string and whatever the Irwadians use for prayer--" "They're atheists," Ramsey said a little pointlessly. It was the girl. Darn her hide, she was beautiful! What did she expect? Looking at her, how could a man concentrate.... "Hey!" Ramsey blurted suddenly. "Did you say Margot Dennison? The tri-di star?" * * * * * Margot Dennison smiled. "That's right," she said. "Stranded five hundred light years from nowhere, Captain Ramsey. With a ship. With money. In need of a hyper-space pilot. That's why I'm here, or didn't you guess?" "I'm listening." "Isn't it clear? I'll pay you to take me away from here." "Where to?" "Through hyper-space to Earth. Well?" "I've been grounded. If I take you through hyper-space, I lose my license." "You really don't believe that, do you? After the Irwadians grounded all of you without warning, and grounded all ships until they can train a few more pilots. You don't really think I.T.S. would take your license away if you took a ship up and through hyper, do you? Under the circumstances? Especially since you're in a jam with a totalitarian government gone wild? Do you?" Ramsey said abruptly: "I'm sorry. I can't take you to Sol System." Margot Dennison smiled. It wasn't the kind of smile designed to make a man roll over on his back and wave all fours in the breeze. Margot Dennison didn't need that kind of smile. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "I read your mind, you see. Very well, Captain. If you're a fugitive from Earth--I assume Ramsey isn't your real name, by the way--you may take me through hyper to Centauri. That will be quite satisfactory. I will make my way from Centauri. Well?" "Give me the gun," Ramsey said.