Her eyes rewarded his deceit, but the light was too poor for him to see them. It was easy enough to imagine stars in them, and even a man without illusions can still dream. "Maybe it will matter," she replied. "We can hope for a miracle. It will make all the difference for us if the miracle happens." Denver laughed. "Then the money will make a difference if we live through this? You mean you'll stay with me?" Darbor answered too quickly. "Of course." Then she hesitated, as if something of his distaste echoed within her. She went on, her voice strange. "Sure, I'm mercenary. I've been broke in Venusport, and again here on Luna. It's no fun. Poverty is not all the noble things the copybooks say. It's undignified and degrading. You want to stop washing after a while, because it doesn't seem to matter. Yes, I want money. Am I different from other people?" Denver laughed harshly. "No. I just thought for a few minutes that you were. I hoped I was at the head of your list. But let's not quarrel. We're friends in a jam together. No miracle is going to happen. It's stupid to fight over a salt mine, empty at that, when we're going to die. I'm like you; I wanted a miracle to happen, but mine didn't concern money. We both got what we asked for, that's all. If you bend over far enough somebody will kick you in the pants. I'm going out, Darbor. Pray for me." The blankness of her face-plate turned toward him. A glitter, dark and opaque, was all he could make out. "I'm sorry," she said. "I know it was the wrong answer. But don't be a fool. He'll kill you, and I'm afraid to be in the dark, alone." "I'll leave Charley with you." Denver broke the girl's clasp on his arm and edged slow to the doorway. He shouted. "Hey, Caltis!" There was stunning silence. Then a far, muted crackle in his earphones. A voice answered, "Yes? I'm here. What's on your mind, funny boy?" "A parley." "Nuts, but come on out. I'll talk." "You come up," Denver argued. "I don't trust you." Big Ed Caltis considered the proposition. "How do I know you won't try to nail me for hostage?" "You don't. But I'm not a fool. What good would it do even if I killed you. Your men are down there. They'd still want the mine. I don't think they care enough about you to deal. They'd kill us anyhow. Bring your gun if it makes you feel more like a man." After an interval Big Ed Caltis appeared in the doorway. As he entered Denver retreated into the shadow-zone until he stood close beside the rude barricade. "I'll bargain with you, Caltis. You can have the workings. Let us go free, with an hour's start in my space sled. I'll sign over any share we could claim and agree never to bother you again. It's no use to a corpse. Just let us go." Caltis gave a short laugh. In the earphones, it sounded nasty.