Part 18 (1/2)
”You want papers for the astrogation deck, or control, or as a power pusher?” asked s.h.i.+nny.
Roger thought a moment. ”Better make them for the control deck,” he said.
”Credits,” said s.h.i.+nny. ”You have any credits?”
”How much?” asked Roger.
”One hundred now,” said s.h.i.+nny, and then added, ”and one hundred when I deliver.”
”Guaranteed papers?”
”Positively!” snorted s.h.i.+nny. ”I don't sell things that ain't good! I'm an honest man!”
Roger reached inside his jersey and pulled out a small roll of crumpled credit notes. He counted off one hundred and handed them over to s.h.i.+nny.
”When do I get the papers?” asked Roger.
”Tomorrow, same place, same time,” answered s.h.i.+nny.
”What's the name of this place?” asked Roger.
”Cafe Cosmos.”
Roger picked up his gla.s.s of sweet water, raising it in a toast to the little man in front of him. ”Until tomorrow, Mr. s.h.i.+nny, when you come here with the papers, or I come looking for you with bare knuckles!”
”You don't scare me!” snapped s.h.i.+nny. ”I'll be here!”
Roger tilted his chair back and smiled his casual smile. ”I know you'll be back, Mr. s.h.i.+nny. You see, I really mean what I say. And more important, _you_ know I mean what I say!”
s.h.i.+nny got up. ”Tomorrow, same time, same place,” he said, hurrying out the door.
Roger finished the bottle of Martian fizz, suddenly very depressed. He didn't really want the false papers. He just wanted to get away from the deadly humdrum existence on s.p.a.ceman's Row. He walked wearily back to his scrubby little bedroom to wait for night to come. He hated to go back to the room, because he knew he would think about Tom and Astro and the s.p.a.ce Academy. Now he couldn't allow himself to think about it any more. It was past. Finished.
”You got _who_?” asked Loring.
”I said I got the best astrogator in the deep for ya!” snapped s.h.i.+nny.
Loring looked at Mason and then suddenly burst out laughing, dropping his head on the table.
”What's the matter with you?” demanded s.h.i.+nny. ”You got s.p.a.ce fever or something?”
Mason, sitting quietly in the dirty hotel room, was grinning from ear to ear.
”So you got Manning for us, eh?” repeated Loring at last. ”I wanta tell you something, s.h.i.+nny. I was the one that got that kid to break outta that s.p.a.ce station!”
”You what?” asked s.h.i.+nny. The little s.p.a.ceman had come to like the straightforwardness of Roger.
”That's right,” said Loring. ”When Mason and me loused up taking over the _Annie Jones_, that kid, Manning, was on the radar watch at the station. At the same time we were gonna crash into the station he crossed a coupla wires and was talking to his girl back on Earth! They think _he_ fouled up the radar and caused the cras.h.!.+”
”Then he's your fall guy,” commented s.h.i.+nny thoughtfully.