in. What can I do for you?”
She ventured into the room. “What’s wrong?”
What could he say? That another vampire was coming to joust with him for possession of her? “Nothing new.”
“Titus,” she warned.
“Carol says we’re not getting our scheduled parts shipment. No appropriation.”
“Bad. But it’s more than that.”
“Shimon’s going to blow his Israeli stack when he discovers what Carol has done.”
She almost bit at that one, but instead of asking what Carol had done, she shook her head. “More.”
Titus wondered how he could be so transparent to a human. “All right,” he confessed, as if surrendering. “I’m worried. I can’t figure out how to tell you...something.”
“Just tell.”
“You may never speak to me again. I couldn’t stand that. It’s been bad enough the last few days, with you stalking off every night without a word.”
She frowned at him, studying him in that way that made him so nervous. “I’m not ready to talk yet,” she said. “Later. I promise.”
“Okay. Look, meanwhile could you do me a favor?”
“Like?”
He thought fast. “You’ve turned out to be very talented with circuitry. When the few components we can get finally do arrive, we won’t have time to fool with them. I’m going to send you over to Ernie Natches in Electronics for some quick training. That way you’ll be more help when we really need you.”
“What precisely do I have to learn?” she challenged.
“Let Ernie decide. He’s got benches full of our components he’s trying to repair. You can help.”
She studied him again, weighing. “You’re making this up as you go along.”
Diabolical woman. He recalled thinking that in a monotonous undertone during the years he’d been going with her. “Inea, I’ve got a lot of problems. I have to create solutions on the spot.”
“What problem is getting rid of me a solution to?”
“Trying to get my computer repaired and keep my ass out of the fire. The worst part is that I spend all my time filling out forms, writing reports, and going to meetings rather than doing physics. I’m becoming a frustrated administrator.”
“You’re evading again.”
“Consider it a favor. I’ll owe you. Report to Ernie in the morning, okay?”
“It’s not okay, but I’ll do it. What do I tell him, that I’m still on your payroll?”
“Of course. He’s doing me a favor. Training you.”
She went to the door. “What you owe me in return is a complete explanation.”
“Okay. As soon as we get back to Earth.”
“Titus!”
He shrugged.
“You have the best woebegone look of anyone I know. All right, but I get my explanation on the Quito landing pad.”
“No deal. The ‘port restaurant.” He’d never forget that scorching sun.
“Don’t quibble!” She left.
Watching her, he noted that it was hard to flounce on the moon. It definitely crimped her style.
The moment she was out the door, he got Ernie on the vidcom. He had only met the man on his odyssey through the stockrooms, but he had been extraordinarily helpful. He owed Ernie several favors and here he was asking for another.
Worse yet, as soon as he finished with Ernie, he had to convince Shimon to rotate to the night shift. With Abbot being brought in as if Shimon couldn’t handle his job, there was no way the two would get along.
And still worse, Titus had to face Abbot after publicly expelling him from the lab.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
