Dasi
same as if the Sissie were in commission."
The murmuring of the listening spacers built again like sudden surf.
"We'll be lifting with a full crew," Daniel resumed after a pause to let the more clever spacers explain what he'd just said to their denser fellows. "We'll be carrying missiles, though not a full magazine, and we'll have expended some of them before we come back or I badly misjudge the North."
Adele realized suddenly that her friend was addressing not only the Cinnabar citizens in front of him but also the Klimovs watching from the bridge hatch above. He was being carefully circumspect in the words he used—
Which didn't prevent Koechler from shouting to his fellow riggers Barnes and Dasi, "No, you ninnies, we won't be working for wogs, we'll be working for Mr. Leary!" in a voice loud enough to be heard on the street outside the compound.
"We won't be at war," Daniel went on, "but going among those cut-throats and pirates in the North will be as dangerous as war. Maybe worse!"
"We've seen pirates, sir!" Sun cried. "Seen 'em and seen 'em off, haven't we, spacers!"
"You know we bloody have!" Woetjans roared and the whole crew took up the shout.
"You'll be paid an honest spacer's wage and a little more," said Daniel, "because you're working for the Learys of Bantry now! But there'll be long watches and no loot. I'll be conning us according to my Uncle Stacey's logs, and I'll tell you God's truth that there'll be hard runs. I wouldn't trust any other ship and crew than the Princess Cecile and her Sissies to make them."
"If anybody else could do it, then you can do it blindfolded, sir!" Dorst cried.
For a half-heartbeat Adele wondered if Daniel had instructed a claque before he spoke . . . but he surely hadn't. The corvette's crew was speaking its collective mind, and it was with its former captain, body and soul.
"Let me give you a warning," Daniel continued, as though he weren't noticing the chorus of cheers. "Some of you men'll 've heard that dancing girls in the Commonwealth have their cunts crosswise so they get tighter when they spread their legs. I don't believe it!"
He paused again, then thundered through the laughter, "Though I feel it's my duty to science
The murmuring of the listening spacers built again like sudden surf.
"We'll be lifting with a full crew," Daniel resumed after a pause to let the more clever spacers explain what he'd just said to their denser fellows. "We'll be carrying missiles, though not a full magazine, and we'll have expended some of them before we come back or I badly misjudge the North."
Adele realized suddenly that her friend was addressing not only the Cinnabar citizens in front of him but also the Klimovs watching from the bridge hatch above. He was being carefully circumspect in the words he used—
Which didn't prevent Koechler from shouting to his fellow riggers Barnes and Dasi, "No, you ninnies, we won't be working for wogs, we'll be working for Mr. Leary!" in a voice loud enough to be heard on the street outside the compound.
"We won't be at war," Daniel went on, "but going among those cut-throats and pirates in the North will be as dangerous as war. Maybe worse!"
"We've seen pirates, sir!" Sun cried. "Seen 'em and seen 'em off, haven't we, spacers!"
"You know we bloody have!" Woetjans roared and the whole crew took up the shout.
"You'll be paid an honest spacer's wage and a little more," said Daniel, "because you're working for the Learys of Bantry now! But there'll be long watches and no loot. I'll be conning us according to my Uncle Stacey's logs, and I'll tell you God's truth that there'll be hard runs. I wouldn't trust any other ship and crew than the Princess Cecile and her Sissies to make them."
"If anybody else could do it, then you can do it blindfolded, sir!" Dorst cried.
For a half-heartbeat Adele wondered if Daniel had instructed a claque before he spoke . . . but he surely hadn't. The corvette's crew was speaking its collective mind, and it was with its former captain, body and soul.
"Let me give you a warning," Daniel continued, as though he weren't noticing the chorus of cheers. "Some of you men'll 've heard that dancing girls in the Commonwealth have their cunts crosswise so they get tighter when they spread their legs. I don't believe it!"
He paused again, then thundered through the laughter, "Though I feel it's my duty to science