Brill asked, “Could we see some more shirts, M. Roubaille? He’ll need more than just the one.”
“But, of course, madam,” he said and brought out three other selections—a classic white oxford, a turtleneck jersey in a dark green that worked perfectly with the jacket, and a henley pullover with a simple rounded collar and five buttons at the top.
I took my time trying each of them on, enjoying being watched in an odd way.
Finally, M. Roubaille asked, “If there’s nothing else, may I have your purchases wrapped, Monsieur? Or do you wish to wear them?”
“Might I take a moment to consult with my friends?” As soon as he said the word purchases, a very panicky feeling washed over me. I did not know if I could afford this. What little I knew of fashion made me fear I was in way over my head.
“But of course.”
Brill, Bev, and Diane were all sitting there with very odd expressions and looking a bit flushed. “I’m sorry that took so long,” I said. “But what do you think of the outfit?”
Bev spoke first. “It’s you, Ish.” She sounded a bit breathless.
I took Brill aside and asked softly, “Are you okay, Brill? You look a little flushed.”
“I’m fine. Really.” Her smile looked shaky to me.
“Okay, well, how do I ask how much this is going to cost? I’m beginning to worry that I can’t really afford it. And I don’t wanna look like an idiot getting back into my old clothes.”
“You won’t look like an idiot. Just ask to see the statement. You can always pick a few pieces and leave the rest. He won’t think twice.”
I nodded and turned to Diane. “What do you think? Will these work?”
“I think so, but if you could just slip the jacket off and walk over there and back for me once?”
I did as she asked, pretending not to know they were watching my butt. When I turned, I found her and Beverly nodding at each other. “Yes, Ish. I think that works very well.”
“Very well, then, M. Roubaille, I think these will do. If I could see the statement?”
His assistant had a pleased little smile on her face as she presented me with the tablet displaying the accounting and then slipped back into the background while I consulted with Brill, Diane, and Beverly once more. The tab was two thousand two hundred and eight credits.
Diane gasped when she saw the amount. “Wow, I knew it was going to be steep but…”
“I can loan ya some if you need, Ish,” Bev offered in a lowered voice.
I looked to Brill. “Well, you really should keep the jacket. That’s only a kilocred and it is spectacular on you.”
I looked from one to the other before speaking. “No. The question is: how does this relate to clothing in general? I don’t buy clothes and I have no idea what a pair of jeans costs.”
Bev caught on first. “It’s about ten times what you would pay anywhere else, but you are never going to find clothes that fit that well ever again. I can help you if you’re short.”
I grinned and turned to the proprietor. “Thank you, M. Roubaille. This will be most satisfactory.” While Brill, Diane, and Bev looked on dumbfounded, I thumbed the bill.
He led me back to the dressing room where I retrieved my tablet and loose articles. The dolphin slipped nicely into an inside pocket of the jacket, and there was even a pocket for my tablet. His assistants bundled up my old clothing separately from my spare shirts and took everything back out to where Bev, Brill, and Diane waited.
“Are we ready, ladies?” I asked.
They all nodded, and M. Roubaille showed us out. On the way he handed me another data chip, this one inscribed with an ornate R on the case. “Anytime I can be of assistance, M. Wang, this will get my attention.” He smiled and added softly, “It’s not every day my assistants get to enjoy themselves so much, Monsieur. They hope you’ll return soon.”
“Thank you, M. Roubaille.” I offered him a smile and small bow. “This has been an amazing experience.” I tucked the case into my pocket beside the dolphin.
On the way out, I took the bundle of old clothes and stuffed it down the first disposal chute I came to. Brill, Bev, and Diane smiled at me. “Can’t afford the mass,” I told them.
“Well, let’s go out to dinner,” Bev said. “I feel like celebrating.”
On the way to the lift, I found myself in the lead with the women walking abreast behind me, Brill in the middle flanked by Diane and Bev. They looked terribly pleased with themselves for some reason—almost proud.
“One of you will have to cover dinner for me,” I said. “That was almost all I had.”
“Oh, after this afternoon’s performance, I think the least we can do is buy ya dinner,” Brill said.
Chapter 17
DUNSANY ROADS ORBITAL
2352-APRIL-15
We were on the lift heading for the restaurants on level eight when Diane’s tablet bipped. “I’m going to have take a rain check on dinner,” she said. “I’ve got to relieve Francis in half a stan.”
I checked the chrono and was shocked to discover that we had spent the whole afternoon at Chez Henri. Diane had the watch starting at 18:00 and it was already 17:15. My brain was having trouble processing everything. Of course it was late, we were headed for dinner, but somehow I had not connected the passage of time with Diane’s impending watch. I pulled my own tablet out and set an alarm for 05:15 just in case.
“You planning on staying out all night, boy toy?” Bev asked with a grin.
I shook my head. “No, but as crazy as this day has been, I don’t wanna take any chances.”
“You better not be late,” Diane said with a laugh. “I’m gonna be exhausted after this afternoon and staying up all night on the midwatch tonight.”
“We’ll get him back early,” Brill told her.
“Who says?” Bev demanded. “We need to take him out and show him off a little, don’t we?”
“Oh, yes,” Brill agreed, “but we ought to let him sleep tonight. He’s running on less than six stan’s sleep now. He’s got day watch tomorrow and he’ll be fresher tomorrow night.”
They were grinning at me the whole time they discussed my fate. “Don’t I have any say in this?” I asked.
Brill and Bev looked at each other and then at Diane. Finally, they turned back to me and Bev said, “No. Why do you ask?”
“Silly me,” I said. I was getting a bit giddy by then. I had not eaten since sometime in the midwatch when I had raided the cooler in the galley. For all her joking, Brill was actually right on the mark on how tired I really was. I just hoped I would not fall asleep in my soup.
When the lift stopped at level eight, Diane gave me a little hug and a peck on the cheek. “You did good today, Ishmael. Thanks for letting me come along.”
I was too flustered by so much stimulation to say anything except, “You’re welcome.”
Brill lead us off the lift and we waved to Diane as the doors closed. Brill asked, “So, what’ll we eat?”
