Harriet smiled. "If she doesn't, I'll tell Bernie they're stripping stolen robots in Foster's office, and they're using the empty shells for target practice. By the time Bernie's finished punching her way through the walls, Foster will be throwing buckets of cash at us."
"Harriet Walsh, remind me never to cross you."
Chapter 30
Alice kept an eye on the fuel gauge as the ship flew towards Chirless. She'd told Arnie to keep the speed down, to ensure they had enough fuel to get back to Dismolle, but it was going to be close. She'd already got Bernie to fill the ship once, and what with the bill for Flint's robot, she didn't think another tank of fuel was very likely.
"I always wanted to be a pilot."
Alice looked round, and saw Scrap studying the flight console. "Can't you just download a program or something? Instant learning?"
"I'm sure I could, yes." The robot gazed at the horizon, a distant look in his eyes. "One day, perhaps. When Mr Flint … no longer requires my services."
"It's a big galaxy. Plenty to explore."
"Indeed." Scrap smiled at her, his warm yellow eyes glowing in the darkened flight deck. "That's something for me to look forward to, I think. For now, I must tend to Mr Flint."
"Scrap? What are you doing up there? Leave the girl alone!"
"Speak of the devil," murmured Alice, but when she looked round the robot had gone. Moments later she heard Scrap and Flint in the back of the flight deck, discussing the old man's medication, diet and exercise regime. Actually, it sounded more like a dispute, but that seemed to be normal for those two.
"I tell you, I'm going to mow the lawn," said Flint. "You've only just been rebuilt, and I'm not having you running over your toes with the mower."
"I assure you, I am completely operational, and my—"
"Yeah, yeah, you always say that, and then something falls of." There was a hollow clang. "How's the leg? Still attached?"
"My new leg is excellent, thank you. How's your eyesight?"
"As good as ever."
"I'll take that as a fail, then."
Alice donned her headset, cutting off their good-natured banter. The city of Chirless was dead ahead, and even at their reduced speed it was growing rapidly. Flint had already given her the address, and the ship was tracking a course towards his house. They were flying low, and after passing a commercial district they reached Flint's neighborhood, where modest houses sat on small plots of land. Alice aimed for his garden, and was just about to set down when she heard shouting. She pulled off the headset and turned in her seat. "What is it?"
"No, no, no!" shouted Flint. "Get off my lawn!"
Arnie obliged, and they set down in the road instead. As the engines faded to silence, Alice got up and escorted the others to the hatch.
Flint hesitated, one hand on the ladder. "This is where it happened, right? She flew up to the roof, then went out the hatch and plunged all the way to the ocean?"
Slowly, Alice nodded.
"Good." And with that, Flint took the ladder to the ground. Scrap glanced at the ceiling, shook his head, and followed.
Alice found them waiting for her at the foot of the ladder. "Thanks for the help," she said. "I'm really sorry Scrap got hurt."
"Don't thank us. You people didn't have to put your lives on the line for Chirless, but you did it anyway." Flint saluted her. "You did well, Alice. You have a bright future ahead of you."
Alice smiled. "Take care of each other, okay?"
"I'll have to, because this tin lump can't take care of himself. Getting run over, indeed."
"And this old fool couldn't find his mouth unless he's complaining," said Scrap fondly.
They turned and walked across the garden, and Alice watched as Flint took a seat in the shade, while Scrap wheeled the old mower out of the garden shed. As the little engine clattered into life, emitting clouds of smoke, she climbed the ladder to the airlock, still smiling to herself.
— ♦ —
"It seems like a waste of time, tidying this place up," said Birch, as he and Harriet walked into the Chirless Peace Force station. "I mean, it's just going to sit here, abandoned. Who's going to know about the mess inside?"
"I will," said Harriet, as she righted a fallen chair. "Come on, it won't take long."
"Fair enough," said Dave, and they got to work in earnest.
Thirty minutes later, Harriet's commset rang, and when she saw who was calling, she carried it through to the canteen. "Yes?"
"I've approved your budget," said Foster. "The first deposit will go through tomorrow."
Harriet was going to say something pithy, but she decided to adopt a more friendly tone. After all, she had no idea how long she'd be dealing with Foster, and it would be better to keep her onside. "Thank you, Mrs Foster. The people of Chirless will be very happy."
"Chirless? What do you mean, Chirless? I thought this was for Dismolle!"
"Actually, it's for both. Have a nice day, now." Harriet disconnected and made a second call. She gave the station's address, then confirmed someone would be out within the hour. After that, she went to find Birch.
He was standing by the gaping hole leading into the street, eying the broken glass. "We should have boarded this up before they took the tools away. Now we've got no chance of securing it."
"That's all right, I've just booked a glazier. They're going to fit new doors."
Birch stared at her. "I know Foster was going to cough up some cash, but isn't that a bit extravagant? I mean, it's just an empty station. We might as well stick up some metal fencing."
They both looked up at a growling roar overhead. A shadow passed over the street, and then they felt a thump as Alice set down on the roof. Then Harriet turned back to Birch. "A metal fence won't give people a very good
