Michio’s fingers flew acrossthe control board. “I’m on it.”
Toemeka turned on the shields.“Rear shields at full power.”
“Let’s hope this ship is asgood as that trader told me,” Erling said.
Toemeka watched as their pursuersdrew closer. “Should I fire on them?”
Michio held up one hand. “Holdoff. Let’s make radio contact; see what’s the problem.”
Erling turned on the radio. “Thisis Slider, Best Slave Dealer in the Galaxy,” he drawled. “Comeany closer and we’ll blast you to pieces. We demand to know whyyou’re tailing us.”
“This is Commander CadmusRochambeau.”
At the sound of his voice, bilerose in Toemeka’s throat.
“Turn around and land so we cansearch your ship.”
“No!” Toemeka gasped. She puther hand over her mouth, hoping he hadn’t heard her.
“We paid the proper port feesand were given clearance to take off,” Erling said. “What’s theproblem?”
“We have intelligence thatyou’ve stolen one of my women.”
“There aren’t any womenaboard.”
“Turn around immediately. Wehave ground missiles aimed at your ship. We’ll shoot you down ifyou don’t comply.”
Erling turned off the microphone.“What should we do?”
“They’ll destroy us before wemake the jump,” Michio said. He turned and looked at his wife. “I’mnot going to risk Toemeka’s life. We’ll have to turn around.”
“I’m not going back!” sheexclaimed. “We can stall them long enough to make the jump.” Sheflipped on the control panel radio. “Cadmus, this is Toemeka. Thesemen abducted me from the party. They’re ruthless slave dealers.Please don’t fire on us.”
“You weren’t abducted. Youstole my aircar and flew away. Slider, turn around or we’ll fire onyour ship.”
“Cadmus, you have to believeme. They snatched me when I came out of the bathroom and stole youraircar.” She held her breath, waiting to hear his answer.
“Will you sell her?” Cadmusasked.
“For the right price,” Erlingsaid.
“What’s your price?”
“2,000 dockras in internationalcurrency.”
A chill went through Toemeka atthe unreasonably high price Erling set. Cadmus swore angrily, thenexclaimed, “No woman’s worth that much!”
Michio mouthed to Erling. “Lowerthe price.”
“This one is,” Erling said,ignoring Michio. “If you want her, you’ll have to pay for her,”
“1,500 dockras — that’s thehighest I’ll go. Take it or we’ll shoot you down.”
Erling laughed gruffly. “Ididn’t become the best slave dealer in the galaxy by compromising.Go ahead and fire.”
A tense moment passed, thenCadmus said, “All right, 2,000 dockras, but she’d better beunharmed or I’ll slice you into small pieces and serve you to thetawkus.”
“We never damage the goods. Howdo we know you’ll keep your word?” Erling asked.
“On Henotaux, we honor ourbargains.”
The ship began to vibrate and ahigh-pitched hum sounded. Toemeka clutched one fist to her chest.They were entering phase one of a space jump and might yet make it.The hum and gentle movement turned into dangerous, violent shaking.Everything disappeared, merging into the vibrating energy. Sweatdripped from her brow. If the space jump system malfunctioned, they’dbe killed.
The shaking finally slowed, thenstopped. Moments later she saw deep space with stars and planetsstreaming by.
“Everyone all right?” Michioasked.
“Where did you get this flyingdeathtrap?” Toemeka exclaimed.
Michio turned in his seat to lookat her. “Traded it for the Blue Lady.”
“You got a bad deal.”
“That’s what I told him,”Erling chimed in. His eyes swept over her and he whistled. “Itlooks like you just came from a party.”
“I did. You and Michio would’vefit right in wearing that garb.”
Erling shrugged. “We’redecked out as slave dealers and traded this horror of a ship so wecould land on Devil’s Eye.”
“Thank God you were able to. Idon’t know how I would’ve escaped if you hadn’t been at thespaceport.” Toemeka turned to Michio. “Where’s Baymond? Is heall right?”
“He’s being well taken careof at the palace. Koriann hired a nursemaid and sends us dailyreports. Do you want to see his picture?” Michio took out ahand-held communicator.
Toemeka stood, grimacing when sheput weight on her injured foot, then hobbled over.
“Why are you limping?” Michioasked.
“I stepped on something sharpwhen we ran to the ship.”
“Where are your shoes?”
“I left them at the party. Theyhad stiletto heels and were the worse possible shoes to escape in.”She shuddered remembering when she’d slid them off to dance withCadmus.
“You’re safe now,” Michiosaid putting his hand on her arm.
“For the moment.” Her voicecame out in barely a whisper. She didn’t feel safe. Cadmus would behell-bent on recapturing her.
Michio handed his thecommunicator to Toemeka.
“Koriann and Onolyn arethoroughly spoiling Baymond,” Erling said.
Toemeka’s eyes filled withtears as she scrolled through the photos of Baymond on thecommunicator. “He’s so precious. I can’t wait to see him again.Being torn away from him was terrible.” She glanced from a photo ofthe baby to Michio. “I didn’t want to leave you either, but Iknew you didn’t need me the way he did.”
“We both need you.”
She nodded, feeling ill at ease.Michio must have questions about her appearance, among other things.“I’d like to change out of this dress. Did you bring clothes forme?”
“Koriann packed a travel bag,”Michio said. “I’ll show you where our cabin is.”
She followed him down a shorthallway to the cabin. The mural depicting a harem greeted her whenshe entered. She glanced around the unusually large cabin, taking inthe double-sized berth and adjoining bathroom. “It looks like thebedroom of a slave-ship captain.”
“Slavery was one of the manyillegal activities the previous owner was engaged in.”
She felt dark vibrations of humansuffering still clinging to the ship and could only imagine theterrible things that must have occurred. Had Amaretta been brought toDevil’s Eye on a ship like this? She frowned, wishing she’d beenable to free the girl.
“Couldn’t you find adifferent profession to pose as?” she asked. “This place gives methe creeps.” She unfastened her ruby earrings and necklace, placingthem on a shelf, anxious to be rid of anything that reminded her ofCadmus.
“We needed a smugglers’ shipas a disguise, so we could safely land on Devil’s Eye. I’m sorryit makes you uncomfortable.”
She tugged at her ruby ring, butcouldn’t remove it. “This ring’s stuck. Help me get thishateful thing off.”
Michio clasped the band andtwisted it off with surprising ease. “It’s an expensive ring.”As he examined the stone, his face darkened. “I suppose a man whowould pay 2,000 dockras for a woman would think little of buying sucha gift. Where’s your wedding band?”
She felt the sting behind hiswords. Did he think she’d
