He started to protest and his finger throbbed unbearably. 'All right, but I'll wait as long as I can.'
“…You’ll do nothing of the sort.'
He hesitated for a second more, then walked to the transfer booth. Ingrid turned to face the two men. 'You males do grow up more slowly than we,' she said with a dancing smile in her eyes. 'But given enough time… There are some decisions that should have been made fifty years ago. Not many get another chance. Where are we going?'
Montferrat and Yarthkin glanced at each other, back at the woman with an identical look of helpless bewilderment that did not prevent the policeman from keying the booth.
'All three of us have a lot of catching up to do,' she said, and disappeared.
'Well.' Montferrat said dazedly. 'Well.' A shake of his head. 'You next.'
'Where did you send her?'
Montferrat grinned slightly. 'You'll just have to trust me to send you there, too, won't you?'
'Claude-”
'You've been there. My family's old lodge. I've kept it hidden from-4rom everyone.' He laughed slightly. 'You've already had a head start with her. A few more days won't matter. But when I get there, I'll expect equal time. Now get moving, I have to set the stage. ' I
'Better come now.'
'No. First I see that the Sol-Belter gets offworld. Then I fix it so we can follow. Both will take time.'
'Can you bring that off, Claude?'
'Yes.' He straightened, and the look of the true Herrenmann was unmistakable. 'It's good to be alive again.
