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."But that's what made the film so poignant.""Yes, I suppose so." He chewed on his lower lip in thought."Captain doesn'tknow you're aboard?""No."Page 43ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"It's strictly against regulations, you know.""I suspect so."He grinned widely."Wanta hide out in my cabin for a while?""That's generous of you, but I don't want to get you into trouble."He nodded."Yes, it was a bad idea.Exciting to think about, but a bad idea.""I suppose you'd better notify old Josh that his baby sister is aboard.""The movie people gave us some rushes of your new film.I loved the scenewhere you fall in love with the Delanian.""Thank you.""You're sure you want me to call the captain?""What do you think?"He sighed, stepped to a panel, pushed buttons, said, "This is Barkley;would you please ask the captain to come to the gym?"Josh was wearing ship's shorts and tunic.His head was bare."I found her, Captain," the crewman named Barkley said, "can I keep her?""After I run her through the recycler you can have her," Josh said."Queenie, what the hell?" He looked at Barkley and said, "Thank you, Barkley.""Yes, sir," Barkley said."Anything I can do, sir?""Leave," Josh said."I was afraid of that," the crewman said, going out the door."You run a tight ship, Captain," Sheba said with a giggle."Damn it, Sheba.""Something made me do it," she said, and the lightness was gone from hervoice."Yes, sheer irresponsibility.Sheba, this is my first command.They gave methe newest and finest light ship in the fleet, and you're doing your best tosee to it that not only do they take it away from me but take my captain'ssuns in the bargain.""That bad, Josh?"He shook his head, and a fond smile relaxed his face."Why?"She tried for lightness again."It seemed like a good idea at the time."His face darkened."I had to, Josh," she said quickly."I knew that you weregoing to look for Mom and Dad and there was no way that this ship was going togo into space without me.I had to.""And I have to make a detour and put you off on a U.P.world.""No, Josh, please."The door opened and Angela, slim and lovely in a ship's one-piece, halted, hermouth open."Barkley told me, but I didn't believe it.""She had to do it," Josh said."Something made her do it.""I know," Angela said seriously."What?" Josh demanded."Why did we come to the wilderness world, Josh?" Angela asked."We had to take the ship on a shakedown cruise along well traveled routes.Iused that opportunity to come to visit my little sister.I was foolish enoughto want to introduce my new bride to her.""And that's all?" Angela asked."There was no other reason for choosing theworld where Sheba was working?""No," Josh said, but his voice lacked conviction."Sheba, why did you stow away on theErin Kenner?" Angela asked."I had no other choice," Sheba said."I knew that you and Josh were going tolook for my family.Our family.""Did you think that your presence aboard would be an asset, that it would benecessary for us to have you along in order to find your family?"Sheba was thoughtful."Something like that," she said.Page 44ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Your brother, David, looks somewhat like Josh, but he's more finely drawn,older, more dignified," Angela said."Thanks very much," Josh said."And he has a small scar over his left eye, high on the forehead.""You've met David?" Sheba asked."Only briefly," Angela said, "and his hair hid the scar completely, yetI'm certain it's there.""Angela," Josh said, "we've got a small problem on our hands.""You dream about him," Sheba said."And you?""Yes, and about Josh, and about Mom and Dad and Ruth.There are times whenthey seem to be calling out to me, calling for help, and I don't know how tohelp them.""How long has this been going on?" Josh asked, suddenly very much interestedin what Sheba was saying."Off and on for about six months, I'd say.""Josh?" Angela asked, her lovely eyes wide."All right, yes," Josh said, "I dream of them, too.""You were going to them," Sheba said."I had to be with you.I had to beaboard this ship regardless of the consequences."CHAPTER NINEIt didn't seem to matter to the crew members of theErin Kenner thatCaptain Joshua Webster was breaking more than one ironclad service regulationby failing to take the ship to the nearest U.P.port to offload a civilianstowaway.At first the young men and women of the ship's complement were a bitawed by their passenger.Each of them had seen at least one holofilm starringSheba Webster.From their teen years Sheba had been the epitome of femininebeauty and sophistication.When they discovered that the Queen was an outgoingperson who laughed easily, who was not pretentious, who was genuinelyinterested in what they had to say they adopted her as one of their own.Sheba had discovered when she was quite young that the art of her acting wasbased on her knowledge of people [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]