Blind Play

Nick Pappas, hired-killer from Callisto, was strictly out for Pappas—out for Number One, as they used to say. And now those fools in the vanishing spaceship thought that number was up!
Nick Pappas had just crossed to the instrument panel of the Tang Chuh-Chih's lifeboat when he heard a sound behind him. He turned quickly.
He had left the airlock between the lifeboat and the ship open. That had been stupid, he realized, but it was too late to correct it now. One of the Tang's two other crew members was approaching down the corridor just beyond the airlock; if he saw the doors slide shut now he'd be immediately suspicious. That would leave Pappas inside the lifeboat, and before he could drain enough fuel from the ship's tanks into the lifeboat's, the other two could have the airlock cut open.
He still had a chance to hide—but before he could propel himself to the other end of the lifeboat, out of sight, Arne Birkerod appeared at the other side of the open airlock.
Birkerod smiled. Pappas stood still, gripping the pilot's seat in front of him.
Hello, Arne, said Pappas. I was just checking over the—
Good morning, Nick—or good evening, if you like. Let's go up to the control cabin and see Garcia.
For a very brief moment, Pappas considered. Although the Tang was in free fall, he was very conscious of the weight of the gun concealed inside his jacket. He might use it now, but the sound would bring Garcia. Better to bluff it through. The other two might not be suspicious yet, and in a pinch he had the advantage that they weren't armed. Sure, he said, and pushed himself across to where Birkerod stood.
After you, said Birkerod, much more politely than usual.
Pappas smiled uncertainly. He planted both feet against the side of the airlock opening, then jumped off. He floated down the ship's corridor to where it took a sharp bend; there he grabbed a rung of a ladder bolted to the corridor wall.
Birkerod had pushed off harder than Pappas had; he arrived at the ladder at the same time. After you, he said again.