"So be it, then." Cortin smiled at him, approvingly. "Would you like to help? You seemed to enjoy yourself as much as an Inquisitor would, and Mike doesn't have that particular quirk; he helps because he loves me, not because he likes the work."
Keith hesitated briefly before answering. "It surprises me, Thakur, that I did enjoy it. But I would not displace Captain Odeon from something that brings you two close."
Cortin looked at her second in command. "What do you think, Mike?"
"If he wants it, he's got it," Odeon replied promptly. Turning to the Sandeman, he went on. "As she says, I don't have the mental quirk that lets me like hurting people; I'd be glad to get out of the job."
"It seems I do," Keith said. "At least since she wants this one to hurt, I took a great deal of pleasure in causing him as much pain as I could."
"It's all yours, then," Odeon said promptly. "With my thanks, by the way—which I'll demonstrate later, if you want."
"In the meantime," Cortin said, "I'm hungry. Let's go up to supper."
Return to main storyline: [31. Explanation]