"Well, well," said Salvor-Jones briskly.
Smith made no answer. He swallowed thoughtfully, his Adam's apple convulsing, and continued to stare into the glowing sun of the heater.
"We've not much to do from now on, I'm afraid," Salvor-Jones said, "until a starship passes within range. Then we'll be able to see how well it works."
Smith nodded glumly. He was sulking. He had been assigned to assist, but this little man insisted on doing everything himself. Didn't trust a damn soul but himself. Pick up a tool and like as not he'd snatch it from your hand and leave you standing there watching him. Smith hated people like that.
"Play chess?" Salvor-Jones asked.
"I never played chess," Knucklebone Smith said.
"Quite an assortment of games on board," Salvor-Jones said. "Checkers. Maybe you'd rather play checkers."
"Never tried it."
"Poker?"
"No."