Another moan from Veta. She shifted, clutching at Ross' tunic.
Unceremoniously, he dumped her on a bed, then returned to the space-sack. Spreading its mouth wide, he lifted the girl's legs and set her feet down inside the bag.
Veta's eyes flicked open, panic-shadowed. "What are you doing?"
"Getting you ready for a little trip." He heaved her up from the bed and lowered her into the sack, pulling the heavy synthetic casing up to cover her. "If you know what's good for you, you'll keep quiet."
He pulled the sealer-tab shut as he spoke, disregarding her sudden frantic flurry of movement. Then, turning, he stepped back to the storage shelves, selected and donned one of several spaceman's leave caps, swung the bag to his shoulder, and boldly strode out of the apartment and the court to the nearest transor-rank.
The trip across the city was uneventful. Hardly a hint of movement showed through the stiffness of the space-sack's heavy casing.
Ross left the transor two streets from his own quarters, walking the rest of the way through two linked alleys. He was half-panting by the time he reached the entrance; and his fingers shook as he shoved the card into the tab-lock.
Then, at last, he stepped into the dim, silent living room and dumped the space-sack to the floor. Tossing the leave cap into a corner, he swabbed the sweat from his forehead, shoved shut the door and bolted it, and slid a lamp-switch to the first notch.
The room brightened.
A voice came through the silence also: "You frightened me, Thigpen. I was beginning to be afraid you weren't coming."