"Never mind that," said Jadiver. "I'll take it if it's going far."
"Going far!" echoed the clerk.
A policeman sauntered by outside, just looking, but that was enough.
"I said I'd take it," Jadiver repeated in a loud voice.
The clerk deflated. "I wish I could go with you," it explained wistfully. It reached under the counter and pulled out a perforated tape. "This will get you on the ship, and it also constitutes the contract. Just present it at the other end and collect your money. You can send for your baggage after you're on board."
Jadiver opened his mouth and then closed it. His baggage was intangible, mostly experience, not much of it pleasant.
"I'll do that," he said.
The clerk came out from behind the counter and watched Jadiver leave. Lights from the rocketport glittered in its robot eyes.
Jadiver paced about the ship. It was not enough to be on it, for the police could still trace him. And if they did, they could get him off. It was not only himself, there was his unknown friend. They had ways to learn about that.