"You've started," snapped Clevis angrily. "That's a real hellflower she's doping, you know."
"For God's sake listen!" yelled Farradyne.
"You listen to me!" yelled Clevis, louder than Farradyne.
Their voices rang up and down the corridors of the ship and Norma's eyes opened. She looked happily at Farradyne, but when she saw Clevis her eyes clouded.
"Howard," she said quietly.
"Why did you run away, Norma? Your folks—"
She shook her head slowly. "I know," she said. "There's even a reward out for me that Farradyne tried to collect. I couldn't sit around and watch my mother and father eating their hearts out. A son killed and a daughter ruined—both by hellflowers. So here I am again. For their sakes I wish I were dead—but that wouldn't cut the hide of a hellflower operator, would it, Howard?" Farradyne gulped.
Norma went on: "Charles, may I have my old room for the night? I gather that you two would like to talk business."
After she had gone, Farradyne said, "So you know her?"
"I knew her brother rather well," said Clevis quietly, "and I've known Norma for some time. I knew her before—before—" He shook his head as if to shake the thought away. "I gather that she thinks you are a hellflower runner."