"I should be most honored to receive this visitor," she said in her best imitation of Greenie formality. "I deeply appreciate your announcing his presence—at last!"
The warden glared at her. Finding no words worthy of the state of his blood pressure, he stepped back and slammed the heavy door shut. It muffled somewhat his departing footsteps.
"I'm out!" yipped Maria.
She did a little jig, ran to the door to press an ear against it, and turned to survey the cell with the fingers of one hand beating a light tattoo against her lips.
She crossed to the bunk. From beneath it, she dragged the small overnight bag she had succeeded in obtaining from the ship before it had left for the next planet. She began to go about the room, collecting the few odds and ends she possessed and packing them.
She was fingering the bristles of her toothbrush for dampness when she heard returning footsteps.
The hell with brushing my hair, she thought. I'll go as is.
She threw the toothbrush into the bag, tossed her hairbrush on top, and snapped the catch. She considered herself ready.
The door opened and the warden ushered another man into the cell. Maria felt a sudden chill.
The newcomer was a Greenie.