"Oh, golly, Brule!" she said happily. "I'm so glad I'm back!"
He gave her the smile. "You're not the only glad one!"
She looked around, humming softly. They were having dinner in one of the Grand Commerce Center's restaurants. This one happened to be beneath the surface of the artificial swimming lake installed in the Center—a giant grotto surrounded by green-gold chasms of water on every side. Underwater swimmers and bottom walkers moved past beyond the wide windows. A streak of silvery swiftness against a dark red canyon wall before her was trying to keep away from a trio of pursuing spear fishermen. Even the lake fish were Hub imports, advertised as such by the Center.
Her eyes widened suddenly. "Hey!" she said.
"What?"
"That group of people up there!"
Brule looked. "What about them?"
"No suits, you idiot!"
He grinned. "Oh, a lot of them do that. Okay by Federation law, you know. And seeing Manon's so close to becoming open Federation territory, we haven't tried to enforce minor Precol regulations much lately."
"Well—" Trigger began. He was still smiling. "Have you been doing it?" she inquired suspiciously.