Starbuck decided he had picked a good ally in the midst of a pack of lone wolves. Percy was the biggest man on board, physically. Still he didn't like the idea of all the rest of crew looking daggers at him, or throwing them, for that matter.
"Mind if I say 'hello' to the rest of the men?" he inquired of Percy.
"It's your nickel," gruffly. "Spend it the way you want."
Starbuck flexed an elbow. "Hello there, fellows. Looks to be a taut ship." It sounded a shade inane. Starbuck had barely passed Socializing at the university. But the men replied in good spirits, their faces blooming with teeth, arms waggling, calling out modest insults.
Starbuck recalled that among a certain class of men an insult was a good-natured compliment in negative translation.
"Pssst."
"Pssst?" Starbuck asked.
Kettleman passed him down half a roll of white tablet underhand.
Starbuck took it. "Tums?"
"Tranquils. We smuggle them on board. Helps with the blastoff and 'phasing' for the overdrive. Not that those stiffnecked brass will believe it."