V
The lights came on, and I blinked, looking around the room.
My mementos didn't look like much, resting in the center of Arena's polished half-acre of desk top. The information was stored in the five tiny rods, less than an inch long, and the projector was a flat polyhedron the size of a pill-box. But the information they contained was worth more than all the treasure sunk in all the seas.
"This is merely a small sample," Stenn said. "The star surveys are said to be unbelievably complete. They represent a mapping task which would require a thousand years."
"The angles," Arena said. "Just figuring the angles will take plenty time."
"And this is what you almost let him walk out with," Stenn said.
Arena gave me a slashing look.
"Don't let your indignation run away with you, Arena," Stenn said. "I don't think you remembered to mention the fuel situation to Mr. Maclamore, did you?"
Arena turned to Stenn, looming over the smaller man. "Maybe you better button your lip," he said quietly. "I don't like the way you use it."
"Afraid I'll lower you in the gentleman's esteem?" Stenn said. He looked Arena in the eye.