They were closing up the passenger airlock, removing the ramp.
"You know," said the detective very quietly, "my buddy is coming. He won't understand this embrace we're in. I'm quite sure he won't like it one bit."
The last of the animals were being led into the livestock hold. The ranchers were dispersing. The colonizers were all aboard. We stood virtually alone beside the ship.
"I am prepared to be killed," I said, "and to take you with me in the process."
A police car hovered in the air beside us.
"Say!" yelled its pilot. "They've found the Sponsor car over next to the Asteroid surveyor!" He pointed across the field. "They're searching the ship. We've got to help. Hop on!"
I stepped back, with my hand still in my pocket.
"Yes," I said, "hop on!"
The detective clambered aboard the police car. He gave me a look that I'll always remember. A sort of sneer and a sort of smile. "Good luck, Simpson," he said.
The police car whisked away.