"I—don't know exactly how things stand."
"You are a stowaway," said Calhoun. "Legally, I have the right to put you out the airlock. It doesn't seem necessary. There's a cabin. When you're sleepy, use it. Murgatroyd and I can make out quite well here. When you're hungry, you now know how to get something to eat. When we land on Orede, you'll probably go about whatever business you have there. That's all."
She stared at him.
"But—you don't believe what I've told you!"
"No," agreed Calhoun. But he didn't add to the statement.
"But—I will tell you," she offered. "The police were after me. I had to get away from Weald! I had to! I'd stolen—"
He shook his head.
"No," he said. "If you were a thief, you'd say anything in the world except that you were a thief. You're not ready to tell the truth yet. You don't have to, so why tell me anything? I suggest that you get some sleep."
She rose slowly. Twice her lips parted as if to speak again, but then she went into the other cabin and closed herself in.
Murgatroyd blinked at the place where she'd disappeared and then climbed up into Calhoun's lap, with complete assurance of welcome. He settled himself and was silent for moments. Then he said;