Whap! The chief’s arm slammed to the table with a bang that sounded as if the table had shattered. Multhaus had allowed Mike’s entrance to distract him, while Lieutenant Keku had held out just an instant longer.
Both men leaped to their feet, Multhaus valiantly trying not to nurse his bruised hand.
“Sorry, sir,” said Multhaus. “We were just—”
“Ne’ mind. I saw. Who usually wins?” Mike asked.
Lieutenant Keku grinned. “Usually he does, Commander. All this beef doesn’t help much against a guy who really has pull. And Chief Multhaus has it.”
Mike looked into the big man’s brown eyes. “Try doing push-ups. With all your weight, it’d really put brawn into you. Sit down and light up. We’ve got time before take-off. That is, we do if Multhaus has everything ready for the check-off.”
“I’m ready any time you are, sir,” Multhaus said, easing himself into a chair.
“We’ll have a cigarette and then run ’em through.”
Keku settled his bulk into a chair and fired up a cigarette. Mike sat on the edge of the table.
“Philip Keku,” Mike said musingly. “Just out of curiosity, what kind of a name is Keku?”