"If you ever get within shouting distance of Outer Port again, which you won't."
Mike doubled his fists. "To stand flatfooted and let a boarder move in and take my pile—and my client. How much of an idiot can a man be!"
Doree came up the ladder, her eyes wide with fright. "Did you find him?"
"No—and don't start crying. Why didn't you tell me about these men? Why didn't you give me a chance to protect my ship?"
"We—we didn't know they'd follow us. We—I didn't dream they had any idea of—"
"They followed you. And they had the idea. They took our pile and shoved us off on a blind orbit. They arranged for us to die out here."
"Won't we—we be found?"
"A million to one shot in these spaces."
"More than that," Nicko said. "A billion to one. It's empty out here, lady."
Mike saw that Doree was again about to burst into tears. He took her by the arm. "We're going to the lounge and you're going to tell me all about this—what's been going on." He drew her toward the ladder, calling over his shoulder. "Clean up what you can, Nicko. See what other deviltry they arranged."