When Gavin entered the officer's mess, he saw the Captain seated across a table from the thinnest man he had ever encountered.
"This is Hendricks," Cabot introduced them. The Captain was cold sober and hard-eyed. "He's the factor here at the cantonment."
Gavin shook hands. The factor had an amazing grip. His flesh hung on in tough strings. He looked more like an animated skeleton than a man, but Gavin was conscious of a tremendous wiry strength in him.
"You going ashore, Mr. Murdock?" the factor inquired.
Gavin nodded. "Miss Petrovna and I were planning to visit the cantonment." He saw a glance pass between Cabot and the factor.
The factor said, "Splendid," and rubbed his emaciated hands together. "Allow me to play host. The officers are already at my establishment."
Gavin thanked him.
"But let me warn you," went on the factor. "Don't wander off. The gravity aboard the ship here is bad enough. The atmosphere is much worse. It's easy to get lost, I've known newcomers to die of exhaustion only a few steps from the cantonment."
Gavin thanked him again, started to withdraw when the factor halted him.
"I've bearers waiting outside," he explained. "They're at your service while you're here. I really advise you not to walk any more than necessary."