Without taking her eyes from Joel's, she asked, "Could I see his examination reports? I think he's a...."
The governor started nervously. "You're buying no more serfs Priscilla!" he interrupted in haste. "That's final!"
Joel felt his face burn. Buy him? So that's what had brought them down here to the prisoners' quarters!
The girl was staring at her father with a puzzled expression. Something very like a warning flickered between them—something in Governor Cameron's expression. Joel couldn't be sure.
But the girl's eyes widened.
For a moment there was a strained silence. Then she shrugged, turned back to Joel, studied him brazenly detail by detail. He felt naked beneath those probing green eyes. He felt like a prize Hereford bull.
Priscilla said, "Nevertheless, I should like to glance over those reports, Captain." Her voice didn't sound quite natural.
She had slipped into a part, Joel sensed; she was acting. But why? He was too furious to care. He created a shocked disturbance by saying in a cold voice, "I wouldn't be a good buy!"
Jaws dropped among the prisoners.