They had arrived at the air lock, he saw with a start. Baldy opened the port, revealing a small space tender. They wedged themselves inside. With the pirate at the controls the craft launched into space, speeding toward a shadow which blocked off half the heavens.
A port snapped open in space dead ahead. Norman blinked his eyes. Although he knew this was the pirate's ship coated with the light absorbent film the sight of an air lock appearing suddenly where nothing had been before was disconcerting. The tender eased into the lock, settled to the deck.
"Here we are, you volunteers," observed Baldy.
They passed from the lock through a corridor into a large square room. Half of the room was railed off. Behind the railing a man in a black uniform sat working at a desk. It reminded Norman of an employment bureau. The rest of the space was filled with benches set in evenly spaced rows.
"Sit down," said Baldy.
The recruits seated themselves nervously.
"You," said Baldy, indicating Norman. "Go up to the desk."
Norman rose, approached the middle aged pirate who sported a spade beard and dark brown eyes.
"Your book," he said.
Norman handed it over.