They crossed the basement parking area to a lift. Koal pressed a button. The car descended; the doors opened. He motioned Norman inside.
"Hello, Alicia," Koal greeted the operator, a girl in a short green tunic gathered in at her slim waist by a belt. He chucked her under the chin. "Glad to see me back?"
She was from Earth, Norman realized. She was barefooted and around her ankle was the metal band of the slave.
She said, "Did you bring me anything?"
He snapped his fingers. "How could I have forgotten?" but his grin belied his words.
The girl cried, "What did you bring me, Koal? Where is it?"
"Not so fast," he admonished. "You haven't met Saint Clair yet. He's a new recruit."
The girl turned brown eyes on Norman, saw his crisp blond hair and likeable features, his broad shoulders and flat hips. "Um, um," she said, "I know. You've brought me him."
Norman flushed hotly. The Martian laughed, reached in his pocket, pulled out a pair of earrings set with magnificent Venusian pearls. Norman recollected seeing them grace the ears of a Terranean dowager aboard the Jupiter.
Alicia squealed with delight, hastened to attach the earrings. She shot the lift upward jubilantly.