VI
Sometime later Norman was awakened by a rude hand shaking his shoulder.
Koal was grinning down at him.
"Wake up," said Koal. "You've been dead to the world for thirty-six hours, and the paymaster's here."
Norman sat up, reached for his trousers, which, to his surprise, were neatly hung over the back of a chair. Drawing on his clothes, he went into the kitchen. It had been cleaned, put to rights. Further exploration revealed that his things from the Jupiter had been delivered and stowed away in the closet and built-in bureau. Hordes of people must have trailed in and out of his apartment while he slept. He decided to prop a chair against the knob the next time he went to bed.
The Martian was watching him, an amused glint in his black eyes. "There is a bolt on your door, you know," he assured the young man.
A subdued buzzing announced a visitor.
"That's probably the paymaster now," said Koal. He opened the door, revealing a Mercurian with a black satchel in his hand.
The Mercurian said, "Norman Saint Clair?"