"Umm. Okay. I'll leave him in your custody. But see to it that he doesn't get into any more jams."
The policeman turned away, signalling to his companions. The fruit vender stared vindictively at Alan for a moment, but saw he would have no revenge. He, too, left.
Alan was alone with his unknown benefactor.
Chapter
Six
"I guess I owe you thanks," Alan said. "If they had hauled me off I'd be in real trouble."
Hawkes nodded. "They're very quick to lock people up when they don't have work cards. But police salaries are notoriously low. A five-credit bill slipped to the right man at the right time can work wonders."
"Five credits, was it? Here——"
Alan started to fumble in his pocket, but Hawkes checked him with a wave of his hand. "Never mind. I'll write it off to profit and loss. What's your name, spacer, and what brings you to York City?"