"That's right," I said, hearing the nervous squeak in my voice, not sure whether my comment had any relation to what he had said or not. "I want to have a talk with you. Things can't go on the way they are!"
Resnick drew back in pretended surprise. "Why, I don't know what you mean, sir," he said.
"You know perfectly well what I mean," I said, my voice breaking completely. "This is my first command! My whole future hangs on it. What satisfaction could you possibly get from ruining me?"
In that moment the past descended upon me completely. Once again I was pleading for mercy where there was no mercy, hoping against hope before those soft mad eyes, searching for something that could never be there.
"Why, sir," he said, mockingly, "I don't know what you mean at all. Perhaps the stress of your new duties...?"
"How much would you take?" I blurted desperately. "How much, to lay off of—David Markham—leave me alone...?"
"Birds of a feather, huh?" he said. His eyes became thoughtful. "Every man has his price, I suppose...."
A surge of hope coursed through me. Maybe we could dicker. Maybe it wouldn't cost as much as I was prepared to pay.
He scratched his chin slowly, then said, "Well—how about your salary for this trip and five thousand dollars?" His thin lips flicked back in a grin. "And a promise on your part that you will sign me on for the next trip—or turn in your Captain's papers?"
The universe stood still as I saw ruin facing me. There was no way out. No way out at all. I heard myself blurt, "Why? Why? WHY?"