“I am way ahead of you all of the time,” Vernon told him.
Robinson, however, was determined not to lose face by losing his temper. He had deliberately set out to taunt these men in an attempt to break them. He forced himself to maintain his light tone.
He wagged his head.
“I have taken all I want,” he said. “More, perhaps, than I was rightly entitled to, after all it was your mine. You discovered it. Still there is plenty more. I don’t plan on returning, for there are many other such treasures in the system and the treasure itself means nothing to Max Robinson, rather the satisfaction of acquiring it.”
“I hope,” said Vince, “that you have derived considerable satisfaction from our explorations.”
Robinson bowed, mocking them.
“Exactly,” he said, “So I have decided not to kill you. I will leave you here with your mine. I have done enough wrong in my life. I am sorely in need of a few acts of mercy to counterbalance my sins.”
Vernon stirred at Vince’s side, but his brother reached out with a hand and gripped him. He steadied…. waiting for the joker in Robinson’s proposal.
“It is regrettable, however,” stated the pirate, “that I am short on oxygen tanks. All I shall be able to give you will be three tanks. One for each of you and one to be divided between you as you see fit.”
He stared solemnly at them.