"And I remember you."
I understand the rationality of her purpose. She could easily get De Beer's confidence. She had known him when a child. Her father had been his business partner, presumably his friend. And I saw her now cleverly altering her status here. She had been a captive, allied with me. She was changing that. She was now Spawn's daughter, here with her dead father's friend.
She turned a gaze of calm aversion upon me. "Unless you want him here, De Boer. I would rather talk to you—without him."
He leaped to his feet. "Hah! that pleases me, little Jetta! Gutierrez, take this fellow away."
The Spanish-American came slouching forward. "The girl's an old friend, Commander? You never told me that."
"Because it is no business of yours. Take him away. Seal him in D-cubby."
I said sullenly. "I misjudged both of you."
Jetta's gaze avoided me. As Gutierrez shoved me roughly down the corridor, De Boer laughed, and his voice came back: "Do not be afraid. We will find some safe way of ransoming you—dead or alive!"
I was flung on a bunk in one of the corridor cubbies, and the door sealed upon me.
(To be continued.)