"I see. Well, I'm not a betting man, of course. Regulations. But if I were—"
"Yes, Captain?" Secad Screed's voice cracked icily.
"I would like to bet a year's salary that all three of you won't go back with me."
"Well, Captain. As Senior Service Officer aboard, I make the regulations here. I'll just take that bet. A year's salary, against yours. Nice odds for you there, Captain. That is a bet. Garten, you and Viola are witness."
The Captain smiled sourly and nodded. Screed turned on his heel, annoyed. "Come Viola; Garten." Viola bowed her head and followed. Garten lingered a minute.
"Captain? If you'd care to hedge a bit of that bet, I'll take, say, half of it?"
The captain looked at him. An ordinary man. Not young, not old; not big, not small. Just a man, almost extraordinarily ordinary. And certainly not too bright since, as he clearly intended to stay on Nirva, what good would it do him to win half of that old snake Screed's bet? The Captain shook his head. "Thanks, Secast Garten, but since you won't—well. No, thanks, I'll keep it."
Garten shrugged regretfully. "So? Well, I could use the money but no matter. I think you have a good bet, Captain. It's my bet, too."
A half hour and the ship settled gently on the surface of the planet. The three passengers for Nirva were ready at the air-lock.
"Down screen!"