The waiter's expression changed miraculously. He said, "Yes, sir," and
ushered Gavin into the inner sanctum.
A heady, throbbing rhythm beat like surf in Gavin's ears. The light was
dim, rosy, intimate. Gavin threaded his way between the seated patrons
conscious of laughter, of bare shoulders and arms, of vivid splashes of
color.
"Here, sir," said the waiter. Gavin sat down and ordered bourbon.
A Martian girl was executing a barbaric dance in a cleared space in
the center of the floor. When the waiter brought Gavin his drink, he
sipped it guardedly, dividing his attention between the dancer and the
entrance. From the corner of his eye, he saw someone come inside. He
turned his head and immediately stiffened.
It was Nadia Petrovna. She was alone.
* * * * *
The girl paused at the edge of the tables, her long black eyes sweeping
the room. When they reached Gavin, they halted. She waved and started
for his table.
Her costume, Gavin realized, must have been designed individually
for Nadia by one of the great Martian fashion artists. Two plates of
thinnest rose plastic inlaid with delicate gold lace work had been
moulded to conform exactly to her high small breasts. What kept them in
place was a mystery--one which Gavin wouldn't have been above solving.
A full skirt of rose satin hung low on slim ample hips and fell to the
instep of her gold sandals.
He stood up as she approached, holding a chair for her.
She didn't sit down. Her face appeared whiter than when he had last
seen her in Trev's office. She said hurriedly, in an undertone.
"Where have you been? The party was cancelled. We've been scouring
Venusport for you. The _Nova_ sails in an hour."
"Sit down," said Gavin.
"But ..." she began and then sank into the chair.
Gavin took his seat, saying, "The _Nova_ wasn't scheduled to sail until
tomorrow."
"I know." Her voice was urgent. "It's an emergency of some sort. I
don't know what's happened. Captain Cabot got our clearance from the
port of authorities just a few minutes ago. Hurry, please. I've a cab
waiting outside." She started to push back from the table.
"We've an hour," said Gavin dryly. His hard blue eyes regarded the girl
with a thoughtful stare. There had been no record of this girl in the
T.I.S.'s secret file. What did it mean? He wondered again why she had
lied for him in Trev's office.