"You are the first one to want to know me. I've been here a week, and
everyone seems to think I have a plague."
Timas Rorke spoke from the bed. "You must forgive us. We are a hard
people to get acquainted with, especially now."
"Why especially now?"
The visaphone buzzed. It was the _Aeries_, now alongside. Nancy went to
operate the lock.
A young man came from the lock with her. He was dark and saturnine. His
glance viewed Sam with open suspicion.