Joris stared at him, uncomprehending.
"Oh, not one of the crew. A native boy, crazy to fly the stars. He
stowed away."
All the light went out of Joris' face, leaving it bleak. It was a long
time before he spoke and then it was only to make a routine statement
about the ship. He seemed to have lost all his joy in it. Trehearne was
surprised at the impact that those few words about a nameless boy had
had on the old man.
Joris left soon after. He told Trehearne, "I'll see you in a day or
so. Meanwhile I think Shairn is waiting for you at the sector gate."
He spoke as though his mind were not really on what he was saying.
He turned away, then hesitated, and asked, "How old was that boy,
Trehearne?"
"About sixteen."
Joris nodded. He walked away across the apron as though he carried
on his massive shoulders some heavy burden that weighed them down.
Trehearne signed over his manifests to the port official in charge of
unloading and went in search of Shairn.
She stood outside the great barred gate, watching for him. She was just
as beautiful as he remembered.