"Yes, unfortunately--Shairn." He explained rapidly how the unwilling
extra passenger had come aboard.
Edri said some low, hard words. "That isn't going to help matters
one little bit. We can hardly leave her on Thuvis and we can't stop
anywhere else."
"It couldn't be helped," growled Joris.
"No. Well, I think I'll go with you, Trehearne. I don't believe you'd
be safe alone!"
They found her, locked in an officer's cabin for which, on this
short-handed trip, there was no officer. She was still bound and
gagged. From the look she gave them Trehearne thought she would have
killed them both if she had the power.
He freed her. She sat up on the bunk, rubbing her wrists. Two red marks
ran from the corners of her mouth across her white cheeks where the gag
had rubbed. It gave her a comical expression, like the mask of a clown.
There was nothing comical about her eyes.
She did not speak.
Trehearne said awkwardly, "Shairn, I'm sorry about all this. But you
might as well make the best of it now you're here."
Still she did not speak. She only sat and looked at him.