"But--" Tee's face got red.
"I came in here to talk to you anyway," said the giant. "You own the
_Starduster_, don't you?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Like to get her out of hock?"
"Who says she's in hock?"
"Look," said the redhead. "Let's not kid each other. Everybody around
this port knows you blew in from Lemmyt last month and can't raise the
money to pay the port charges, much less the refueling fee. And it's no
secret that you're anxious to leave our fair planet." He winked
conspiringly at Tee.
"So?"
The redhead glanced at the bartender who was busy at the other end of
the bar. He leaned closer and whispered. "I know where the _Elen of
Troy_ is."
"The _Elen of Troy_?"
"Oh, that's right, you wouldn't know about her. Eight months ago she
crashed on an uninhabited planet somewhere in this sector. So far
they've been unable to find her." He leaned closer. "She was carrying
four million in Penryx crystals."
"What's that to me?"
The redhead looked around briefly to make sure no one was in hearing
distance, then whispered softly, without moving his lips. "I told you,
they can't find her, but _I_ know where she is."
"_You_ know? But how--"
"Look," said the giant, frowning, "I didn't ask you why _you're_ so
anxious to leave."
"Well?"
"I'll clear your ship and we can pick up the crystals for the salvage
fee. A million each, and all nice and legal. We can leave by the end of
the week and be back in probably six months."
"_Six months!_" Tee stood up. "Sorry!"
The redhead grabbed his arm in a hamlike palm. "A million each in six
months; what's wrong with that?"