* * * * *
Margot Drake appeared at the edge of the charred circle surrounding the
_Argus_ promptly at 11:30. Matt was waiting for her at the airlock.
"Hello," she called. "Lower the ladder, please."
The woman's red hair shone like molten gold in the sun, and Matt
realized that she had taken considerable pains to rig herself out in as
fetching a manner as possible.
She was wearing a forest green jacket that hugged her breasts as if
it had been lacquered on. Her short green skirt sheathed her hips
before flaring out to expose a goodly length of well-turned legs. The
only incongruous note was a high powered rifle that she carried in a
competent fashion.
"How many are with you?" Matt called, making no move to lower the
ladder.