Free The Big Black Mark by A. Bertram Chandler Page B

your spotlight on it!"

    "Not on your bloody life, mister! If anything scares those bastards, they squirt. And they squirt all over what scares 'em! I have to keep this car clean, not you. Now, here you are, lady and gentlemen. I've brought you right back to your own front door. A very good night to you—what's left of it!"

    They got out of the car, which had stopped at the foot of Discovery's ramp. The air was heavy with the sweet-sour stench of fresh ordure. Something splattered loudly not far from them. Their vehicle, its motor whining shrilly, made a hasty departure.

    "Are you waiting outside to study the great snakes at close quarters, Doctor?" asked Grimes. "I'm not." He started up the ramp, as hastily as possible without loss of dignity, Vinegar Nell beside him. MacMorris came after and then, after only a second's hesitation, Brandt At the outer airlock door the Marine sentry came to attention, saluted. Grimes wondered if the man would be as alert after Major Swinton was back safely on board.

    The elevator cage was waiting for them. They got into it, were lifted through the various levels. Vinegar Nell, Brandt, and MacMorris got out at the officers' deck. Grimes carried on to Control, found the duty officer looking out through the viewport at the lights of the cars still coming in from Penobscot.

    "Oh, good morning, sir." Then, a little wistfully, "Was it a good party?"

    "It was, Mr. Farrow. Quite good." Grimes yawned. "If any of those . . .  things try to climb up the side of the ship to do their business, let me know. Good night, or good morning, or whatever."

    He went down to his quarters. He did not, he realized with some surprise, feel all that tired. He subsided into an armchair, pulled out from his pocket the copy of the star chart, unfolded it. Yes, it was certainly a good lead, and Captain Davinas was entitled to some reward for having given it to him.

    There was a knock at the door.

    "Come in!" he called, wondering whom it could be. Not Brabham, he hoped, with some trifling but irritating worry that could well wait until a more civilized hour.

    It was Vinegar Nell. She was carrying a tray upon which were a coffeepot, a cup—no, two cups—and a plate of sandwiches. She had changed out of her evening dress uniform into something that was nothing much over nothing at all. Grimes had seen her naked often enough in the sauna adjoining the ship's gymnasium, but this was . . . different. The spectacle of a heavily perspiring female body is not very aphrodisiac; that same body suggestively and almost transparently clad is.

    She said, "I thought you'd like a snack before turning in, John."

    "Thank you—er—Miss Russell."

    She stooped to set the tray on the coffee table. The top of her filmy robe fell open. Her pink-nippled breasts were high and firm.

    "Shall I pour?" she asked.

    "Er, yes. Please."

    She handed him a steaming cup. He was uncomfortably aware of the closeness of her, and fidgeted in his chair. He was relieved when she retired to a chair of her own.

    She said, "It was a good night, wasn't it?"

    "Yes."

    She went on, "I've known you for years, haven't I? When was it that we were first shipmates? In the old Aries, wasn't it?

    "Yes."

    "You know, John, I didn't much like you then."

    "You didn't much like any of us in the wardroom. After all, you were the very first spacegoing female officer of the Supply Branch, and you were . . . prickly."

    She laughed. "And you, a bright young lieutenant junior-grade, took pity on me, and made a pass at me out of the kindness of your heart."

    Crimea's prominent ears were burning painfully. He could recall that scene all too well, could feel that stinging slap on his face and hear her furious voice: Take your mucky paws off me, you insufferable puppy!

    He thought, And a commander, the captain of a ship, doesn't have mucky paws, of course. But whatever sort of paws I do have, now, I'm keeping them to myself. Why, oh why, you stupid bitch,