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“Do you knohy that is?”

Holden shook his head, afraid if he spoke, it ht come out as a squeak

“It’s because,” Fred said, “I’ boss I run this outfit You’ve been pretty useful, and you h shit to deal with right noithout you starting another one of your crusades atto two syllables

“So you’re fired This was your last contract withthe Roci and I’ll pay you, because I don’t break a deal But I think we’ve finally built enough ships to start policing our own sky without your help, and even if we haven’t, I’et the hell out of ot ht be able to ument I own that ship”

Holden backed up toward the door, wondering how serious that threat o but didn’t move When he reached the door, Fred said, “It wasn’t , breathless moment

“It wasn’t me,” Fred repeated

Holden said, “Okay,” and backed out the door

When the door slid shut and blocked Fred froainst the corridor wall Fred was right about one thing: He’d been excusing hination you wield like a club at everyone around you He’d seen humanity almost end due to its own stupidity It had left hi on fear and adrenaline ever since Eros

But it wasn’t an excuse Not anymore

He started to pull out his ter on I’m fired

He’d been on an exclusive contract with Fred for over a year Tycho Station was their ho the Roci as Aone They’d have to find their own jobs, find their own ports, buy their own repairs No more patron to hold his hand For the first ti time, Holden was a real independent captain He’d need to earn his way by keeping the ship in the air and the crew fed He paused for a reat

Chapter Thirty-Three: Prax

Amos sat forward in his chair The sheer physical mass of the man made the room seem smaller, and the smell of alcohol and old smoke came off him like heat froentle

“I don’t knohat to do,” Prax said “I just don’t knohat to do This is all ry Every day, I woke up and I looked over at her, and all I saas how trapped she was And I knew Mei was going to groith that With trying to get her mommy to love her when all Nici wanted to do was be soht it would be better When she started talking about going, I was ready for her to do it, you know? And when Mei … when I had to tell Mei that …”

Prax dropped his head into his hands, rocking slowly back and forth

“You gonna sick up again, Doc?”

“No I’m fine If I’d been a better father to her, she’d still be here”

“We talking about the ex-wife or the kid?”