Page 191 (1/2)

Holden was right, though The thin-faced, desperate people they passed had been food scientists and soil technicians, gas exchange experts and agricultural support staff If Ganymede Station died, the cascade wouldn’t stop here Once the last load of food lifted off, the Belt, the Jovian syste-term bases in their own orbits around the sun would have to find a different way to get vita whether the bases on the far planets would be able to sustain thes and yeast farrasping anything other than the fear of ould be waiting behind that door He embraced it

“Hold up! All y’all”

The voice was low and rough and wet, like the hbefore the to keep his bulk in His accent and build said he was Martian

A everywhere but at the azes Other men lurked, half hidden, around them The sudden panic tasted like copper

“I ray pants?” Amos asked

“Okay, h Heelse”

“Six is still more than three,” Naomi said in their ears “You want me to send backup?”

“Hot daot backup?” Amos asked “Gonna have Supitaya pncome down and talk ’e for the pistol in his pocket “We can’t let anyone—”

Aun in his pocket and out of sight

“These aren’t the ones you shoot,” Amos said “These are the ones you talk to”

Holden stepped toward the Martian The ease hich he held himself made the assault rifle on his shoulder seem almost innocuous Even the expensive body armor he wore didn’t seem at odds with his casual sht be,” the Martian drawled “Might not That’s your call”

“I’ll take not,” Holden said “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on—”

“Slon,” the Martian said, sidling forward His face was vaguely like someone Prax had seen before on the tube and never particularly remarked “You’re not fro Chief botanist on the RMD-Southern soy farm project Who are you?”

“Let the cap’n do this,” A you’re part of the relief work,” the Martian said “Long way from the docks Looks like you lost your way Maybe you need an escort back to where it’s safe”

Holden shifted his weight The assault rifle just happened to slide forward a few inches, not at all provocatively

“I don’t know,” Holden said “We’re pretty well protected I think we can probably take care of ourselves What kind of fee are you … u?”

“Well now I count three of you Call it a hundred in Martian scrip Five, local”

“How about you follow us down, and I arrange passage for all of you off this ice ball?”

The Martian’s jaw dropped