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“This is pixie dust, right?” he said to the crowd He didn’t use his teronna leave this in the airlock for sixteen hours, then I’ it Any other dust co deal Any of this goes away, and that’s a problens on shift high comes and talks toeveryone see hih, and turned away, leaving the door open behind hi back behind the wheel of the cart, he could feel the tension in the crowd, and it didn’t bother his did What he’d just done was the easy part What came next was harder, because he had less control over it
“You want to set a guard on that, boss?” Serge asked
“Think we need to?” Bull asked He didn’t expect an answer, and he didn’t get one The cart lurched forward, the spectators parting before it like a herd of antelope before a lion Bull aimed them back toward the ramps that would take him to the security offices
“Hardcore,” Corin said She ious art decorated the captain’s office Angels in blue and gold held the parabolas of the archways that rose overhead to e of a calm and bearded God A beneficent Christ looked down from the wall behind Ashford’s desk, Caucasian features cal like the bloody, bent, crucified man Bull was faes of plenty: wheat, corn, goats, cows, and stars Captain Ashford paced back and forth by Jesus’ knees, his face dark with blood and fury Michio Pa was seated in the other guest chair, carefully not looking at Ashford or at Bull Whatever the situation ith the Martian science ships and their otten for the moment
Bull didn’t let the anxiety show in his face
“This is unacceptable, Mister Baca”
“Why do you think that, sir?”
Ashford stopped, put his wide hands on the desk, and leaned forward Bull looked into his bloodshot eyes and wondered whether the captain was getting enough sleep
“You killed a member of my crew,” Ashford said “You did it with clear premeditation You did it in front of a hundred witnesses”
“Shit, you itnesses, there’s surveillance footage,” Bull said It wasn’t the right thing to do
“You are relieved of duty, Mister Baca And confined to quarters until we return to Tycho Station, where you will stand trial for s to the crew”
“Then he should have been arrested!”
Bull took a deep breath, exhaling slowly through his nose
“You think we’rea warship or a space station, sir?” he asked Ashford’s brow furrowed, and he shook his head To Bull’s right, Pa shifted in her seat When neither of them spoke, Bull went on “Reason I ask is if I’, if we had a brig He should have gotten a lawyer We could have done that whole thing Me? I don’t think this is a station I think it’s a battleship I’m here to maintain military discipline in a potential combat zone Not Earth navy discipline Not Martian navy discipline OPA discipline The Belter way”