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Ashford stood up

“We aren’t anarchists,” he said, his voice dripping with scorn

“OPA tradition,that intentionally endangers the ship, they get to hitchhike back to wherever there’s air,” Bull said

“You hauled hi the ship? Was he going to throw kelp at it?” Pa said, her voice brittle

“People been coether on one knee “Don’t trust ot three tiet done as we can do Pixie dust, and they don’t feel tired Don’t take breaks Don’t slon Get ot people hurt Matter of ti thisbadly at their work, so you killed hioing to fold like wet cardboard Bull recognized that Ashford’s weakness was going to work to his advantage this ti the ship at risk for his own financial gain, just like he was stealing air filters And sure he did There was a demand, he filled it If I lock hiher Get caught, you et back to Tycho”

“And you made it so that the risk is death”

“No,” Bull said “I mean, yeah, but I don’t shoot him I do what you do to people who risk the ship Belters knohat getting spaced ht? It frames the issue”

“This was a ot a list of fifty people he sold to,” Bull said “Some of them are skilled technicians A couple are mid-level overseers We could lock ’eot less people to do the work And anyway, they won’t be doing it anyone But if you want I could talk to the an eye open”

Pa’s chuckle wason charges,” she said

“We don’t have a brig,” Bull said “Plan was the church elders were just gonna talk everything out” He kept his tone carefully free of sarcas to decide whether to jump fro, internal, uncertain Bull waited

“This never happens again,” Ashford said “You decide soo out the airlock, you coht”

“All right, what?” Ashford bit the words Bull lowered his head, looking at the deck He’d gotten what he caotten a little win too

“I mean, yes, sir, Captain Solid copy I understand and will coet the hell back to work”

“Yes, sir”

When the door closed behind hiainst the wall and took a few deep breaths He was intensely aware of the sound of the ship—low hum of the air recyclers, the distant murmur of voices, the chimes and beeps of a thousand different system alerts The air smelled of plastic and ozone He’d taken his calculated risk, and he’d pulled it off