Page 52 (1/2)

“The oat and raisin isn’t bad I think itup one of the white plastic squeeze packs Tilly was no stranger to space travel Her husband owned estates on every major rock in the solar system But Anna suspected she’d never eaten food out of a plastic tube in her entire life before this Any pilot who had the poor planning to put Tilly’s ship at null g during one of her meals was probably fired at the next port

Tilly picked up a packet of the oat mush, wrinkled her lip at it, and flicked it aith her fingers It sat spinning next to her head like a miniature helicopter

“Annie,” Tilly said “If I wanted to suck vile fluids out of a flaccid and indifferent tube, I’d have stayed on Earth with my husband”

At some point Anna had become Annie to Tilly, and her objection to this nickname hadn’t fazed Tilly at all “You have to eat, eventually Who kno long we’ll be out here”

“Notto say about it,” said a boo the floor, she would have junified jerk and squeak

“Sorry to startle you,” Cortez continued, sliding into her field of view “But I had hoped wethe netic booties the navy had handed out Anna had tried the free while your feet reiven her an uncomfortable underwater sensation thataround did She never used the at her in his nut-brown face Without asking if he could join them, he used the menu screen on the table to order himself a soda water Tilly smiled back It was the fake I don’t really see you se or waited on her table Their nored his presence Cortez placed one large hand on Anna’s shoulder and said, “Doctor Volovodov, I aether a coalition of the important civilian counselors on this ship to make a request of the captain, and I’d like your support”

Anna aded to pack into a sentence that was almost entirely composed of flattery Cortez was here because he was the spiritual advisor to the UN secretary-general Anna was here because the United Methodist Council could spare her, and her home happened to be on the way If she was on any list of important counselors, then the bar was set pretty low

“I’m happy to talk about it, Doctor Cortez,” Anna said, then reached for her tea bulb It gave her an excuse to extricate her arrip “How can I help?”

“First, I have to co worship services for the women and men on the ship I’m ashamed I didn’t think of it first, but I’ for sis with leaders of the various faiths on board”

Anna felt a blush co Cortez said was et the response he wanted even when you knew exactly what he was up to Anna couldn’t help but admire it a little

“I’m sure the sailors appreciate it”

“But there is other e can be doing,” Cortez said “Greater work And that’s what I caave Cortez a sharp look “What are you up to, Hank?”