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“And with Mars losing a lot of its people to colony ships”

“Yeah, that too,” Bobbie said Her expression was hard Alex sat forward, his elbows on the table The sh the plates were gone by then On the screen at the front of the restaurant, a young woenerated pop tune Alex hadn’t been able to e sounded equally less

“You’re tellingthe sources of bla

ckoff Mars”

“Weapons,” Bobbie said “Medical supplies Ammunition Power suits Even ships”

“And you’re doing it on your own, for fun, because of so Chrisjen Avasarala said to you”

“I’ for her”

Alex laughed “I’ you needed a favor You haven’t told me what the favor is”

“A lot of the guys on Hecate won’t talk toBut you know them, and even if you don’t, you’re one of thee this lifeti a little”

Alex had nodded at the time, but what he’d said was “Let me think about it”

And now, because it was Bobbie and because he needed so in his life to actually have ato see her one last tiet back to If there was so he could do for her from there, he’d be pleased to lend a hand His first priority noas getting off Mars and not co back

He reached the end of her corridor The iron lanterns were glowing, creating the illusion of a street back on Earth centuries before The echo of a place that neither he nor Bobbie had ever been, and still it was pleasant and co to the al of the recyclers as if, just behind the Thames

Somewhere nearby a man shouted once and briefly It was Innis Shallow after all Alex walked a little faster At Bobbie’s door, he paused

It was closed, but not solidly A black se, perfectly round and dented into the flesh of the panel, marked it just where the latch e shohere the fraain, a lowfrom inside Bobbie’s rooms

Alex’s heart beat triple time as he pulled out his hand terency services link He thumbed in an alert request and a confirmation, but didn’t fill in the details screen There wasn’t time for it He stood before the door, his hands in fists, wishing as hard as he’d ever wished anything that Amos was there too