“Why not?”
“I don’t like it.”
“You didn’t object when I invited Jusser, and you’re not exactly fond of him, either.”
“Just don’t invite the android.”
“Listen, little sibling, you may be running the Scavenger Hunt, but this is my party and I’ll invite who I damn well please.” And aloud, he said, “Johnathan, we’re all having a meal over here a little bit later. Would you care to join us?”
The android accepted gladly. Since all four ships were operating on different relative times, a short discussion followed as to when would be the most convenient mealtime for all concerned. Bred assured the others that dinner would be informal, and that they could dress in just their spacer uniforms.
Tyla sat numbly through the discussion. If she could have picked two people in the entire galaxy that
