“Farris is getting very old these days.” Delia spoke gravely.
“He refuses the solution,” said Inch. “In a funny way I can understand that. I don’t blame him.”
“But,” I persisted. “You didn’t actually—”
“Not,” said Seg, “actually.”
“A kind of loan before purchase,” said Delia.
They all smiled sweetly upon me.
I started to groan in despair of my comrades and the problems I’d have with the ambassador from Tomecdrin. Then, in a blaze of glory, I realized. “By the Black Chunkrah! It’s not up to me! It’s all Drak and Silda’s!” I beamed upon them. “A loan before purchase!”
“And the dratted thing broke down,” said Delia, cuttingly.
“We will fix the Shanks’ bronze boxes in the orbits in place of the Tomecdrin silver boxes. The bronze ones are very efficient.”
“Pity we can’t open ’em and fi
