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now I knew what had prompted my call from Evlyn Travis. “I hope you didn't give them too much. They already seem to think you're getting a little short in that department.”
    He stared at me, uncomprehending, then chuckled. “They called you.”
    “And I told them in no uncertain terms that you were sane, you were leaving, and that was the end of it. Don't worry. When the Tane Ikai lifts off, you'll be aboard. I promise.”
    Hirin drew a deep breath. “I haven't told Maja yet.”
    “Well, she's not going to like it, but she can't stop you.”
    “I think we should tell her together, if you don't mind.”
    I nodded. “I think you're right. Just let me know when, and I'll be there.”
    We ended the call, and I went back to my tae-ga-chi. It took a while before I felt better.
     
     
    Three days passed in a frenzy of preparations. If PrimeCorp was following me around, they were being much more covert about it, because I didn’t notice any more suspicious flitters or individuals as I made my way around the spaceport and the city. Dr. Ndasa had accepted my tender. I took cargo hauling jobs for Mars, Eri, Rhea, and Renata, but nothing beyond that, so that my ultimate destination wouldn't be on the records. I couldn't find any other passengers. I wasn't too disappointed about that. Most people would have backed out when they heard we were going through the Split, anyway.
    Not surprisingly, no-one on the crew had a problem with that, and if they were willing, then I could accept the risks, too. Viss stated flatly that he was not going unless he had a chance to clean those plasma intakes and tinker with a few other things, but I gave him the go-ahead and then he was fine with it. Baden raised his eyebrows but said nothing. I already knew Yuskeya was willing, and Rei let out a whoop of joy.
    “I get to pilot the Split!? No blago ?” She turned to Viss. “Better get busy on those plasma intakes.”
    “ Tane Ikai can do it, Rei dam-Rowan, she's done it once before. Have you?”
    “No,” Rei retorted, “but I know the drill. I've studied logs and field data from every known Split run that's ever been made.”
    Baden turned to her and drawled, “And why would you do that, Rei? It's not a common run.”
    Rei flushed suddenly, her clear skin a bright pink beneath her pridattii. It was something I'd only seen happen once—maybe twice—before.
    “It was for another job,” she said evasively. “We made a lot of runs in the vicinity. I wanted to be prepared, just in case.”
    Everyone had to know she was lying—the only ships that made regular runs through the Split were usually running from something—but no-one called her on it. We all had things in our pasts that we didn't care to talk about, and so we all naturally respected each other's right to those secrets. It was always interesting when a revelation happened by accident, however.
    “ Okej. If Dr. Ndasa's willing to take the chance, we'll do it. We'll have one other passenger, but I know he won't object.”
    Rei smiled and the others looked the question at me. “Hirin's coming with us,” I said. “He'll be in the guest quarters.”
    “Hirin?” Viss frowned. “Isn't he rather—”
    “Old?” I shrugged. “Sure. He's ninety-two, and he's quite ill. He wants to die in space, to be perfectly honest, and there's no telling when it might happen.” I couldn't believe how steady my voice was. “I'm telling you this so that you won't be surprised if it does. Is everyone okay with that?”
    Baden grinned. “The old space dog! I hope I'm thinking that clearly when it's my time to go.”
    Yuskeya snorted. “You! You'll be all safe and cozy in an old folks' home, whining and moaning and pinching pretty young nurses when they come to give you a sonic shower. No way you'll be wishing you were shipboard.”
    Viss still looked worried. “That's kind of you, Captain, but won't it be awfully difficult? I mean, he is a relative.”
    I nodded. “It won't be easy, you're