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put her in such, even to hide. Was comfortable lounge with own bath
and no water limit. And phone and delivery lift, which I needed.
    She
started to open pouch. “I saw what you paid. Let’s settle it, so
that—”
    I
reached over, closed her pouch. “Was to be no mention of bees.”
    “What?
Oh, merde, that was about bundling. You got this doss for me and it’s
only right that—”
    “Switch
off.”
    “Uh
… half? No grievin’ with Steven.”
    “
Nyet
.
Wyoh, you’re a long way from home. What money you have, hang on
to.”
    “Manuel
O’Kelly, if you don’t let me pay my share, I’ll walk out of
here!”
    I
bowed. “
Dosvedanyuh, Gospazha, ee sp’coynoynochi
. I hope
we shall meet again.” I moved to unbolt door.
    She
glared, then closed pouch savagely. “I’ll stay.
M’goy
!”
    “You’re
welcome.”
    “I
mean it, I really do thank you, Just the same—Well, I’m not used to
accepting favors. I’m a Free Woman.”
    “Congratulations.
I think.”
    “Don’t
you be salty, either. You’re a firm man and I respect
that—I’m glad you’re on our side.”
    “Not
sure I am.”
    “What?”
    “Cool
it. Am not on Warden’s side. Nor will I talk … wouldn’t want
Shorty, Bog rest his generous soul, to haunt me. But your program isn’t
practical.”
    “But,
Mannie, you don’t understand! If all of us—”
    “Hold
it, Wye; this no time for politics. I’m tired and hungry. When did you
eat last?”
    “Oh,
goodness!” Suddenly she looked small, young, tired. “I don’t
know. On the bus, I guess. Helmet rations.”
    “What
would you say to a Kansas City cut, rare, with baked potato, Tycho sauce, green
salad, coffee … and a drink first?”
    “Heavenly!”
    “I
think so too, but we’ll be lucky, this hour in this hole, to get algae
soup and burgers. What do you drink?”
    “Anything.
Ethanol.”
    “Okay.”
I went to lift, punched for service. “Menu, please.” It displayed
and I settled for prime rib plus rest, and two orders of
apfelstrudel
with whipped cream. I added a half liter of table vodka and ice and starred
that part.
    “Is
there time for me to take a bath? Would you mind?”
    “Go
ahead, Wye. You’ll smell better.”
    “Louse.
Twelve hours in a p-suit and you’d stink, too—the bus was dreadful.
I’ll hurry.”
    “Half
a sec, Wye. Does that stuff wash off? You may need it when you leave …
whenever you do, wherever you go.”
    “Yes,
it does. But you bought three times as much as I used. I’m sorry, Mannie;
I plan to carry makeup on political trips—things can happen. Like
tonight, though tonight was worst. But I ran short of seconds and missed a
capsule and almost missed the bus.”
    “So
go scrub.”
    “Yes,
sir, Captain. Uh, I don’t need help to scrub my back but I’ll leave
the door up so we can talk. Just for company, no invitation implied.”
    “Suit
yourself. I’ve seen a woman.”
    “What
a thrill that must have been for her.” She grinned and fisted me another
in ribs—hard—went in and started tub. “Mannie, would you like
to bathe in it first? Secondhand water is good enough for this makeup and that
stink you complained about.”
    “Unmetered
water, dear. Run it deep.”
    “Oh,
what luxury! At home I use the same bath water three days running.” She
whistled softly and happily. “Are you wealthy, Mannie?”
    “Not
wealthy, not weeping.”
    Lift
jingled; I answered, fixed basic martinis, vodka over ice, handed hers in, got
out and sat down, out of sight—nor had I seen sights; she was shoulder
deep in happy suds. “
Pawlnoi Zheezni
!” I called.
    “A
full life to you, too, Mannie. Just the medicine I needed.” After pause
for medicine she went on, “Mannie, you’re married. Ja?”
    “Da.
It shows?”
    “Quite.
You’re nice to a woman but not eager and quite independent. So
you’re married and long married. Children?”
    “Seventeen
divided by four.”
    “Clan
marriage?”
    “Line.
Opted at fourteen and I’m fifth of