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the fingers. "But your whisper carries very well; remember that one-act play last year?" He waited a moment; Magdalena didn't move. "Honestly, I only heard that you had been arguing, nothing more. Want to talk about it, or should I butt out?"
    She managed a laugh, small but genuine. Leaning back, Magdalena cast her eyes ceilingward and said, "All right, I was rude, sir, and I apologize."
    "It would have been rude if I had been listening to gossip," Rob said. He shoved the empty plate aside. Bast, to all appearances, had gone to sleep sprawled across his knees; as his hand gently stroked her shoulders, she emitted a faint, querulous mew, then settled and slept once more.
    Magdalena looked from the black, furry blot to the still-youthful-looking psychologist's concerned face. "I know you don't do that, and I was rude to imply you did. It's just--all right. I wasn't going to bother you with something I can work through myself, but since I'm here ..." She set her cup aside and sat up straighter.
    "I had a nightmare this morning. It woke me just before the alarm."
    Rob waited, and when she shook her head and swallowed tightly, he said,
    "One of those, wasn't it?" She nodded. "Back in that compound, no way out?" Another nod. "Sort through it after you woke up?"
    "Just like you showed me; my heart rate dropped almost at once. But--with Ladessa down this morning, I didn't get the chance to work out why ..." Her voice trailed off once again; she shoved aside the tea and got to her feet.
    Rob watched her pace, his expression sympathetic. "Thing is, I think it's--
    well, I know it was because of David. Because of last night, up in the Spiral Arm."
    "But I thought you and David were a genuine item," he protested mildly. "All the time you two spend together
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    rehearsing and outside rehearsals as well. And then the way you looked dancing together last night..."
    Magdalena stopped pacing and faced him. "Well--that's part of the problem.
    I--don't get me wrong, I've always liked David. He's a nice guy, smart, a good dancer. Particularly good since he didn't dance at all before he came here.
    He's dedicated, he likes the Old Russian Romantic era music like I do. He's easy to talk to. He speaks Spanish like a native and he was very useful in helping me teach Ladessa how to dance like an Arekkhi."
    "So? Sounds like a good combination to me," Rob replied neutrally.
    "It is. It's just..." Magdalena paused in midstride to search for the right word, finally shook her head and sighed. "It's just not enough! Well--for a good friend, of course it is. But I never..." She paused once more, then shook her head again and came over to drop into the chair and meet his eyes directly.
    "I didn't realize until last night that David wanted more than friends. Special friends, I mean."
    "Well," Rob pointed out, "he gave you his StarBridge jacket, it should've told you something--understand, I'm not laying blame on you. Misunderstandings happen, after all, or why would StarBridge Academy even be here?" That rewarded him with a faint smile. "And I know how busy you've been the past few months."
    "Thanks, Rob," she replied. "Truthfully, though, I know I should have realized when he said that about special friends-- when he gave me the jacket--that he meant a pair. Romance. I--can think back, remember the look on his face, and I just-- at the time, I didn't see it was love or a crush or whatever, because I didn't want to."
    "All right, that's honest--and normal," Rob said. He settled his elbows on the chair arms, made a steeple of his fingers, and eyed her over them. "But last night--the way you looked at him during that balcony scene--''
    She shook her head, hard. "That was acting."
    Rob grinned, urchinlike. "The Rocketeer! That wasn't a lie--it was acting!" he said, his voice soft and faintly English. His furred companion moaned quietly, shifted onto her side,
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    and rolled into a tight ball. "Seriously," Rob added, sobering, "I think I understand, but explain