Daniels seemed to have plenty of scars on his exterior, but Sanchez seemed to have his own as well, albeit on his interior.

It made her wonder about him. He seemed to resonate on some level that intrigued her. The fact that he was merely polite to her, taking no other particular interest in her except as the woman who was going to command him, p.r.i.c.ked her ego slightly-and made her wonder why.

She made a mental note to have a talk with him sometime during this visit.

Obviously she wouldn't get much from him now, especially with Daniels ingenuously clogging the airwaves.

Still, with the man so freely dispensing information, she figured she should probably tap what she could.

And, as always, men talked more when they had a bootful.

"You know, d.i.c.k," she said, smiling, "I once knew a guy who reminded me of you."

"Oh. How so?" "Big. Brave. Strong and obviously a man of the universe, as it were. I admired that man a lot."

Daniels responded with a c.o.c.ky grin and a pleased twinkle of the eye. The approval he'd so desperately wanted was his, offered on a satin pillow.

"One big difference."

Double take. "Oh? What?"

"He drank a lot more beer. And a lot faster. He'd have that beer done by now."

"Sheeee---it," said Daniels. "I'm just sippin', to be polite."

The gauntlet clearly thrown down, Daniels smirked. Refilled his mug.

Upended.

The remainder of the liquid, at least a pint and a half by Machiko's estimation, slid past his big, bobbing Adam's apple, very little indeed slopping over his lips and rolling down his cheeks, or snorting up his nose.

Daniels clapped down the large mug, red-faced but satisfied. "There you go."

"I am truly impressed." She was indeed. Within moments the man's face was noticeably redder. "My other friend didn't drink that fast."

Another burp interrupted the conversation.

Machiko sipped her own drink, pursing her lips thoughtfully . . . and then thought, What the h.e.l.l, let's go for it.

"We seem to be alone," she gestured around inclusively. "We can talk now.

We seem to be a bunch of pretty powerful troubleshooters. What seems to be the trouble?"

Daniels blinked a little blearily, accepting the next cup from Attila.

"c.r.a.p. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d didn't tell you?"

"Let's just say I'm more interested in what he told you."

"f.u.c.kin' bugs. That's what the trouble is. That's the biggest trouble I've heard of on all these planets." Daniels developed a slightly gray pallor.

"f.u.c.kin' bugs. Don't know how the h.e.l.l they got here. Only with bugs, you never do, do you?"

"And that's the only trouble?"

"Far as I know . . . . Oh, s.h.i.+t well, there's the hunters, the rich a.s.sholes who think they know which end of a gun the bullet or whatever come out of. Evanston knows he's going to have some accidents, which is why he sets 'em up with training and insurance, even though right now he's not legally bound for nothin'. Nope, there's plenty enough trouble not to buy any, I'll tell you."

"No sign of other kinds of 'iffy' activity? Any other kind of trouble?"

Daniels, for the first time, looked concerned. "Hey, lady. Aren't the bugs enough? Shee-it. I've been in all kinds of action. And bugs are the worse."

"But you're willing to face them again," said Machiko. "For the money we're getting, and the treatment? Not really" The affable look was still gone, replaced by a startlingly sober expression for one getting into a drunk. "Look, this ain't just for the money. I guess the truth is, Evanston's offerin' me a home. A G.o.dd.a.m.ned family. This pirate looked at forty a long time ago, and it's about time to commit to a G.o.dd.a.m.ned bar stool.

Eh, Ned?" He elbowed his companion, his good nature again suffusing his face.

Ned just shrugged. "We all have our reasons."

"That's d.a.m.ned right. And I'd like to know if yours are any different."

"Evanston got me out of the Company."

Daniels raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

The lug seemed honestly interested. Machiko found herself relaxing even more.

"I don't know about family, I don't know about home .... What I do know is that this is better than pus.h.i.+ng papers. Would you agree?"

There wasn't a fighting person who wouldn't agree with that. No reason that Machiko had to hide anything with these guys.

"Sure," said Daniels. "But, h.e.l.l, I got my fighting experience in the Marines, and Ned here's been after the bugs all his life. Where'd you get your experience?"

"Well, I'm a trained martial-arts expert, and I did time in officer's school-and I dealt with the bugs on a planet called Ryus.h.i.+," said Machiko.

Daniels's mouth dropped. "d.a.m.n! Isn't that the planet where nearly everybody got wiped-"

"Not this body"

Daniels said nothing. He seemed to be trying to grope with something, like coughing up some other memory he had on the subject. He didn't seem to be successful, so he just took another chug of beer instead.

A flicker of interest grew in Ned Sanchezs eyes.

There was a knock on the door. "Hey. Guys. We hear noise. What's going on in there? A party?" The voice was thin, whiny, and annoying.

Daniels slapped his face. "Jeez, it's Lou MacCraken. He can smell fun a kilometer away and then comes to ruin it for everyone. Don't let him in, Ms.

Noguchi."

"Is he one of the troubleshooters?"

"Yep. And if there's no trouble, he'll attract it."

"Then I should meet him."

She told Attila to open the door. A tall, gangly man came in with a big wide smile and a long nose. He had a shorter, curly haired Neopolitan sort with him, who already had a bulb of beer in his hand. Introductions were made.

MacCraken's friend's name was Mishka Marino.

"Glad to meet you," said Machiko. "Would you like a beer?" "No. I don't drink," said MacCraken, eyes s.h.i.+ning with a kind of goofy glee. "Give Marino something, though. He drinks."

"Only with one hand, Lou."

"That's so he can grab the guys. And the gals. Right, Marino? Better watch out, Ms. Noguchi. You're his type. You're all his type."

Marino rolled his eyes as MacCraken cackled a high-pitched laugh.

Machiko cringed a bit and looked over to Daniels as though to say, You're right; where did Evanston get this geek?

Still, this manic guy was entertaining if you didn't take him too seriously, and the conversation progressed. With the right questions Machiko drew out some little essentials about Evanstonville and Livermoreland that only a few days' stay could have obtained.

For one thing, not only had Evanston hired a great many workers and started up a colonist movement to this planet, he had somehow tapped the resources of the corporation in terms of expertise, just as he had done with Machiko. There were apparently a good many "four eyes" here-a Marine bit of slang for technicians and scientists. Many of them, Daniels said, worked in the factory and really didn't mix much with the rest of the community.

Machiko tried to milk them all for more information about that factory but came up totally dry. These guys hadn't even gotten close to the thing, nor were they particularly interested in doing so. They were obviously thrilled with their jobs, not so much because of the bugs, who obtained the unhealthy respect they deserved, but because of the environment here and the perks involved.

They talked about the other people who'd been selected. All seemed to have similar backgrounds: soldiers of fortune mostly, experience with bugs, a mercenary bent with an inclination to settle down in a place that had its share of thrills and excitement Evanston must have promised them a place in his structure here, just as soon as the little problem was gone. Guides.

Battle technicians. Simulators. Whatever. This was just their kind of place, no question---a paradise for men with a trade in violence, who hankered for some peace of mind.

"I look forward to meeting the others," said Machiko finally.

"Should I round them up?" asked Lou eagerly, excess energy radiating from him.

"Uh-no. No, I confess that-ah Mr. Attila and I are a bit tired. And I, alas, have had my share of beer already Tomorrow Formally It's been great meeting you guys informally, but let's just call it a day, all right?"

"Sounds good to me," said Daniels, getting up and scratching his b.u.t.t.

"One last question, though," said Machiko. "It would seem that the bugs would be perfect hunting material, the ultimate experience. Do you think maybe Evanston planned to use them this way, and they got out of control?"

Daniels raised an eyebrow. "With all respect, ma'am, anyone who hunts bugs for sport has either got to be crazy, suicidal-or maybe just a little buglike themselves."

From the mouths of lumbering bruisers, thought Machiko. They bade their adieus and filed out to find whatever other fun they could.

Ned Sanchez was the last one.

"Mr. Sanchez," said Machiko, putting a hand on his arm.

"Ned would be fine," he said easily, his dark eyes unreadable.

"You don't talk much. I get the feeling you might know more about this operation than the others."

His face remained expressionless. "I get the feeling you know more than all of us combined."

She shrugged and let him go.

But the parting seemed incomplete. She wanted to know more of what this man knew. She wanted to know more about Ned Sanchez, period.

Chapter 11.

You've been holding out on me," said Attila above the whir of the blades.

"Oh?" She adjusted her headset so she could hear him properly. "How so?"

"You never told me you could fly a copter."

She shrugged. "The way they make these things these days, it only takes a couple of engram imprints, some virt/real lessons, and then some hands-on."

She smiled at him. "I bet we could just plug a new program into you and you could do it, too. Fact, I bet you could do it right now." She pushed a b.u.t.ton.

The steering wheel came off and she handed it to him.

He looked alarmed for a moment, and then he handed it back. "Ha ha ha. It's on automatic, isn't it?"

"Glad to see I haven't lost my sense of humor?" she said.

"Actually, I'm glad you haven't lost control of this craft!" Even though he didn't have the right sort of circulatory system, it was clear that Attila was white knuckling the ride. She didn't blame him at all. She was swooping around a bit too much. Well, she'd keep the grav copter on a steady keel for a while.

It was the afternoon of the day after they had arrived on this world, and already they were out looking for trouble.

Machiko had requisitioned the vehicle that morning. Evanston had advised against looking over the terrain quite yet, but he'd been too busy catching up on other affairs to give her any real orders, so she'd talked him into at least letting her take a look at the surrounding environs, to get a feel for the lie of the land.

The other troubleshooters were out on maneuvers. She and Attila had joined them briefly. She'd met them but hadn't said much. They were pretty much as Daniels had said: worn mercenaries, looking for a home. She'd given them the usual patter: good to meet you, let's get this job done and done right, blah blah blah. Fortunately, her enthusiasm was real. All this was so much better than tapping input into a computer and riding herd on corporate mining nonsense.

And the possibility that she'd be dead next week, acid rotting out her brain? All the sweeter, because of the sharpened sense of life that she feltnow.

They were in tree territory . . . alien trees, a kind of deciduous rain forest with large patches of plains and rivers. Wild, wild, with herds of native creatures glimpsed here and there and bright, vivid colors poking through the general green and brown.

"I wonder what kind of ecologists Evanston hired," said Attila.

"You think he's thought that far ahead?"

"Oh, yes, he would have to. There's no need to terraform this place, but its life-forms are complex enough to take great consideration, especially if he's introducing new species."

"He's probably got a lot more on his mind now than just that."