Chapter 9

           ThetugMarcusGarvey,asteeldrumninemeterslongandtwoindiameter,creakedandshudderedasMaelcumpunchedforanavigationalburn.Splayedinhiselasticg-web,CasewatchedtheZionite’smuscularbackthroughahazeofscopolamine.He’dtakenthedrugtobluntSASnausea,butthestimulantsthemanufacturerincludedtocounterthescophadnoeffectonhisdoctoredsystem.

           `Howlong’sitgonnatakeustomakeFreeside?’MollyaskedfromherwebbesideMaelcum’spilotmodule.

           `Donbelongnow,m’sehdat.’

           `Youguyseverthinkinhours?’

           `Sister,time,itbetime,yaknowwhamean?Dread,’andheshookhislocks,`atcontrol,mon,an’Ian’IcomeaFreesidewhenIan’Icome...’

           `Case,’shesaid,`haveyoumaybedoneanythingtowardgettingintouchwithourpalfromBerne?LikeallthattimeyouspentinZion,pluggedinwithyourlipsmoving?’

           `Pal,’Casesaid,`sure.No.Ihaven’t.ButIgotafunnystoryalongthoselines,leftoverfromIstanbul.’HetoldheraboutthephonesintheHilton.

           `Christ,’shesaid,`theregoesachance.Howcomeyouhungup?’

           `Couldabeenanybody,’helied.`Justachip...Idunno.’Heshrugged.

           `Notjust’causeyouwerescared,huh?’

           Heshruggedagain.

           `Doitnow.’

           `What?’

           `Now.Anyway,talktotheFlatlineaboutit.