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. Then he made Thorby a present of shop and contents.
Thorby, speaking through Krausa, regretted that he had nothing to offer save his own services the rest of his life. They backed out of the predicament with courteous insults.
Thorby felt relieved when they reached the spaceport and he saw the homely, familiar lines of old Sisu.
When Thorby reached his bunkie, Jeri was there, feet up and hands back of his head. He looked up and did not smile.
"Hi, Jeri!"
"Hello, Thorby."
"Hit dirt?"
"No."
"I did. Look what I bought!" Thorby showed him the magic cube. "You shake it and every picture is different"
Jeri looked at one picture and handed it back. "Very nice."
"Jeri, what are you glum about? Something you ate?"
"No."
"Spill it."
Jeri dropped his feet to the deck, looked at Thorby. "I'm back in the computer room."
"Huh?"
"Oh, I don't lose status. It's just while I train somebody else."
Thorby felt a cold wind. "You mean I've been busted?"
"No."
"Then what do you mean?"
"Mata has been swapped."
Chapter 11
Mata swapped? Gone forever? Little Mattie with the grave eyes and merry giggle? Thorby felt a burst of sorrow and realized to his surprise that it mattered.
"I don't believe it!"
"Don't be a fool."
"When? Where has she gone? Why didn't you tell me?"
"To El Nido, obviously; it's the only ship of the People in port
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