for a massage.”
“I’d think a wash and lube would be more to a crusher’s tastes.”
“I’m sure they do that there,” Bonita said.
Even though Casmir had parted ways with Sultan Shayban on good terms, and Bonita said the Dragon was receiving preferential docking treatment on his behalf, he was nervous when he walked down the Dragon’s cargo ramp and into the large ship bay. They’d been there only a few weeks earlier, departing when Casmir had arranged to have Kim and himself kidnapped by Rache, but it was much busier this time. Every landing pad had a ship on it, ships of every make and model, including a nearby yacht that appeared to be crusted with diamonds. At the least, it sparkled brightly under the artificial lights.
People of all skin colors, genetic modifications, and clothing types imaginable streamed to and fro, carrying shopping bags and luggage. There weren’t any other freighters, nor did Casmir see the robot loaders that had whisked about loading and unloading cargo before. Maybe, due to the busyness of the station, freighters had been relegated to a less central location. Bonita had said something about talks.
Casmir hoped the sultan would have time to see him. His current plan was—assuming Shayban was pleased with his crusher and that nothing untoward had happened with the automated manufacturing of the rest—to ask if he could see the slydar detector and try to reverse engineer it so he could make one for the Kingdom. Or many. Even that seemed a lot to ask—Shayban had mentioned it being a prototype, and it was possible he’d signed documents agreeing not to let others copy it—but it was a better solution than theft.
Princess Nalini and Prince Samar walked into view, accompanied by a couple of security androids. Tristan, who’d been discussing a few last-minute things with Bjarke and Asger in the cargo hold, sprinted past Casmir on his way to greet them. No, to greet Nalini. Samar only got the briefest of waves.
Even though he knew trouble was unlikely, Casmir braced himself as the security androids walked up. What if, in the intervening weeks, Shayban had realized the kidnapping by Rache had been a ruse? Or what if he’d decided he wanted to keep all the crushers, not only one?
No, no, it would be fine. Shayban had sent spa tickets to the ship. People didn’t give free spa appointments to enemies.
Zee stepped up beside Casmir as the androids approached, always the consummate bodyguard. Reuben was also coming along to act as Kim’s bodyguard, even though she seemed more dubious than grateful of the assignment. She was going to break the news about Scholar Sunflyer’s death to his daughter Natasha in person.
“That is an enthusiastic kiss,” Kim observed, looking toward Tristan and Nalini. “What do you think the appropriate time length is for a reunion kiss?”
“Uh, maybe there are studies out there on the network.” Casmir didn’t want to think about why she was curious about that. He planned to go through life assuming that she never had been and never would be intimate with Rache. Casmir smiled wistfully at Tristan and Nalini, though not for long. He didn’t like to intrude on other people’s privacy. “I wonder if anyone will ever be that excited to see me.”
“Viggo choreographs dances for his robot vacuums and plays opera music when you arrive,” Kim said. “If that’s not excitement, I don’t know what is.”
“True, but I was envisioning female excitement. Human female excitement.”
“Of all people, you should have a mind open enough to accept other possibilities for companionship.”
“They’re fine for others, but I’d like to be able to give my parents the grandchildren they want.” And he admittedly had a specific human female in mind for kisses, though the odds of even getting to ask her out for coffee were getting poorer by the day.
“This way, Professor Dabrowski,” the android leading the security team said, “and Scholar Sato.” He glanced at Zee and Reuben but didn’t acknowledge them. “We will take you to see the sultan, and then you will be free to enjoy the amenities of the station.”
Asger, Bjarke, and Qin watched them depart from the top of the cargo ramp. Asger had offered to go with them, in case Casmir needed to force the issue of acquiring the slydar detector, but if he needed a knight, he feared their cause would be long lost.
The androids led them down a corridor of potted date-palm trees decorated in colorful silks. Casmir’s nostrils itched, and his eyes watered.