10 "I wouldn't exactly call it THAT!" Morn told
him. "It got rather nasty for awhile, but we got through it."
11 "I heard it was more than a LITTLE nasty! " continued North. "Half a
dozen Bloodlots running around your ship!”
12 Morn laughed. "There was only one," he explained, "and it wasn't a
Bloodlot, but in a way, I guess it was just as nasty. I heard you
fought a dozen automatics and whipped 'em all!"
13 It was North's turn to laugh. "You know there was only one but it
sure chewed me up. I never want to see one of those damned things
again! I don't mind fighting flesh and blood, but fighting a robot
isn't decent. I hate those walking piles of scrap metal! But you can't
run a ship without them. If you could, I wouldn't have any."
14 "Damned glad I had one!" Morn exclaimed, "He saved our hides!
Wouldn't have been able to beat that thing without him. I wish I could
give him a decoration!"
15 "Speaking of decorations," sighed North, "I wish Fleet would come
through with those for my crew!"
16 "They will," agreed Morn, "but you know how they are...priorities
first, then honors. Your crew will get their decorations."
17 "Of course you're right," agreed North. "By the way, what's your
ship's status? I've got a converter that won't put eighty per cent, and
some other minor equipment replacements. I've had to make out of my own
pocket."
18 Morn laughed. "You too? THIS ship's got parts problems and a back
debt you wouldn't believe. The last Commander was a very poor
Administrator. I've got a lot of work to do. And I've got a couple of
crewmen with some bad personal problems. Got to work on them, too."
19 "You would! " North smiled. "Anybody in trouble, Morning Star to the
rescue."