"Five thousand credits," Solassie answered.
"I will pay the debt," he answered. "If this is done could not the charges be forgotten?"
"There's still the matter of this," Samuel remarked, waving the counterfeit currency. "But if the young lady agrees to stay with us a year, and do community service, I'll consider that reasonable punishment."
"As long as all I'll have to do is community service!" the young woman snapped.
"Oh, you'll have to do some other work, too," Samuel remarked, "until you've earned five thousand credits. to pay him back. We're short of labor here. I'll find plenty for you to do."
"All right!" the girl sighed.
Samuel motioned her into the car, and they got on their way. She was silent for some time and then leaned over and whispered in Samuel's ear.
"If he's not going to do anything to me, why did he get me out of trouble?"
Samuel looked at her and smiled. "Maybe he just wanted to be kind!" he answered. "You know, some people do things just because they like being kind."
"I've never met many of them!" the young woman answered.
As the months went by Samuel could tell she was trying very hard not to like his burly driver, but she was losing the battle. One afternoon they walked into Samuel's office together. Samuel didn't even look up, he just said "It's up to you."
"What?" the young woman asked.
"Rather or not you two get married," Samuel continued. "It's up to you two. It's none of MY business!"
"How did you know?" she asked.
Samuel looked up and smiled. Both of them merely returned his smile, nodded, and left.
"Getting quite a crew around here!" Samuel muttered, "Quite a crew indeed!"
He was glad Sahid was a good man. He'd keep his wife out of trouble, and save alot of people difficulty. Yes, he was getting quite a household, and wondered where it would all end.
The years were flying by, he only had a few more in his tour of duty. He wondered what would happen next. Only time would tell!

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