'Out to the end of what?

'End of Nothing. That is where we're going. Don't tell me you weren't headed there?

'Until this moment, Tennyson said, 'I had never heard of it.

'Then it must be that you were intent on leaving Gutshot.

'That, Captain, is a fair assumption.

'In some sort of trouble there?

'I was running for my life.

'And popped onto the first ship that was taking off?

Tennyson nodded.

'Sit down, man, the captain said. 'Don't stay standing there. Would you like a drink?

'That would be fine, said Tennyson. 'Yes, I could use a drink.

'Can you tell me? the captain asked. 'Did anyone see you duck into the ship?

'I don't think so.

'You're fairly sure?

'Well, you see, I went into a bar. One of the spaceport joints. When I left, it seems that somehow I got hold of the wrong jacket and wrong cap. I was, if I remember, in somewhat of a hurry…

'So that's what happened to Jenkins's cap and jacket. Jenkins is my first mate.

'I'll return the jacket and the cap, said Tennyson. 'I left them in the hold.

'I find it strange, the captain said, 'that you did not take the pains to find out this ship's destination. You, apparently, have no wish to go to End of Nothing.

'Any place away from Gutshot, said Tennyson. 'They were closing in on me. Well, maybe not, but I had the feeling that they were.

The captain reached for a bottle that was standing on a table beside him and handed it to Tennyson.

'Now I'll tell you, mister, he said, 'I am convention-bound to quote the rule book to you. It says in Article Thirty-nine, Section Eight, that any stowaway must be placed in detention and returned thereafter, as speedily as possible, to the port where he had stowed away, there to be delivered up to the port authorities. During the intervening period, while he is on board the vessel on which he stowed away, he is required to do such tasks, however menial, the captain may assign to him to help defray his passage. Are you aware of these provisions, sir?