"I don't," she said. "I don't want to reinforce anything but LuharichEnterprises. My chief statistician once said, 'Miss Luharich, sell all thecold cream and face powder in the System and you'll be a happy girl. Rich,too.' And he was right. I am the proof. I can look the way I do and doanything, and I sell most of the lipstick and face powder in the System--butI have to be _able_ to do anything."
"You do look cool and efficient," I observed.
"I don't feel cool," she said, rising. "Let's go for a swim."
"May I point out that we're making pretty good time?"
"If you want to indicate the obvious, you may. You said you could makeit back to the ship, unassisted. Change your mind?"
"No."
"Then get us two scuba outfits and I'll race you under Tensquare.
"I'll win, too," she added.
I stood and looked down at her, because that usually makes me feelsuperior to women.
"Daughter of Lir, eyes of Picasso," I said, "you've got yourself arace. Meet me at the forward Rook, starboard, in ten minutes."
"Ten minutes," she agreed.
And ten minutes it was. From the center blister to the Rook took maybetwo of them, with the load I was carrying. My sandals grew very hot and Iwas glad to shuck them for flippers when I reached the comparative cool ofthe corner.
We slid into harnesses and adjusted our gear. She had changed into atrim one-piece green job that made me shade my eyes and look away, then lookback again.
I fastened a rope ladder and kicked it over the side. Then I pounded onthe wall of the Rook.
"Yeah?"
"You talk to the port Rook, aft?" I called.