Soon the scope was clear, and it stayed that way. We remained on alertand held our course.

I hadn't said over a dozen words to my boss since the last time we wentdrowning together, so I decided to raise the score.

"Good afternoon," I approached. "What's new?"

"He's going north-northeast. We'll have to let this one go. A few moredays and we can afford some chasing. Not yet."

_Sleek head..._

I nodded. "No telling where this one's headed."

"How's your shoulder?"

"All right. How about you?"

_Daughter of Lir..._

"Fine. By the way, you're down for a nice bonus."

_Eyes of perdition!_

"Don't mention it," I told her back.

Later that afternoon, and appropriately, a storm shattered. (I prefer"shattered" to "broke." It gives a more accurate idea of the behavior oftropical storms on Venus and saves a lot of words.) Remember that inkwell Imentioned earlier? Now take it between thumb and forefinger and hit its sidewith a hammer. Watch yourself! Don't get splashed or cut--

Dry, then drenched. The sky one million bright fractures as the hammerfalls. And sounds of breaking.

"Everyone below?" suggested the loudspeakers to the already scurryingcrew.

Where was I? Who do you think was doing the loudspeaking?

Everything loose went overboard when the water got to walking, but bythen no people were loose. The Slider was the first thing below decks. Thenthe big lifts lowered their shacks.

I had hit it for the nearest Rook with a yell the moment I recognizedthe pre-brightening of the holocaust. From there I cut in the speakers andspent half a minute coaching the track team.

Minor injuries had occurred, Mike told me over the radio, but nothingserious. I, however, was marooned for the duration. The Rooks do not leadanywhere; they're set too far out over the hull to provide entry downwards,