He shrugged.

"Publicity makes the wheels go 'round. Luharich Enterprise jumpedsixteen points when she picked up the Sun Trophy. You ever play golf onMercury?"

I had, but I overlooked it and continued to press.

"So she's coming here with a blank check and a fishhook?"

"_Bright Water_, today," he nodded. "Should be down by now. Lots ofcameras. She wants an Ikky, bad."

"Hmm," I hmmed. "How bad?"

"Sixty day contract. Tensquare. Indefinite extension clause. Millionand a half deposit," he recited.

"You seem to know a lot about it."

"I'm Personnel Recruitment. Luharich Enterprises approached me lastmonth. It helps to drink in the right places.

"Or own them." He smirked, after a moment.

I looked away, sipping my bitter brew. After awhile I swallowed severalthings and asked Mike what he expected to be asked, leaving myself open forhis monthly temperance lecture.

"They told me to try getting you," he mentioned. "When's the last timeyou sailed?"

"Month and a half ago. The _Corning_."

"Small stuff," he snorted. "When have you been under, yourself?"

"It's been awhile."

"It's been over a year, hasn't it? That time you got cut by the screw,under the _Dolphin_?"

I turned to him.

"I was in the river last week, up at Angleford where the currents arestrong. I can still get around."

"Sober," he added.

"I'd stay that way," I said, "on a job like this."

A doubting nod.

"Straight union rates. Triple time for extraordinary circumstances," henarrated. "Be at Hangar Sixteen with your gear, Friday morning, five hundredhours. We push off Saturday, daybreak."

"You're sailing?"

"I'm sailing."

"How come?"

"Money."

"Ikky guano."

"The bar isn't doing so well and baby needs new minks."

"I repeat--"