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twinkled at her), and then her memory retrieved his younger face.

“Zebaral”

It was half joy and half shock. She had halfway wanted to find him, had not wanted to search the databases and find that he’d died while she slept, had not wanted to see what was now before her: a vigorous man aged to weakness. He smiled, the same warm smile.

“Lunzie! I saw your name on the list, and hardly dared believe it was you. And then there you were on the cameras! I had to come down and see you.”

Conflicting thoughts cluttered her mind. She wanted to ask him what he’d done in the years she’d lost. She wanted to tell him all that had happened to her. But she had no time for a long, leisurely chat, even if he’d been able to join her. She was here with two missions already, and at the moment, she had to concentrate on Sassinak’s needs.

“You’re looking surprisingly . . . well ...” he was saying.

“Another forty-three years of coldsleep,” said Lunzie, wondering why he didn’t know already, when some of the heavyworlders certainly did. “And you, you look ...”

“Old,” said Zebara, chuckling. “Don’t try to flatter me, I’m lucky to be alive but I’ve changed a lot. It’s been an interesting life and I wish we had time to discuss it.” Lunzie looked a question at him and one of his heavy eyebrows went up. “You know we don’t, dear girl. And yes, I can condescend to you because I have koed those forty-three years.” He reached out and took the plate from her hand. “Come here.”

Lunzie looked around, seeing only the same roomful of massive bodies, none of the other lightweights in sight Across the serving table, one of the servants was •watching her with a smirk.

“Come on,” said Zebara, with a touch of impatience. ?You don’t really think I’m going to rape you.”

She didn’t, of course. But she wished she could find someone, a lightweight on the Team, to let them know ,*he was going with him.  She managed not to flinch Zebara took her wrist and led her along the

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