Chapter 2p2 – Glad To Have You

Tic stood with his arms folded just inside the open docking bay door, watching the seemingly endless churn of people and machines making their way through the spaceport alley. He was watching for any sign of his new passenger. He didn't know what she looked like, but her name was Milly, and that sounded like a red-haired name to him.

A young woman carrying an overloaded backpack emerged from the melee near the docking bay across the alley. She held a thin, shiny, brand-new-looking PAI up in front of her face, then checked the number painted on the wall. She shook her head and turned to look in Tic's direction. Judging by her smooth cheeks and freckled face, she was at most nineteen. Her hair was tucked up inside a toque, so Tic couldn't see what colour it was.

She started across the alley and had to duck around a knot of boisterous mechanics, a few of whom sent wolf whistles in her direction. She blushed and frowned, but ignored them. Double-checking her PAI, she held her hand out to Tic. "I'm Milly Leon," she said. "Are you Mr. Bolter?"

"Call me Tic." They shook.

"I was so relieved to see your ad. I've been trying to find someone going that direction for almost a week!"

"Glad to have you aboard," said Tic, fishing his PAI out of his pocket. "So… I think I said 300 litres?"

"Oh, right, of course!" Milly thumbed through a couple of screens on her own PAI and then held it up next to Tic's. Both PAIs made a little chiming sound, and 300 litres were deposited into Tic's account.

The perfect passenger! thought Tic. The posting had actually been for 275.

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