Maldynado’s mouth did not shut; rather his jaw dropped lower and hung there. Books slapped him on the shoulder. “Lout.” “And the rest of you. There’s work to be done, even if there’s still snow on the ground. You forget your contracts? You forget your word what you gave me?” Basilard appeared glad for his missing voice. An indignant expression lurched onto Akstyr’s face, and he started to say something, but Books elbowed him. “It was a mistake, ma’am,” Books said. “We’re ready to come back to work.” “Not soon enough.” Maldynado issued a disparaging glare at the corridor of cells behind him.
