The Stars My Destination

by Alfred Bester

An expression of possessed cunning appeared on the hideous face. “I’m holed up in General Hospital, me. It’s my base of operations, see? I’m settling something, Miss Robin. I got a debt to pay off, me. I had to find out where a certain ship is. Now I got to pay her back. Now I rot you, Vorga. I kill you, Vorga. I kill you filthy!” He stopped shouting and glared at her in wild triumph. Robin backed away in alarm. “For God’s sake, what are you talking about?” “Vorga. Vorga-T:1339. Ever hear of her, Miss Robin? I found out where she is from Bo’ness & Uig’s ship registry. Bo’ness & Uig are out in SanFran. I went there, me, the time when you was learning us the crosstown jaunte stages. Went out to SanFran, me. Found Vorga, me. She’s in Vancouver shipyards. She’s owned by Presteign of Presteign. Heard of him, Miss Robin? Presteign’s the biggest man on Terra, is all. But he won’t stop me. I’ll kill Vorga filthy. And you won’t stop me neither, Miss Robin.”