"The water beside the boat erupted in leaping, cheering dolphins."They like you, too, Heather," Hank said. "The Silver Orb sid animals liked you." Han..., I need you to take care of Faye for me," Jim said."I know that the Federal Labor Board has tanked the economy," Hank said, "but even if you get no more charters you'll do okay. What's wrong, Jim?" I've got the SJ Syndrome," Jim said. "I have perhaps six months left, and then I won't be able to care for myself, let alone a slave."Tears rolled. I looked up from the old accounts ledger I was poring over and there shewas, one of the prettiest girls I'd ever seen, her big blue eyes, fullred lips and tiny nose framed by the thick mass of blonde curls thatcascaded down over her shoulders. She was wearing a deceptively simplesummer dress that I could tell was a designer original, and she looked tobe about nineteen."This is Ashley," said Melanie as I rose to my feet, "Ashley, this isDave Parker." Pleased to meet you, Ashley," I said,. "I smiled. I'd heard variations of that last line. "It still seems like quite a risk."She shrugged. "It is. But so is your showing up here."I shook my head. "I don't think so." If I made it clear that I'm not blackmailing him, the worst the congressman will do is transfer me to the home office."Or at least you hope."I resisted nodding in agreement and just smiled. She smiled back and let the pause stretch out."So," she finally said, "what do you gain from this?"I waved my hand. "It's not. But the knowledge they needed him so much relieved the fears he'd been trying hard to suppress.Their conversation didn't last long. As much as he could tell—especially since he hadn't paid attention—it gave Barbara a brief rundown on how to best pronounce phrases he'd understand. Whether it also told her anything about her other shipmates, he had no idea. When she glanced up at him expectantly he jumped in.He told her the equivalent of "I go, get your people now." Her face crinkled in what he.