"I'm not thinking of slugging those space bums from the Saturn. I'm just trying to tell you that the Fleet Commander has announced a lifecraft race between the two prize crews of the Fleet."
That woke me.
"What?"
"Exactly," said. Shane. "He probably figures that it's the best way to keep peace aland for the duration of the fleet meeting. Give the men on the various space craft something else to think about besides slugging each other."
I whistled.
"That's really something. The two prize crews are the bunch from the Saturn, and our own crew from the Western Hemisphere! Doesn't the Fleet Commander realize the boys from the Saturn and the Western Hemisphere don't get along well?"
Shane nodded.
"Sure he does. I overheard one of our officers saying that the Fleet Commander figures it's the best way for the two ships to settle the bad blood between them."
"How ducky," I said. "A lifecraft race. No matter who wins or loses, there'll still be bad blood. Personally I'd sooner spit on a marine or tar from the Saturn than speak to him. And a lifecraft race won't change that opinion."
"Sure," Shane nodded cheerfully. "So would I. But that's not the point. The lifecraft race will mean a pool, with plenty of money lying around for the taking."
I nodded.
"Yeah, but—"
"I've already gotten permission from our dear admiral, Old Ironpants, to supervise the betting between the men of the Western Hemisphere and the Saturn."
"You're going to handle the bets for our bunch on the Western Hemisphere?"
Shane nodded, licking his lips.
"And I'm also to be in charge of our lifecraft crew."
"What's in it for you?" I asked suspiciously.
"Prestige," he said blandly, "and the honor of the dear old Western Hemisphere."
I shook my head sadly. He'd certainly picked up an unthankful job for himself. But that was Shane. Anything to hug the spotlight.
"I don't envy you," I said. "That involves a lot of work and a lot of bookkeeping.' '
"Not so much," Shane said with suspicious nonchalance.
"Not so much!" I grunted. "Why, for one man to handle all that work and nurse a prize lifecraft crew as well is alm—"
"You're detailed to assist me," Shane said, smirking. "So there will be two of us to share the, ah, prestige."
"Why, you towheaded son of a space—" I began.
Sergeant Shane shook a finger in my face.
"Tut, tut, Corporal. No profanity, please!" And with that he turned and rolled happily out of the cabin barracks.
I HAD occasion to use plenty of profanity in Shane's direction during the next four days. For when I'd said he'd have tons of laborious detail work on his hands in taking care of the ship's bets, I was guilty only of understatement. The money that was being wagered was astonishing, even figuring that the Saturn carried two thousand space sailors and marines aboard and the Western Hemisphere carried eighteen hundred.
I might as well have torn up my lib-
