Once in stable orbit, Long John came to look down at the woman. “She’s heavier than she looks,” he murmured.

  Limpet hopped up on the bunk beside her. “Is her armor,” he said.

  Long John frowned at him. Limpet twitched aside a hem of her scarlet gown, and he saw the silver sheen of armor beneath.

  “Oh, she is wearing armor,” said Long John. “I didn’t notice, I was in such a hurry.”

  She was breathing shallowly, but she was certainly alive. And very beautiful, in an aloof and intimidating way. She didn’t look like someone he would like if she were awake, but he was not sorry he had rescued her. No one should have to stay in stasis any longer than necessary.

  But she was definitely not the type of woman he was drawn to, bubbly and compliant. Her nose was not pert and snub, but was an imperious nose that would have looked good on an emperor. Her mouth, although lovely and curved, seemed designed for issuing orders in a crisp tone. Her pale cheeks had no hint of rosiness, doubtless due to her being in stasis for a long period. Tendrils of her long dark hair clung to her neck. She gave off a scent of lilac.

  Limpet interrupted his musings. “Wake her up.”

  “What?”

  “We watch movies. Need wake her up.”

  “She was in stasis, she’s probably still recovering.”

  “You think she needs nap for recover from thousand-year sleep?” Limpet looked dubious.

  Long John touched the cool silver mesh of her arm. The suit of armor gleamed as if silver, but was probably a kind of diamene, stronger and more flexible than graphene. “This armor is modern. The whole outfit probably weighs less than fifteen pounds, but is impenetrable by knives or bullets.”

  He leaned an inch closer and said, “Miss, wake up!”

  There was no response.

  “Need kiss her.” Limpet cocked an eye at him.

  “What? You kiss her!”

  “Not my species. You do.”

  Long John stared at the spider. “No, I don’t think that will work.”

  “We watch movies. Got to kiss to wake up.”

  “This is not a movie. Real life is not like that.”

  “Okay.” Limpet shrugged. “You want I bite her?”

  “No!” Long John raised his voice. “Miss, will you wake up?”

  Still no response. He thought, what the hay, why not give it a try, and bent down closer. When he was an inch from her lips, her eyes popped open.

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  She gasped and pushed away.

  Long John jerked upright. “Sorry.”

  “What—what—” She sat up, eyes wide, staring from him to the spider on the edge of the bunk. “Aah!”

  “It’s all right. He’s harmless.”

  “Who are you? What happened? Where am I?”

  Long John made calming motions. “You’re safe. You’re on my ship. We liberated you, I guess you could say, from the marketplace. You were in an exhibit, in stasis.”

  “Oh.” She rubbed her hands over her face. Touching the tiara, she pulled it from her hair and frowned at it, then tossed it aside. “Plastic,” she said. “Part of the sideshow, I suppose. Do you have some water?”

  He snapped his fingers, and another of the spiders brought over a tumbler of water, handing it to Long John.

  She took it from him, staring around at the spiders, all of whose little red eyes were fixed curiously on her.

  She took a long draught and handed the tumbler back. “Your ship is infested.”

  “These are my crew.” He gave her a bow. “I’m Captain Long John Queeg, and this is the Don Quixote.”

  “So,” she said slowly, “what is your plan? You say you liberated me. Are you holding me for ransom, or what?”

  “No. I had in mind restoring you to the bosom of your grateful family, and maybe accepting in return a modest reward, say a small chest of gold.”

  She stared a moment, then laughed. “Oh, you are hilarious. Thank you, but I have no desire to return to my planet, not yet. I’m on an urgent mission from my government to the Council of the Intergalactic Coalition of Planets. My ship was stolen, so I must ask you to convey me there.” She sat up, swinging her legs off the bunk.

  “The Coalition of Planets?” He stared at her in dismay.

  “It’s on the space station Attike. I can give you the coordinates.”

  “Madam— can I ask your name?”

  “I am Crystal Aris, captain of the Royal Guard of King Leoniv of Bragazza. It’s the largest kingdom on the planet Hejmo, in the Danje system.”

  He nodded. “Captain Aris. I hate to tell you this, but the one place I’ve avoided as if it were plague-ridden is Attike. They have a certain antipathy toward me there, I’m afraid.”

  She looked him up and down. “You’re a pirate. Of course. Listen, this is more important than your fate, or any one person’s, for that matter. There is a great danger threatening the galaxy.”

  “Would this have anything to do with the Soaring Dragon Nebula?”

  “You know about it?” she asked. “I hadn’t thought news had spread.”

  “I heard a rumor. Please, have a seat.” He gestured toward his small pulldown table and held a chair for her. “Coffee,” he said to Fezu, one of the spiders.

  “How long was I in stasis?” she asked. “What’s the stardate?”

  “Twenty four twenty eight. The seventh month.”

  “Then not long at all. I left Bragazza in Four of this year. My journey took several weeks, so maybe they had me in stasis for a month or so.” She looked off into the distance, calculating, then flicked a glance at him. “I must thank you for rescuing me. I do appreciate it, even if you did it for less-than-admirable motives.”

  “Think nothing of it.” He took the cup that Fezu held up to him, and the spider gave another to Captain Aris. She took it with a dubious glance at the spider.

  “But I must tell you, Captain Queeg, that there is no question about it. I must get to Attike. And since yours is the only vessel available, I am forced to commandeer it.”

  “Really.” He folded his arms. “How do you plan to do that?”

  She shifted her position, and abruptly a slender silver dagger was in her hand. “I will use force if need be. Though I hope not to.”

  Long John drew a deep breath. “Not sure whether you can best me in combat or not, but I’d hate to have to try.”

  She moved the dagger to his throat. He felt the point prick his neck. “I need this ship. We are going to Attike. You have no choice.”

  He met her eyes. He had to admire her determination, although the dagger did give him pause. Under her beauty, he could sense the core of steel she possessed. Of course, he couldn’t let her take control of his ship.

  He shifted back, but the dagger followed him. “Do you agree?” she said.

  “I’m afraid you’re forgetting one thing. My crew.” He glanced down and her gaze followed his. Surrounding them was a circle of spiders, each with a miniature gun aimed at her, grim expressions on the small faces under the red bandanas.

  She stared at them for a moment.

  “Stand down, boys,” said Long John. “The lady isn’t going to make any sudden moves.”

  “I guess you’re right,” she said slowly. She made the dagger disappear. The spiders relaxed and put their guns away.