The crew finished dinner, such that it was, and cleaned up the mess area. Anna and Lewis Howard wiped off the fold-up tables as Anna commented to Gerrin “You know, we’d all probably be a lot more comfortable eating at a regular table.”

Gerrin nodded “So I hear. I’ll see what I can do as soon as we get paid.”

Aldous Gavigan interrupted “Well, as long as you’re in a generous mood, I could use a new…er flow regulator for the port engine.”

“You just got that induction coil you’ve been begging for. Don’t you think that’s enough?”

“And I thank you for it” Aldous continued, “but parts get old and wear out, and I’d kind of like to get this one fixed or replaced before it dies altogether.”

Gerrin studied Aldous’s face. “We can’t fly without it?”

Aldous shook his head “We can’t fly without it.”

Gerrin sighed “We’ll work on it after the job’s done.”

“Good enough.” Satisfied, Aldous departed for the engine room. “Come on, Lewis, let’s go do some mechanic stuff.”

"Okay". Lewis trotted off after him.

With nothing else to do for twelve hours, Doc, Jaime Reilly, Loomie and Anna retired to their bunks for some sleep while Gerrin took the helm and Aldous and Lewis watched over the engine room. After six hours, the four that slept took over for the others. None of them was ever aware that another ship followed not far behind.

Twelve hours later, as the ship approached the asteroid belt, everyone was up. Loomie was behind the controls in the cockpit. A proximity indicator started beeping once again. Gerrin had watched it earlier and dismissed it as a glitch in the system, since the blip neither retreated nor grew closer. Now Loomie looked at the screen and saw the blip moving slowly closer. She called Gerrin over the intercom. “Captain, something’s coming up on us.”

“What kind of something?” Gerrin’s voice came back.

“Can’t tell, but it’s getting closer.”

“On my way.”

In the other ship Pearsoll informed his passenger “Almost there, and they still do