JOE CAME IN BEHIND Arden, and unobtrusively slid to one side of the door, and watched the men around the table laughing and joking.
Arden said:
“Fellas, I’d like you to meet a new crew member.”
The laughing and joking stopped, and the eyes of eleven men measured Joe Wilding. Black Tom winked at Joe and went back to his eating. Whitey Burnet, after a brief angry glance, turned back to his plate.
Arden added: “His name is Joe Wilding.”
The others at the table smiled, nodded or spoke according to their habits—except one, a nervous redhead, who stared at Joe.
Then he looked around at the others at the table. He was a little apologetic.
The redhead said: “I know this guy. I piloted the ship that took him to the Rock for sedition. I don’t think we want him on the ship. He’s one of those w
