5.After returning inside the Shield, the four of us lingered near the upchute at Level One, where I lived. I signed out with CC. But before the Companymen led the jumpship pilot off, he offered his hand to me.
“Thank you, Spark, for a very entertaining and informative evening,” he said graciously. Then he seemed to unsuccessfully attempt another smile and added, “Perhaps we will meet again.”
I nodded, realizing he’d surreptitiously palmed something small into my hand.
I watched the three of them disappear as the upchute closed.
Then I opened my hand, unfolded and read the briefly scrawled note:
Meet me at the Rainbow Toad.
In a half hour?
Of course I knew the place, a very popular Retro club here on the One Level, but it was a great distance from where the pilot was probably staying
