The news was all over the ship before we got inside. The freaks and the green girl from Tethys who could roll herself like a hoop, and Zurt the muscle man from Jupiter, and all the other assorted geeks and kinkers and joeys that make up the usual corny carnie were doing nip-ups in the passageways and drooling over the thought of steer and toppings.
Bucky Shannon regarded them possessively, wiping blood from his nose. “They’re good guys, Jig. Swell people. They stuck by me, and I’ve rewarded them.”
I said, “Sure,” rather sourly. Bucky hiccoughed.
“Let’s go see Gertrude.”
I didn’t want to see Gertrude. I never got over feeling funny going into the brute tank, especially at night or out in space. I’m a city guy, myself. The smell and sound of wildness gives me goose bumps. But Bucky was l
