7
A Change of Plans
Qualls met us in the lounge. “Wonderful,” he said, surveying Meta as she stared eagerly around. “Just wonderful. We’ll be lucky if the police aren’t waiting for us next planetfall.”
That brought Meta’s head around. “Oh, no,” she said. “I sent a message to my parents.”
“I reviewed your ‘message.’ Why didn’t you tell the truth?”
Meta looked abashed—but only a little. “I’m sorry. I guess I wanted to impress them—and my friends.”
“Well, you’re going to have to send another message when we slip back into realspace. I’m afraid you’re going to be gone longer than a week.”
“What?” said Meta.
“Why?” I echoed.
“There’s been a change of plans.”
“A change of plans?” I felt a chill. “Ticket sales—?”
“Next to nothing. We’ve cancelled all the remaining tour dates except the
