Lanzecki shrugged. “The containers are designed to keep the crystal safe through the normal hazards of air travel, not being bucked down mile-deep canyons. I doubt any will survive.
“I got two crates of rose quartz octagons out of my ship before I lifted off.”
“You did?” Lanzecki’s sour expression lightened and he seemed less forbidding. “What did you salvage?” His fingers poised over the computer keys.
“It’s on the docket. . . .” She pointed.
“On Ardlor’s?”
“Well, certainly. . . .”
“Then it’s to his credit.”
“Oh, come now. How else could I get mine back? And no one told me I had to sort cargo, too.” She was mad now.
Lanzecki continued obdurate. “The rules which govern the members of this Guild were clearly explained to you, Killashandra Ree. This is covered. . . .”
“I can’t remember all of your forsaken rules for the gods’ sakes!”
‘“Ah!” Lanzecki’s face brightened suddenly. “Fair enough. In the emergency you did not remember the need to personalize your crates.”
“I had rose quartz, cut in octagons, one set is five octagons in a dominant A-major chord.”
“Ah, very good. Very good indeed.” Lanzecki nodded approvingly as he jabbed computer buttons. The computer chattered back at him and he beamed up at her. “Even better. Six crates of octagons . . . two rose quartz, four black. . . .” “Ah. . . .”
“Ardlor is screaming that if you claim any tetrahedrons, you’re stealing his cuttings.”
“But I. . . .”
“Therefore the octagons are undeniably yours.” Lanzecki eyed her so sternly that her attempts to be honest caught in her throat. “Now,” and he made another pass at the keyboard, glanced at the print-out, “you are only 5,750 credits in the Guild’s debt. Rose quartz octagons bring a premium market price. Especially that chord!”
“There’s the voucher from you for bringing Carrik back, too.”
“Why so there is.” He tallied that in as well and then beamed at her. “Well, you haven’t done badly your first trip out. Now if the flitter can be salvaged. . . .”
“Speaking of salvage, do I get nothing for Ardlor and his cargo?”
Lanzecki looked her straight in the eye. “I think, my dear Killashandra, you’ve realized more than your due out of this affair. I wouldn’t push my luck any further. Or Ardlor may remember that you returned, unasked to his claim. He might even file a charge against you____”
Lanzecki held his hand up against her protest. “I accept your version unconditionally because you’re too new in the Guild to be disoriented. However, you’ve had a valuable lesson, which I hope you’ll never forget. Don’t worry about another man’s ears in the crystal ranges. Keep your own clear. Gratitude is dependent on memory. That’s one thing that you can’t count on anymore.”
“I’ll remember that,” Killashandra said grimly.