The Dark Lady

distaste. “Now that you have found me, what do you want of me?”
    “The same thing I wanted yesterday,” said Heath. He paused uncomfortably. “I owe the Far London Towers seventeen thousand credits. They've demanded payment by tomorrow morning.”
    “We have only been on Far London for four days,” I said in amazement. “How did you manage to spend so much money?”
    “I told you: I have expensive tastes. The Presidential Suite costs twenty-five hundred credits a night exclusive of meals, and since I came here without any extra clothes, I ordered a new wardrobe from the hotel's tailor.”
    “That was unwise, Friend Valentine. You should have stayed at a less expensive hotel.”
    “What's the difference?” he responded with a smile. “Given my current circumstances, I can't afford any of them until my funds are unfrozen.”
    “But why the Presidential Suite?” I said. “Surely you do not need such spaciousness.”
    “I require my little luxuries,” he replied defensively. “Besides, that's neither here nor there. I absolutely must raise some money or they'll arrest me tomorrow morning.”
    “Perhaps you should leave the planet,” I suggested.
    “I can't afford fuel for my ship, or even pay the hangar fee on it.” He paused again. “I went to Venzia's hotel late last night to see if I could borrow some money, but he had checked out an hour before I got there.”
    “I know.”
    “Where is he?”
    “He is on his way to Saltmarsh.”
    “Saltmarsh?” repeated Heath. “I've never heard of it.”
    “It is a small planet in the Albion Cluster.”
    “Why has he gone there?”
    “To meet the Dark Lady,” I replied.
    “How does he know she's there?”
    “I told him.”
    “All right: How did you know?”
    “I deduced it, with the help of the library's computer,” I answered.
    “Are you certain you're right?”
    “I believe so.”
    “Then why didn't you go with Venzia?” he asked.
    “I have other obligations.”
    “To Claiborne?”
    “I thought they were more important when I spoke to Friend Reuben last night,” I said. “Now I do not know.”
    “What's changed?”
    “You will laugh if I tell you,” I said.
    “Not even if I want to,” he replied reassuringly. “What happened, Leonardo?”
    “The Dark Lady may have come to me in a vision.”
    “ May have?” he repeated with a frown.
    “It may have only been a dream,” I answered truthfully. “I do not know.” I paused for a moment, then continued. “But if it was a vision, then I must see her again.”
    “How important is this to you, Leonardo?” asked Heath.
    “If it was a vision, it may be the most important thing in my life,” I replied with a dejected sigh. “But I cannot afford passage to Saltmarsh, so I will never know.”
    “Don't be so sure of that,” he said.
    “What do you mean?” I asked suspiciously.
    “If you tell me what I need to know about Abercrombie's security system, by tomorrow morning I'll not only have enough money to fuel my ship, but I'll have to leave Far London in rather a hurry.” He paused meaningfully. “I see no reason why I shouldn't go into hiding on Saltmarsh, and take you along with me.”
    “I will not be blackmailed,” I said adamantly.
    “This isn't blackmail,” he replied. “It's an even trade. If you don't give me what I need, I can't give you what you need. It's as simple as that.”
    “I cannot do what you ask, Friend Valentine.”
    “I wish you'd change your mind, Leonardo,” he said. “But even if you don't, I've got to go after his collection tonight. I simply can't wait any longer.” He paused. “If you change your mind, you can contact me at my hotel until midnight.”
    “I will not change my mind.”
    He extended his hand. “Then wish me luck.”
    I shook his hand, but made no comment, and after a moment he turned and went out the door. I watched him until he was lost in the rush-hour crowd, and then began walking to the Claiborne Galleries, the image of the Dark Lady still vivid in my mind.
    When I arrived I went directly to my desk and began to write a letter.
    Dear Tai Chong:
    I find myself in a painful moral dilemma. There is a possibility that the Dark Lady visited me in a vision, and if this is so, I must find her and determine exactly who she is and what it is that she wants of me— but in order to do so, I must help a friend commit a criminal act, and I myself must enjoy the fruits of that crime.
    Yet if I do not help him, I will not be