Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11), стр. 73

she can. She figures that if the Squirrels didn't want her to put them in, they must be pretty important."

I said, "That sounds logical. From what I've heard so far, though, I can't see anything that would be that important."

"She can't either. That just makes her more paranoid."

"Dang! I have a good crew. They even help me out with the paranoia."

Nikki said, "Caveman, if I hadn't seen how good you are at this, I would think you were loony."

"You may be right, I might be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for."

"Song lyrics, Caveman?"

"Not challenging enough, Space Cadet?"

"I certainly didn't say that. Not out loud, at the very least."

Janet asked, "Are you two flirting, or what?"

Nikki said, "I suppose. Is that a problem?"

"No, I just wanted to be sure what was going on."

"Taking notes for the next time you see Charlie?"

Janet turned red. She said, "Dad!"

Nikki said, "Caveman, you've embarrassed her. Be nice."

"Aww, I'm sorry."

Janet replied, "No, you're not. Not even a little bit."

"Busted!"

Nikki said, "She's smarter than you thought, huh, Caveman?"

"Sure is. Gonna have to up my game, I guess."

Janet said, "Just for me?"

"It's good practice for Gus and Becky, I think."

"Do you really think they'll be that ornery?"

"You know their parents, what do you think?"

"I see what you mean."

I managed to make it through the meal without any comm calls. I was impressed. Just when I finished up, it rang.

"Commodore Wilson."

"Boss, it's Jeeves. I've got another course queued up for you, if you're not busy."

"Just finished eating. I'll be right there. See you soon."

"See you, Boss."

Nikki looked at me. "What's up, Caveman?"

"Jeeves wants to educate me."

"I'll catch up with you later, then. Watching the machine work on you isn't all that fascinating."

"I can see how that would be. I'll probably check in on Topper after I get done. I'll get Gene to tell me where you're at, and catch up with you."

"Sounds good. Love you, Caveman."

"Love you guys, too. All four of you."

Janet said, "Love you, too, Dad."

I took off for the ready room. Since Nikki wasn't with me, I decided to walk. I didn't find any problems to solve, but I did see a lot of work going on, with Scotti's new round of improvements. I didn't understand quite all of what was going on, but I figured that if there was something I needed to know Scotti would inform me. When I got to the ready room, Jeeves told me, "Boss, this is the last course we have for you for a while."

"So, after this one I’ll know all there is to know about Squirrel politics?"

"I don't know about all that, Boss. You will have all the training we have available."

"I suppose that will have to do."

Jeeves lit me up. When I woke up, I was alone. I put away the teaching machine, and went over to the bridge. Saucy had to announce me, of course, and I had to settle everyone back down. Funny how the little rituals make you feel at home. Topper asked, "What's up, Boss?"

"Nothing much, I just thought I ought to check in, since I'm supposed to be in charge and all."

"I don't have anything to report, the Squirrels have yet to pick up their sensor platforms, and nothing new has come up."

"Would you mind if I hung out for a while?"

"Do you want the ship?"

"No, thank you."

Topper asked, "So, you and the Ambassador got finished with your negotiation today?"

"Sure did. The Emperor is supposed to come over tomorrow to sign the agreements."

"Will Scotti be done with her new round of mods yet?"

"I don't think so. The Emperor can't get too upset about it, though. After all, he was the one who started it."

"How do you mean, Boss?"

"Scotti remembered all this stuff, after he unlocked her."

"I see. Do you think he will see it that way?"

"I don't know. After all the hassle his folks have caused us, I'm not sure that I care."

"As long as you get his name on the paper, you're happy?"

"Exactly."

"Do you think that this is finally going to keep them from coming after us, Boss?"

"I sincerely hope so. It may be too much to ask, though."

Sue spoke up. "Boss, I have a ship coming into the system. It looks like one of ours."

I looked at Tex. "Get a lock on that ship, please."

"On it, Boss."

Saucy said, "Incoming comm, Boss."

"On speaker, please, Saucy."

The voice of a bot I didn't recognize came over the speaker. He said, "B. S. Dolly Parton, requesting permission to come into the system. Please respond."

"Dolly Parton, this is Commodore Wilson. Permission granted. What is your cargo?"

"We have supplies for the planet, and a passenger for you."

"Who might that be?"

A new voice came over the speaker. "Mr. Wilson, it's Wilma. I got here as quick as I could. I had to wait for the next supply ship."

"You're in plenty of time, Wilma. Your Dad is still shoveling crap on the surface. If you think you can keep him under control, I might be able to commute his sentence."

"I'll do my best, Commodore. I hesitate to guarantee you anything, you know how he is."

"Indeed I do. On the other hand, I need him functional. I hope you can keep him squared away."

"I have picked up a few tricks over the years, maybe that will be enough."

"It won't take too much to do better than what we've managed so far. Could I speak with your pilot again?"

"Yes, Commodore?"

"Approach the Gene as sedately as you can manage. Our guests are uptight enough, without you jumping right in."

"Understood, Commodore."

"Fly safe."

The line went dead. I said, "Saucy, get Morning Flower on the line for me, please."

"Bawb, how are you?"

"Doing fine. How are you, Morning Flower?"

"Doing fine. Frank is not very good at shoveling, though."

"Do you think he understands I'm not happy with him?"

"He understands."

"His daughter has arrived. She thinks she can keep him in line. Do you think he is ready to come back to the ship?"

"We are ready to send him, whether he is ready