Chapter 12 Summary

Life continues as usual, as the Sisu travels from planet to planet and trades with a wide variety of cultures.

When Thorby, now senior fire-controlman, heroically destroys a slaver ship that clearly could have taken them, he suddenly becomes the center of attention on Sisu. A banquet is thrown in his honor, and Grandmother seems to have heightened interest in Thorby's future and his marriage prospects.

Everyone is preparing for the great gathering, where all of the ships of the Free Trader people will meet in one place to socialize (and trade women between ships), and everyone seems to be preparing some sort of entertainment for the festivities. Thorby, who can neither sing nor dance, will be acting in a play about the history of the Kraussa family. His leading lady is Loeen Garcia, the young woman brought from El Lido in exchange...