“My god.” said Bob, leaning forward, “So you survived for - what would that be? three or four weeks - alone in the jungle?”
         “Yeah,” said Jack.
         “Holy shit. I knew you were a tough old fart, but that’s just incredible. How the hell did you do it?”
         Jack sighed. “I know how to catch a fish, Bob. And, believe it or not, I’ve been in hairier messes than that. I’ve been flying around this universe for longer than you can imagine.”
         He took a sip of brandy and had another drag off his cigar, then continued with his story.
         “I hiked through the bush until I came to a river, then I fashioned a raft out of vines and driftwood. I carved a spear and caught some fish, but mostly I survived off fruits and nuts and shit. I drifted down that river for, like I said, three local days, until I finally came across a small village. They were kind enough to take me in and feed me and let me have some of their home-made wine. And I tell you, Bob, after the past few weeks I been through, that was the best goddamn wine I ever had, and we partied for hours. And the women...”
         Jack took a long puff on his cigar, smiled, and shook his head.
         “Anyways,” he continued, “one of the villagers was driving down to Benyca - the nearest major city - to sell some beans or something and was happy to give me a ride.”
         Bob slapped the table and laughed.
         “Ha hah! You old dog, you.” he said, “No matter what bullshit you go through, you always come out on top!”
         “Well, not exactly, Bob.” said Jack, “I still don’t have my ship, remember.”
         “Oh, right.” said Bob, “So, whatever happened to that? And how did you make it back here?”
         “Ah, shit.” said Jack. He took a sip and looked out the window at the inky black disc of the planet, a sliver of silvery light now appearing on its Eastern horizon. “That’s another story entirely. But long story short, I had to make one hell of a bargain to get back here.
         “I contacted the authorities in Benyca and reported what happened. They had me do a little covert work for them and I helped them locate the hidden base I was at - I heard they blew it to kingdom come. In exchange, I was given passage on one of their Omnistar freighters back to Alpha Centauri. I arrived at Larson Station a couple weeks ago and had enough money left in my Phaethon account to buy the hunk of junk I’m flying now. I flew that over to this station and here I am.” He took a long gulp of brandy.
         Bob had, by now, long finished his first drink and the waitress came by with his second.
         “Thanks, toots.” he said with a wink, and turned back to Jack.
         “Jesus,” he said, “That’s one hell of a story. But you haven’t told me yet what happened to your starship?”
         Jack snorted, “My Icaria?” he said, “Shit. They told me it was a lost cause trying to track that thing down. Like I said, they have no control over their own system anymore. So, I’m back here empty handed, and now I owe the Terran Autocracy eight million fat ones. Actually,” he add, taking a sip of brandy and pointing his finger, “I was supposed to fly to Earth after my Epaphus mission, but seeing as I lost the ship they gave me, I decided to come back here instead. The one thing I wasn’t counting on was that Sterric would be back here as well.”
         Bob laughed. “And now your up shit creek!” he said, “I’m surprised he didn’t try to deport you back to Earth.”
         “I know,” said Jack, “I was lucky that way, I guess. No, I’m off the hook for the time being, but I’m gonna have to pay ‘em back within the next five standard years or else they will deport me. They’ll take me back to Earth and I’ll probably be sentenced to indentured servitude for god knows how long.”
         Bob grinned and took a drag from his cigar.
         “And that’s why you called me, isn’t it? What can I do you for, Jack?”