The kid hadn't had breakfast.  He attacked the meat and eggs like a starveling, between trying to appreciate the kit, and the personal items.

"Thought you could use them," Tiar said, standing by the door, and due to be on other duties.  But Hallan Meras was alternately shoving food in his mouth and opening packages.  She had brought in nothing contraband, so far as she could figure, nothing he shouldn't be let loose with.  The captain hadn't said anything about any restrictions, or given any impression she feared the kid would sabotage them.  The captain hadn't thought overmuch about the kid, by what Tiar could tell, not delegated anybody to get him breakfast, even if the captain had remembered about the torn trousers and sent her off to the market to do something about his wardrobe.  Small wonder - but still... where the kid sat, it hadn't been a good morning.

"Everybody thought you were still asleep," she said, by way of apology.

"I got up to work," he said, and swallowed a hasty mouthful, looking at the silver-trimmed box.  "It's beautiful.  What kind of writing is it?"

"Mahend.  Formal.  Probably lost in some dice game.  Maybe in a mahen bar.  Then down to the Rows.  Somebody needed cash.  Anything you want, you can find it in that market, that's what they claim anyway.  Anything you ever lose - ends up here eventually."

"I got to see it," the kid said.

"Got to see it, huh?"

Hallan's ears dropped by half.  "That's where I got in trouble."

"Swung on somebody, what I hear."

"I didn't intend to!"

"Yeah.  The police probably hear that one a lot here."

"I didn't!  Ker Tiar,...  I wasn't drunk.  They said I was drunk, but I wasn't.  Somebody just started swinging, I don't even know who."

She found herself disposed to believe the boy - at least that he believed what he was saying; many the hani novice that had lost count of the cups.  She could recall such a time.  Or two.

"I want to work," the boy said.  "I do.  I have my license.  I used to fix the farm equipment...."

"That's not exactly qualification."

"...before I shipped on the Sun.  I mean I learned mechanics.  I can run the loaders, I can do anything with cargo..."

"Not that we can't use a hand, but part of the deal with the stsho was getting you off and out of here.  I don't think the captain wants you on the docks attracting attention."

The kid's countenance fell, his shoulders slumped.  More than disappointment.  It was a need of something, there was no time, and Tiar told herself she was a fool for asking.

"Upset you.  Didn't mean to.  How?"

The kid shook his head.  Interest in breakfast and the packages seemed gone.  He didn't seem articulate at the moment, so rather than embarrass him she answered her question with a question.

"You want out there for some reason?  Kid, it's romantic, but it's hardly worth your neck.  There'll be other places."

He gave her a hurt look.  So it touched on the nerve but didn't quite press it.

"Somebody you want to meet out there?"

Shake of his head, no.