Chapter 6 Summary

Captain Kraussa arrives at Mother Shaum's taphouse, and Thorby delivers him the message that he has memorized for Baslim. In the message, Baslim explains to Captain Kraussa, "When you receive this message, I am already dead." From there, Baslim explains that Thorby is his adoptive son and requests that the captain take Thorby aboard his ship, deliver him to a democratic planet within the Terran Hegemony, and treat him as a member of his own family in the meantime.

Captain Kraussa agrees to take Thorby with him on the Sisu, but this is easier said than done since this will involve getting Thorby past police surveillance. They come up with a scheme that involves Mother Shaum hiding Thorby in her Sedan chair, and carrying him to the shipyard that way.

Chapter 6 Analysis

The discovery that the message is from Baslim the cripple clearly...