Robert Asprin – Tambu

“Which is less than a tenth of the time you used to have for me! Of course, now that you’re a big shot, I can’t expect you to waste your precious time on my problems.”

Tambu drew a long breath before responding.

“Look, Egor,” he said gently. “Speaking for a moment as an old friend, you might ease up a little on your crew. If you did, a lot of the problems you’re having would never arise.”

“Don’t tell me how to run my ship! I’m allowed to do things my way as long as it doesn’t go against the rules. You just worry about the fleet and keep your bloody hands off my ship!”

“Captain Egor,” Tambu replied coldly. “If you wish to retain full responsibility for the running of your ship, I suggest that you be man enough to begin taking full responsibility for solving your own problems instead of whining for me to clean up your messes. Tambu out!”

“But-“

Tambu smashed his fist down on the activator switch, cutting off Egor’s response.

A touch at his shoulder made him jump. He had forgotten that Ramona was in the room.

“I’m sorry, Ramona,” he sighed, sinking back in his chair. “I didn’t think things were going to get that hot.”

“How many times do I have to tell you,” she said gently, standing behind him to massage his neck and shoulders, “it’s Ratso now, not Ramona. You should follow your own rules.”

“I don’t like the name Ratso,” he complained. “I’ll use it in formal communications, but privately you’ll always be Ramona to me.”

“Other crewmen have picked names you don’t like, but you use them,” she teased.