Margaret St. Clair's short story "The Vanderlark" is set on a spaceship in deep space with a crew of two, Alice and McFeen (or Mac). The interaction between the two is odd: McFeen slaps Alice near the beginning of the story, later they get drunk together and swap stories, and she often flatters him on his cleverness. What exactly is the relationship between them? Are they comrades and travelling companions? Lovers? Is he her boss?