"Ooh," By puffs from under his end of the burden - none of his ImpSec qualifications ever involved training him for physical fitness, and so his physical type tends to run to lean - or, well, nonexistent. Ivan, damn him and his broad chest and his gorgeously squared shoulders, doesn't have much trouble hoisting up one-half of a Cetagandan. Ex-Cetagandan. Ex not for reasons of defection, as had been By's initial hope...

"You sound a little grumpy." It's a stupid conversation to have over their grim burden, perhaps, but it's better than discussing said grim burden. "Don't tell me you're getting tired of that sort of treatment? I thought that being thoroughly physically exploited and abused by voluptuous housewives was your favorite pastime."