"I wish I did,' Kelly said with complete exasperation. "I don't mind telling you two-and talking about Todd is not a violation of that stupid ban you two are under-but I love the guy and he doesn't seem to see me as anything more than his "trusted Hunt second" and the girl next door." Hrriss regarded her with eyes that glowed now with a slightly different but equally tender regard than the one he gave Nrrna.

"He danced more with you than with anyone else, Kelly,' he said.

"And he kept his eyes on you wherever you were. And if he was not aware of it, he did not look at you as a trusted Hunt second."

"And I know he's annoyed because Pat and Ken keep inviting me over for dinner and I don't think he wants me to come. When I only want like blazes to help any way I can."

"Ah, but you do not know Zodd as I do, Kdly. "No, I don't. That's why I'm asking you, and I really shouldn't belabor you with personal pro lems right now, but you do know him."

"Right now Zodd would be careful to shield you, as I tried to shield Nrrna,' and he looked lovingly at her.

"Who refuses to be shielded,' Nrrna said on a puff, "just as Kelly does."

"I most certainly am capable of taking care of myself,' Kelly said vehemently. "Oh, Todd and that damned awkward sense of honor of his! Well, he wouldn't be Todd without it." Hrriss contented himself with a nod. "Be yourself. Be helpful, be cheerful. And now let us all be helpful and see what we can learn." He glided across the room to the computer station and flicked it on with just the nail of his first finger. Sitting down, he logged on his user number. "I shall begin with Hrrula's ranch. He mourns every time one of his hrrsses goes missing. It is a personal affront to his care of them. I will drop a note to obtain permission.

Nrrna and Kelly watched while the data base brought up the user message board. Hrriss had his fingers poised over the keyboard when the screen cleared to show the last user number accessing the file.

"I cannot continue,' Hrriss said, his voice sad and reluctant.

"That is Zodd's number at the bottom."

"But if he's not on the net now, surely .

"Not now. The time indicates that he logged off thirty minutes ago." "Then go ahead."

"I cannot. It might be construed as an infringement of our oath not to contact each other. What if it was suggested that he left messages in a file for me to find and erase?"

"Sometimes . . ." Kelly raised hands above her head in pique, then lowered them, accepting such a scrupulous interpretation of their restriction.

"You're becoming as paranoid over this as Todd.

"Thank you,' Hrriss said solemnly. "In that context, it is a compliment." Kelly rolled her head and threw up her hands again, this time turning to Nrrna for guidance.

"Well, then, Nrrna. It's up to us. We'll investigate on our own, won't we?" Nrrna nodded enthusiastically. "So move out of that chair and let either me or Nrrna log on. Get you out of the room so you cannot be tempted, scaredy cat,' and Kelly made shooing gestures with her hands at Hrriss. "If you're so concerned about our involvement, we may or may not tell you what we learn. Your place or mine, Nrrna?"

"Stay here!" Hrriss said, his tone just short of pleading. "I will not look." And he went to sit on the pillows farthest from the computer station.

"You can be in the same room with us while we're jeopardizing our reputations in helping you?" Kelly said teasingly.

"You both do us honor,' Hrriss said gravely, and picked up a tape viewer, turning his head away.

"But please tell me when you have located that leopard Appaloosa hide."

CHAPTER 6

KELLY FOUND ALl KIACHIF IN ThE PUB of the Launch Center, weaving to a circle of his captains a story of derring-do during an ion storm in which he and one of his men had rescued the ship, getting the cargo and everyone on board to their destination with nary a scratch.

The Codep captain's talk was punctuated with alliterative triads and circumlocutory references, but he had a knack for making a story come to life. When the others drifted apart to discuss the merits (and veracity) of his tale, Kelly approached him.

"Captain Kiachif?" The spacer looked up. "What may I do for you, little lady?"

"My name's Kelly Solinari. I'm a friend of Todd Reeve."

"That's something we have in common,' he said kindly. "Come and commune, with a cup of cheer?"

"No, thank you,' Kelly said, declining the offer of a drink. "I don't really feel very cheery. His father said that you offered to help clear him of these accusations against him."

"I've been of that mind, if you understand me." Kelly dropped her voice to a discreet whisper. "It is Admiral Landreau, isn't it, who hates Todd and his father enough to frame them?"

"Hates "em lock, stock, and block. Always has since they made a fool of him. Only he made more of a fool of himself. They didn't have to help much, if you see what I mean,' Kiachif said. Having spoken his mind in as guarded voice as she had used, he took a deep drink and let out a sigh of satisfaction as he put the glass down.

"You don't happen to remember any other distinctive horses wearing Reeve markings?" Kiachif screwed his face. "I remember that one, like I told Ken. But perfect pat and plain, Miss Kelly, I didn't think much of that incident. You see, that Aden feller, their manager, was doing the shipping, so it seemed natural that all the horses had Reeve Ranch marks. That leopard-spotted one just stood out so much among the bays and browns."

"But it did have a Reeve brand on it, then?"

"Yup, it surely did."

"But how could it have?" Kelly's voice went squeaky as she tried to keep it low and couldn't repress her outrage.

"Well, now, the freeze brand is not supposed to be alterable.

Technique's practically perfect. But nothing's perfect.

"Oh, don't tell me someone has a system for altering brand marks!

Can you think of the havoc that'll cause?"

"Nope, don't want to think about it. I want to think how I can prove Todd Reeve never rustled nothing in his life, never stole nothing, never fiddled with log tapes or deviated from his registered flight plans. I want to think how ships been getting through one of the most secure security systems in the galaxy. That's what I want to think about. And this helps." He lifted his empty glass and signaled a passing harman.

"Bring the bottle!" When the bottle had been brought, he inspected the cap with a narrowed eye before he broke the seal and filled his glass.

Kelly was somewhat astounded by his capacity but she kept her expression polite.

"Can't be one of the Codeps. I got them under my thumb,' and he held it up, flat and broad and stained, "if you know what I mean. They know all better'n accept stolen goods "cause it makes me mad and besides that, makes it look like the government's condoning theft.

Fred Horstmann was some upset about that bundle of hides but I calmed him down. That Zapata provenance checked out genuine. So we got to go back further in this rustling-business, hide-marking, moneymaking nonsense. I do remember'-Kiachif paused thoughtfully-'carrying a feller back to Earth. He'd done his prison term. Knew all about lasers did Askell Klonski. A weasely little wart, if my memory doesn't mislead me. Claimed he could change a tattoo of a wanton, winking woman so she was blinking with the other eye and you'd never know it hadn't been that way to start." Kelly smothered a laugh, for his words conjured up an indescribable vision.

Kiachif held up his hand.

"He'd be just the sort to deftly do the deed, if you know what I mean. Now, I don't know if he was bragging or not. Those types do.

He'd served his sentence, but he didn't learn it, if you understand me.

The guards in the galley said he was a genius in laser techniques.

Served as a trustee his last years on the Rock because he was the only one who could fix the alarm system. He was so good no slips, skips, or blips went undetected. No escapes at all during his tenure.

Shortened his sentence slightly, where it shouldn't have ended at all, if you follow me. If I hadn't had orders signed by Varnorian himself, I doubt I would have carried him anywhere."

"Where is he now?" Kelly asked eagerly.

Kiachif massaged his whiskers. "Still on Earth, so I hear. No decent colony would have him. He was pushed in on a snooty section of Corridor and Aisle, to the infinite consternation of his neighbors.

They say he's "not our type, dear."

"Kiachif did a humorous imitation of a proud matron looking down her nose at Kelly. "Spending a lot of money, too. I'd like to know where he got it. With his record, the chances that it was hardly honest are high. "Hmm,' Kelly said thoughtfully. "Any chance of contacting him soon?" Kiachif nodded his head up and down, refilling his glass again. "Strangest part is that that man was released just about ten years ago. "Oh!

"That's what I said. Ten years ago. Not so lon before I saw that leopardy horse. The moon played hide-and-seek with the doud as the two girls sneaked down toward the transportation grid on the Hrruban side. A thin spot ol light penetrated the clouds, striking the ground in front of them, and they ducked behind the bushes.

Kelly hoped there were no small nocturnal predators abroad, not when they didn't wish to draw attention to themselves. Night critters all had mean bites.

"You do know how to set the grid, don't you?" Kelly asked Nrrna in a tone barely above a whisper.

"I do, but, Kelly,' Nrrna replied, "you know this is highly illegal." "So is what they're doing to Todd and Hrriss,' was Kelly's whispered reply. "Time's running out.

All Kiachif thinks he knows the man who could have used a laser to change animal brands and he's on Earth, so that's where I've got to go and fast. Ii we can just cast doubt on one of those phon> charges against Todd and Hrriss, we might be able to prove that a conspiracy exists. If we can't, whc knows what will happen to them-or to Doona." Nrrna sighed. "I know, I know. But you must be very careful. If it was discovered that I assisted you to grid back. . -" Kelly brought her face very close to Nrrna's. "I'd never tell who helped me, Nrrna.

Anyway, who's going to know, if we keep to the schedule you worked out?

I'll get to the medical supply warehouse on Earth. You just make sure you're here to rescue me when the pallet comes, all right?" She squeezed Nrrna's hand for confidence.

"A female shouldn't be so fearless,' Nrrna said.

"Where did you get the idea I was fearless?" Kelly demanded. "I'm terrified but that doesn't keep me from doing it, because it's the only way I can help Todd." She took three deep breaths. This was worse than watching Big Mommies heading toward you.

"And it's your way of helping Hrriss. So let's get it done. "To she who dares falls the prize,"' she muttered to herself before she beckoned for Nrrna to lead the way.

When they reached the grid, there was no one in sight. Kelly didn't at all like using the Hrruban grid: it made her nauseous.

Nevertheless she jumped lightly to the platform, turned to stand inside the pillars, and held on to them for support until her knuckles hurt.

Silently she begged Nrrna to hurry as the slender Hrruban bent over the controls. The grid beneath her shoes started to vibrate. She barely had time to register that effect before the misting clouded her immediate vicinity.

"Good luck,' came Nrrna's soft voice, and lingered as Doona dissolved around her friend.

Kelly materialized inside the transport chamber on Earth. Nrrna had carefully chosen a time when Hrringa was unlikely to be on duty.

The only light was the circular glow of the clock calendar facing the grid. It was not quite dawn here on Earth. As Nrrna had suggested, a time when security guards of any species are likely to be less alert.

So all tho excuses she thought up for Hrringa could be forgotten.

None of them had sounded very convincing anyway. So the first hurdle was over. Now tc proceed without getting apprehended on Earth when she wasn't supposed to be here. If she wa caught, her career as a diplomat might be over before it had properly begun.

She swallowed hard, trying to open her throat.

Fortunately she knew the floor plan of the Hrruban Center. It was in the middle of the Alreldep block, part of the Space Services cube.

Once she got out of the building, she should have no problem findin her way around, but there might be sensors and alarms designed to detect body heat or movement.

She couldn't remember much about the securit> measures in the Alreldep block, but there waS generally much more fuss about getting in that getting out. If she was caught in the Hrrubar Center, it would be obvious that she'd had Hrruban accomplice, because no Human knew ho to operate a Hrruban grid. And, undoubtedly Nrrna would come forward to share the blame.

Gingerly she moved off the grid, expecting an moment for lights to flash and alarms to shriek. Sh stepped onto the floor below the platform, hei body tense, until she realized she had broken nc security circuits. She took a deep breath of relief.

She took a second and a third, forcing herself tc calm down so she could think logically how tc proceed now. Pending the end of her holiday and her return for a permanent assignment, Kelly's privileges in the Alreldep computers had been suspended. Therefore, she needed someone else's help in finding All Kiachif's clever parolee. She knew several people who had the necessary skills, and clearance, to find that file in the central computer complex. But first she had to contact them. She didn't dare use the Hrruban Center's communications units. Hrringa shouldn't have to answer questions about why calls were made from his office in the middle of the night. A public facility would be much more sensible, if farther from her present position.

Her luck seemed to be holding, for the center must have been designed to accommodate visitors appearing through the grid at times without benefit of operator on this end. As her eyes grew accustomed to the dark, she could see a double line of tiny low-intensity lights set into the floor leading away from the grid. Cautiously Kelly followed them to the door. She tried the handle, hoping that she hadn't come all this way only to be locked in the Hrruban Center all night long. As the handle moved without hindrance, she murmured a thanksgiving. It probably rocked on the outside. It swung easily and silently open.

No alarms sounded and no lights came on. For all her apprehension, she had accomplished the transit without problems. In no time, she found an exit Aisle and was shortly in the main Corridor of Alreldep block and in the main swim of foot traffic without drawing any attention. Now to find a communications kiosk.

The hour may have favored her undetected arrival on Earth, but this was the time when lateshift workers were abroad, and a certain dangerous element of society crept out of their lairs, dens, and hiding places to catch the unwary for what they might have of value about their persons. Proper citizens were too afraid of Aisle and Corridor gossip to report assaults or robberies, so the petty criminals were bold as well as vicious. Kelly was Doonan bred as well as born, and trained to take care of herself, but she didn't want to be noticed.

To deflect a would-be assailant would be easy but it would certainly identify her as a most unordinary pedestrian.

Cautiously she kept glancing right and left. No monitors were in view. The gray passage with its moving conveyor belts carried scattered traffic. It wasn't elbow-to-elbow as it was at major shift change times, though there seemed to be as many as Doona had hosted for the Snake Hunt. As she watched all the dutiful citizens in their dull muddy clothing, one mumbled an apology under his breath and his fellow passengers moved aside so he could get off without touching them.

Kelly stepped carefully onto the far edge of the belt, keeping her head down so that no one would look closely at her. She concentrated on walking in the stiort mincing steps she had learned to use in her years on Earth. She adjusted her usual stride, hunched her shoulders, let her arms hang listlessly at her sides, and pretended disinterest in those she passed on the faster belt. It wasn't as hard as she had feared. The greater gravity of Earth made her muscles work harder at keeping the same pace. The one precaution she had taken before leaving Doona was to alter the vibrant shade of her hair with a dulling brown rinse. It would wash right out, but she'd recognized the wisdom of that artifice. She hadn't had time to search for her old student tunics but she'd worn the dullest, grungiest clothes she owned. Even these were a little bright in comparison with the garments of shift workers at five o'clock in the morning. However, she wasn't going to be on the beltway very long and no one was paying any attention to her.

She remembered to take shallower, grudging breaths, just like everyone else. That way she also avoided "tasting' some of the stink of an overcrowded city. Had the air got worse in the short time since she'd left? Or was it the shocking change from breathing the exhilarating air of Doona?

As soon as she spotted a communications kiosk, she muttered the appropriate apologies and stepped off. Her fellow riders carried past her without ever looking up. Monitors might be watching: they always were even if Earth was less restrictive than it had been a quarter century earlier. Controls remained in place to handle the offenses, both real and imagined, of the multiple billions of Humans who lived in such restricted space.

The booth provided her with complete privacy once she shut the door and activated the "engaged' signal. Now it was decision time.

Which of her former friends could she positively rely on? Who was well enough placed to get the information she needed? There were rewards available to those who turned in miscreants. Returning without leave was only a misdemeanor but she didn't want to risk even that.

One by one, Kelly considered a list of her fellow university students.

Cara Martinek was a supply clerk in the Spacedep offices. She couldn't inquire about a former felon with impunity. Jane Kaufenberg worked as a senior researcher at the Amalgamated Worlds Library.

Unfortunately Jane probably wouldn't have the necessary clearances to access Alreldep and Spacedep records. She was also rather prissy and would very likely balk at the thought of making an illegal data search.

Dalkey Petersham? He was bright, and had graduated first in his class from his Section Academy before attending the university. Kelly hesitated to approach him, even though they had once worked together on a class project-or perhaps because they had worked together. Dalkey was good, but his after-school thoughts went in one direction only, and Kelly had always told him no. Still, he did work for Landreau, in the right department, and he might even have heard office gossip.

Kelly checked her reflection in the viewscreen.

With her fingers, she swiped her hair into place. It was a little earlier than was decent to make a comunit call, but she remembered that Dalkey worked first shift. He should already be awake.

The unit in Dalkey's apartment answered after the first blink.

Kelly plastered on a big smile as the camera changed to live.

"Dalkey!

Hi!"

"Kelly!" She was right. Dalkey was up and dressed. He was still rail-thin, and his hair was brusquely chopped into the bureaucrat's unbecoming clip. He wasn't bad-looking, but there had always been something too smooth about him that turned her off. Trying to be impartial, she had to admit that there was never anyone so obviously born to wear a narrow-necked suit. "Are you back on Earth?"

"I am,' Kelly said, and let 6ut a deep breath.

Once she uttered the next phrases, she was committed. "Can I come over and talk to you? I'm not far from your Aisle. I've got a favor to ask." Dalkey looked surprised but pleased. "Sure. I've got thirty before I've got to punch in. Come and have breakfast." Kelly paid a credit into the kiosk and accepted a receipt chit from the slot so the door would open.

Then she retraced her steps to the Corridor. Dalkey lived one more Aisle over, and down to the right several hundred meters on the same level as the Hrruban Center. Several times along the way, she had to force herself to slow down and remember to bow her head like native Terrans. People were beginning to notice her. Kelly bit her lip and concentrated on the appropriate mincing steps, though it was permissible to move slightly faster in an Aisle. She couldn't take any chance that a sharpeyed monitor might become suspicious and whisk her off the Aisle into Poldep headquarters.

Dalkey was waiting right inside the door of his apartment. He lived in a block of flats occupied mainly by government employees in the Space Services. With an elaborate bow, he escorted her inside.

"Welcome back, Kelly. May I hope that you're back on Earth for a long stay?"

"Actually not,' she said, glancing around. The room was a typical bachelor pad. The Residential and Housing Administration allowed the minimum amount of space for single people. The place was sparsely furnished, the walls one of the neutral colors permitted, but it held one surprise: a very colorful tapestry in the Doonan style which brightened the room immensely. Kelly didn't recognize the weaver, but it was an excellent piece of work.

In her eyes, that upgraded Dalkey a notch above the usual run of bureaucrats. "Thank you for the invitation to breakfast. Can you really spare the calories?"

"Sure can,' Dalkey said, waving her to a seat. "I have more than I need. I keep some of the excess on credit for times when friends drop in, such as now." He programmed two breakfast meals out of the food machine and smiled at her as the characteristic whirring began behind the panel.

Synth-food! Kelly smiled bravely back, wondering if she could keep from gagging. The moment she left for Doona weeks ago, she had gladly put the horrors of synthesized food behind her.

The hatch opened to reveal two plates. Several different grayish or pale tan masses were arranged on each.

"Here we are,' Dalkey said cheerfully, as if conferring a real treat, as he brought the steaming plates over to the table and placed one before her.

"Go right ahead." He slid into the chair opposite her and began on his own food.

From long experience Kelly remembered which lump was supposed to simulate eggs, and that the next was a milled grain colloid, but the last one's origin she had never been able to figure out.

Certainly it could never have been meat, and it wasn't sweet enough to be fruit. She knew that only because the saccharine dessert lump that followed the midday meal was supposed to be fruit.

Dutifully Kelly picked up her fork and started to eat. With the first mouthful the flavor, or lack of it, brought back memories of four long years of make-believe comestibles. She reminded herself that billions of Terrans started every single day with this food. It was healthy, contained every vitamin and mineral necessary for life, and was easily digested. It was still disgusting. She thought she was doing fairly well at disguising her distaste until a tiny chuckle brought her attention back up to Dalkey. He was watching her with an impish gleam in his eyes. He waggled his fork at her plate.

"Not what you got used to on holiday, is it, colony girl?"

"Well' - Kelly laughed self-deprecatingly, putting her fork down-'when you grow up eating real food, it's hard to adjust to a synthetic substitute. If you hadn't been born here, you'd know what I mean." The inadvertent use of Kiachif's favorite bridging phrase reminded her of her errand. "Lck, I'd be happy to send you some fruit and things from Doona, so you can find out what you've been missing.

"From the look of you, plenty,' Dalkey said, raising an eyebrow.

"You don't need to finish the meal, if you can't stand it." Gratefully Kelly got up to put the dish into the hatch. As she turned back to the table, she found Dalkey standing over her. She started around him, but he pinned her against the wall, his hands on her shoulders.

"So,' Dalkey said, lowering his eyelashes seductively. "Come on.

Out with it. You didn't come back here just so I can look into your beautiful eyes, although I'm always happy to have that opportunity.

What's the favor you need?" Kelly squeezed back against the synthesizer hatch so there was a few centimeters breathing room between them. The expectant expression on his face alarmed her. She had spent all that time worrying whether anyone would notice her on the street when she should have been figuring out how to fend off Dalkey's advances. He was taller than she was and thin; even his neck was thin.

He needed more muscle on him. She could probably knock him down with just a good hefty push. Which wouldn't get her the favor she needed, and she didn't need a wrestling match. Resolutely, so he might realize she had other things on her mind, she folded her arms over her chest.

"All right, here it is,' she blurted. "I need to find a man, housed somewhere in the blueblood V Corridors. He was released from a prison planet about ten years ago. He was an expert in laser technology and he's been given some kind of annuity. I need to know why. The safety of two of my dearest friends is at stake, not to mention the continuation of the Doona colony." He gave her a measuring look. "And in return?" he asked, running the back of his hand down her cheek. "Surely you're not going to offer me a silly case of Doona oranges for performing an illegal act with such broad-reaching consequences? Spacedep frowns on people trying to penetrate the privacy files of a former convict. I could be exiled to a mining planet, and so could you for asking. Hard labor." Kelly nearly asked him what he did want, and realized that she didn't have to. She decided to tell him the truth, and trust to his discretion.

"Dalkey, two friends of me and my family are being framed for crimes that there's no way they could have, or would have, committed.

I have it on very good authority that this man might know something about the method that was used to incriminate them. He's the right kind of expert, and he seems to have more money than someone recently paroled ought to have. It's also very odd that a man who faced a life sentence should be paroled, at just about the time we have now discovered a conspiracy was evolved to discredit my friends. He could be an essential party to that conspiracy. I always thought of you as a person with a fine sense of justice. I'm appealing to that now." And she looked Dalkey straight in the eye.

"You've got me interested, I'll say that much.

Too many criminals get loose and there've been gangs that have done serious damage. So what sort of crimes are your friends supposed to have committed?"

"Horse rustling, theft of antiquities, possession of stolen goods, and breaking prohibitions set by the Treaty of Doona,' Kelly replied, still keeping eye contact. "No matter what you decide, please keep this confidential."

"You just bet I will,' Dalkey said with a weak laugh. "As a colonial, couldn't you have fallen for small-time offenders? I'm sure not in your class." He stepped back then, still shaking his head as he let his arms fall to his sides. Kelly gulped in relief and flushed with embarrassment.

Dalkey winked at her consternation. "You don't have to look so surprised. I may not be the man you thought I was, but I'm not the one you were afraid I was either. Ah, ah, ah, don't deny it!" He shook a finger under her nose. "On the other hand, if you're feeling grateful later on, I wouldn't refuse." He gestured for her to sit on his couch, an old piece Kelly remembered from his student digs and a lot more comfortable than it looked.

"Now, suppose you acquaint me with all the details you've got about this mysteriously paroled felon,' he said. "I don't suppose you've got a name?"

"Captain Kiachif knew him as Askell Klonski."

"He'd change his name first thing,' Dalkey said, "to shield his real identity. Or maybe that was the w name he changed to. Never mind.

What else do you know?" While Kelly talked, he made notes by hand on an old piece of film. "Best not to enter anything on a computer, even for immediate printout and erasure. You never know when the government monitors might choose to check for employee subversion." Kelly was impressed by his caution. "You surprise me, Dalkey. Thank you."

"Oh, it's not such a surprise. I'm not quite the perfect cog in the machine yet. You know, I've always been attracted to you, partly because you come from Doona. You seemed so much freer than most of the other girls. A pity that freedom didn't extend to the sensual pleasures." Kelly eyed him warily, wondering if he wa going to make a grope.

He pursed his lips, amused by her. "I'll help you because it's one way for me to get back at the upper-up bureaucrats. There are dirty tricks being played on other people, not juSt your friends, and I'm getting sick of them. Are all the government services as dirty as Spacedep?" He made a face.

Kelly hurried to reassure him. "No, they're not.

Aireldep isn't, otherwise I wouldn't be staying with it.

Sumitral's a straightforward man, and he attracts people of a similar stripe.

"Stripe?" Dalkey asked.

"That's a Doonan compliment. You should transfer to his service.

Or,' Kelly said, laying a hand on Dalkey's arm, "opt for Doona the next time you hear of a residency opening. I'm a citizen. I can sponsor you if you want to come. You could work in the Treaty Center.

You've got the right kind of training.

"You'd do that for me? Just like that?" Dalkey asked, snapping his fingers. Kelly nodded. "Yes, I believe you would, colony girl." Then he grinned wryly. "So it's to my advantage to help your friends clear themselves, thus keeping the Doona Experiment going. Fair deal.

Look, you'd be safest staying here in my apartment while I get the data crunching. What monitors don't see, they can't report.

I don't share with anyone, so you wouldn't be disturbed. If you don't feel comfortable,' and Dalkey eyed her for a long moment, "I've some friends who work in Residence Administration and maybe they can let you crash somewhere. It may take a couple of days to snoop into the right files."

"A few days? I don't have that much time, Dalkey.

I've got to go back to Doona tomorrow, no matter what. I don't mind sleeping on the couch either: it's not that uncomfortable."

"No, you'll sleep in the bed,' Dalkey insisted. She opened her mouth to protest, and he clicked his tongue chidingly. "Ah, ah, ah, there you go again.

I can sleep on the couch. Especially if my courtesy gets me out of Spacedep. Oops, five to the starting clock. I'd better go and sign in. I'll see you after shift.

Kelly's conscience stung her as Dalkey saluted her rakishly and stepped out of the door. She'd had to revise her opinion of him upward. During their years at school, she had never had the courage to V brave her way past his cool laade: an impenetrable barrier to the self-effacing colonial girl she'd been.

She was sorry now that she'd been so reserved that she'd missed the chance to know someone who could have been a good friend.

The time passed with maddening slowness. Kelly tried to sleep but the walls seemed to close in on her. They weren't that far apart. She was very tense during the first few hours, afraid that a friend of Dalkey's might decide to visit him. Then she reminded herself that everyone would know Dalkey was at work. She didn't dare use any of the electronics, for fear of alerting the residence monitors, who would also know that no one should be in the Petersham flat. So she didn't, for fear she might be apprehended as a burglar, taken into custody, and have to explain why she was on Earth when she wasn't supposed to be.

She'd be incarcerated on Earth: never see Doona-or Todd- again.

Years of claustrophobia and synth-food! She paced out the dimensions of both of the small rooms over and over again. The apartment was about three times the size of her student studio flat.

It astonished her to recall that she had actually existed for four years in a box that was smaller than Calypso's stable.

Dalkey had only a few nonfllm books on his shelf. One of them was an antiquated economy text. Another was an old, old copy of a novel about a great lover of the fifteenth century. She smiled, wondering if Dalkey considered himself a latter-day Casanova. For lack of better occupation, she began to read.

"Kelly?" a voice prodded her softly. "Shift's over.

To Kelly's drowsing unconscious, the voice was unfamiliar: Alarmed, she shook herself out of a sound sleep and sat up. Dalkey Petersham was looking down at her, smiling. She remembered then where she was: on his couch in his apartment on Earth. The swashbuckler novel was open upside down on her stomach.

"I want you to look at this,' Dalkey said, nudging her over so he could sit down. "Behold the product of many hours of furtive work. I hope you appreciate this. Lucky today wasn't a busy day." He handed her a film printout of a residence document. "I'm glad you didn't want the names and addresses of a whole host of people. It took forever just to get this data. The system hasn't been debugged since ice covered the Earth. I lived in fear while the computer was processing.

I wanted to climb through the screen and bang its little chips together. You're right, by the way. There is such a man who knows lasers. He is a former felon, by the name of Lesder Boronov. His name's been changed to Askell Klonski, and he does live in a fancy part of town."

"Oh, Dalkey, you're amazing!" Kelly said, devouring the.

closely typed sheet. "How did you find him?"

"Strange to say, he was in the Spacedep file index, bold as brass. It required a little special jimmying, because it was restricted under the Spacedep privacy seal, but I managed to push my way in."

"Spacedep?" Kelly asked, staring at him. "Why?" Dalkey raised his hands helplessly. "Who knows?

But only Landreau himself, Commander Rogitel, and a couple of other top brass normally have access to that index. See where it says that he's been retained for "special services." Special services covers a multitude of bureaucratic sins."

"I could cite a few right now. You didn't have the same sort of luck about his financial records?"

"I couldn't get more than a credit balance,' Dalkey said with a rueful expression. "My supervisor came by, saw the kind of screen I had up, and said if I was doing my personal banking on Spacedep time I might as well go officially on break. He watched me the rest of the afternoon, but I had all I could access without generating suspicion.

He got a fine big credit balance, that Boronov!" Kelly agreed.

"But did he make it the way I think he did. ..?"

"Which is?"

"I don't want to say it for fear I'm wrong,' Kelly said, not wishing to cross her luck at this juncture.

"What are those other printouts?"

"More research,' Dalkey told her with considerable satisfaction. "While I was in the index, I got curious. Do you know that there isn't just our laser friend here under the seal? There are several people, all listed as performing special, unspecified services, and getting paid hefty hunks of credit. I got to the initial screen, showing their profiles.

There wasn't time to get more, but I'll look into it when I have half a chance. Rather a lot of them are out on early remission." Kelly's eyes widened. "So Klonski-Boronov isn't an isolated case.

They've got a fileful of dirty tricksters."

"All on file,' Dalkey said, disgusted. "More than I feel comfortable knowing about, too.

Makes me more fed up with Spacedep. Codep's no better. I contacted one of my pals at lunch. He ran a similar check for me in the Codep index. He found something like this there, too, before he got caught accessing forbidden files. As soon as you're safely off Earth, I'll bring him to the attention of Amalgamated Worlds Administration as a whistleblower.

They'll have to take his statement as a public document, so he doesn't unexpectedly get shipped off to a mining colony."

"I didn't intend for anyone to get in twuble, Kelly said, concerned. But she held tightly on to the film printout Dalkey had given her. It wasn't full proof, but here in her hands was the beginning of what she needed to clear Todd and Hrriss.

"Not your fault,' Dalkey stated promptly.

"There's more than one of us sick of the corruption.

Before they took him away, he managed to get his printout to me.

They're trying to trace down what he was doing and who he saw afterward, but I'll wait till you're clear. They have their dirty secrets, but you are my clean one."

"I'll keep faith with you, Dalkey,' said Kelly, "as soon as ever I can. But these,' and she shook the printouts, "mean that Todd was right. Landreau is involved and using Spacedep facilities. I can't take the chance that I'll get caught before I can get these to an official source. I don't like mines either." She had Dalkey make a call to the Poldep office from a public kiosk, requesting a confidential appointment on matters concerning the Doona Experiment. Kelly prepared to leave as the hour approached. She was surprised to find that she wasn't as nervous as she had been when she arrived through the grid. In fact, she was almost looking forward to her meeting with a Poldep official.

"As soon as I get more data, I'll send it out to you,' Dalkey promised. "Meanwhile, you watch out for yourself."

"I want to thank you, Dalkey,' Kelly said, kissing him on the cheek. "You've been a gem."

"Just don't forget your promise to sponsor me to Doona,' Dalkey said. "I'm going to be counting on it." He grinned ingenuously. "If I get caught, I'll need somewhere to go. Come back if you can or need to. And good luck. It was not unheard-of for informants to request informal meetings with Poldep. Many cases would never have been solved if ordinary citizens, taking advantage of anonymity to protect themselves and their families, couldn't come forward with incriminating information and data. Few did it with malice, for Poldep could turn an entirely different face toward the prankster. Dalkey had assured Kelly that Poldep wouldn't pry into her true identity, for that would defeat the purpose of anonymity. Kelly hoped that the immunity extended to no curiosity on how she had travelled to Earth.

The Poldep offices differed from those of the other government services only by the color of their uniforms: black. Even the entry operators, and the officers, bailiffs, and investigators swarming in and out of the main entrance wore black. The color was ominous and off-putting, but she supposed that was intentional.

The big man behind the desk in the little room was not unfamiliar, but he did not appear to recognize her: the hair dye had been a very smart idea. True, she had only seen him from a distance in the halls of Alreldep and once on Doona. They hadn't actually met. DeVeer made the rounds of his beat periodically in a small, fast-moving scout ship.

He had a reputation for being straightforward and honest. Firmly she overcame her feelings of nervousness and gave him her hand. The Poldep captain shook it.

"I'm Sampson DeVeer, miss. What name are you using?" So the anonymity was genuine. "I don't know how much you have to know about me to believe what I'm going to tell you,' Kelly said, stalling.

DeVeer gave her a brief smile. "I find the facts often speak for themselves. How about a pseudonym for the time being? That's not incriminating."

"All right,' Kelly said boldly, "call me Miss Green." That was stupid, she admonished herself, but apt. She was green enough in more than name.

Imagine blurting out a name so close to her own.

But she didn't really care. Kelly was surprised how calm she felt now that she was facing the Poldep man. She recognized that she was riding the high of success when she had expected none. She was surprising herself. She'd been a dutiful child, a good student, an obedient second on Snake Hunt, and a biddable employee of Alreldep.

But now, for her friends' sake, she was discovering a lot about what she could dare and do.

"What can I do for you, Miss Green?" DeVeer asked.

"You're familiar with the situation on Doona?" she asked. His eyebrows lowered, and she went on quickly. "I know there's lots of situations, but I mean the one concerning the Reeve Ranch. And the son, Todd. He's been accused of horse rustling, smuggling, and entering restricted zones. And you've got to believe me when I tell you that he wouldn't do any of those things. He's innocent."

"Ah, yes,' DeVeer said, tenting his fingertips. "I know the circumstances.

In fact, I recently had an interview with his father. He had hides bearing freeze marks for his ranch on animals he never owned.

The hides had been recycled from Zapata Three with a genuine provenance.

Yet he claims the brands have to have been altered."

"They were!

I think I know how it was done, Kelly blurted. "I mean, I believe I know who could have done it. DeVeer's expression didn't change, but his moustache twitched. "Tell me more,' he said.

She produced the first of her film prints and put it before him.

"This man was paroled from a labor colony and returned to Earth.

He's a laser expert and innovator. His name was Lesder Boronov, but he's called Askell Klonski now."

"What makes you think that he involved himself in stock theft? Name changes are not illegal."

"He might not be involved directly, but he came into a lot of money when he was released,' Kelly said. She produced the printout of Klonski's credit balance.

DeVeer read over both films carefully and made notes on a pad as he scanned. He glanced at her from under beetled brows. "May I ask where you got these screens?"

"The one about Boronov is from Spacedep sealed files. I . . . would like to protect my sources but they are reliable. I expect Poldep would be able to check the information. You can see that Klonski has been paid sums for "special services."

Now'Kelly swallowed, because she was diving forward into conjecture-'what services could a laser expert do to earn that much money?"

"The matter could be legitimate."

"Then wouldn't he be listed in Spacedep's regular contractor file?" Kelly asked. "Why hide him under the privacy seal? And he's not the only one." She showed him Dalkey's other printouts. "These men are all ex-felons, all received early paroles, and they're all under similar privacy seals." DeVeer didn't insist that she identify her sources, which was an immense relief to her. She hoped that he thought that she herself was the Spacedep employee who had pulled the files. He read the third set of films with the same focused attention he ha'd read the other two.

Partway through the first page, he pulled over his computer terminal.

He spent some minutes entering data and looking from the screen to the printouts. Then he became engrossed, fingers stabbing at function keys, tapping out new requests. Kelly sat with her hands clutched in her lap', her eyes pinned on the Poldep investigator.

"Interesfing,' he said, looking up at her after nearly an hour.

He leaned back in his chair, tented his fingertips together again, and fixed his keen gaze on Kelly.

Kelly leaned across the table. "Then you believe me? Can you find out if Klonski does have a way to alter the freeze-dry brands?" The chief investigator smiled thinly under his moustache. "I'll try to help you, Miss Green, but I have only your suspicion, based on hearsay, that this Klonski might-just might-be involved in illegal activities.

Even if he admitted to developing such a process, that wouldn't automatically clear your friends. They could have made use of his "special services" as easily as anyone else. In fact, some of that large sum in his credit account could have been paid in by them."

"But they didn't. They didn't!" In her frustration, Kelly banged her fists on his desk. "Why would he be in the Spacedep files if that bunch didn't use his "special services"? And you surely don't think they'd let him take outside contracts!" DeVeer smiled at that remark. "This is the first real evidence to support my friends' innocence. Won't you help me prove it? Please! There's really a lot at stake!" DeVeer tapped his fingertips together. "Yes, I will have to initiate an investigation. Not necessarily on your friends' behalf, for some of those charges do not lie in my jurisdiction. But rustling does. The problem of stock theft has recently trebled. New worlds are desperate for all kinds of stock, not juSt horses. Every animal must be marked and records kept of inoculations to prevent the spread of disease, and to be sure that livestock is protected against any indigenous problems on their destination planet. But if the marks can be skillfully altered, then our very complex disease control system has been bypassed. That can't be allowed to happen, especially on an increasingly larger scale. One of my priorities is putting an end to illicit traffic in livestock."

"Then Doona isn't the only planet to have trouble with rustlers?" Kelly asked.

"Unfortunately, it isn't. But you may just have brought me the tip I've needed." He smiled at her, and his face changed from an austere mask to that of a warm and charming man.

"If this Klonski has an illegal means of altering brand marks, I can help you clear your friends at least of that charge. And Klonski is on parole?" DeVeer sat up and entered the identification number from the film into his computer console.

"Yes, he is. The creation of a process used for illegal purposes is a parole violation. That can land him right back on a penal colony world, with or without Spacedep approval. I see he's due for a meeting with his parole officer, should have met with her yesterday. Didn't show. That gives me the right to have a few words with him." DeVeer stood up, indicating the interview was at an end.

"May I come along?" Kelly pleaded. The chief considered the question for a long moment.

"It is not necessary for an anonymous accuser to face the defendant prior to a hearing. In fact, it could be dangerous."

"Look, Mr. DeVeer,' Kelly began earnestly, "I've risked a lot to lay this information before you. It might even be dangerous for me to go back out into Aisle and Corridor if anyone guesses where I've gone. II, I'm with you, I'm safe."

"I could arrange for protective custody for you..

"Mr. DeVeer, I only feel safe in your presence, she said firmly.

He considered her argument. "It is certainly not regular procedure." "There's been nothing regular about this whole mess,' Kelly replied tartly. "I trust you, Mr. DeVeer. I can be discreet but I'd rather be in your company."

"Would Klonski recognize you? No? That's as well. But there is another aspect you must consider, Miss Green, in this compulsion of yours to stay under my protective wing. Suppose he describes you to his contacts at Spacedep?"

"Let him,' Kelly said, sticking her chin up and shoving her shoulders back resolutely.

He handed her a black tunic. "Lift your right hand'-she did-'now swear that you will obey me as your superior,' which she did. He fastened a plain bar to the collar tab. "There! You are now a deputy under my direct orders." They left the office together.

The address on Klonski's file was in a block which had been occupied from before living memory by clans calling themselves the First Families.

The living spaces bordered on the spacious homes of distant memory and were located in the widest Aisles Kelly had ever seen: Aisles with plants in the malls. Security devices and operatives strode slowly but alertly up and down. She was startled to see several men and women in poorer dress hurrying along between the buildings. Security didn't seem to notice them, and then Kelly realized they were undoubtedly menials, serving in the fine apartments of the wealthy and powerful families. The genuine residents of the houses swept by in much fancier dress, reminiscent of Jilamey Landreau's posh togs.

Kelly and DeVeer made their way as unobtrusively as possible to the address given for their quarry. The Poldep officer pushed a doorbell, and they waited.

"Askell Klonski, also known as Lesder Boronov?" DeVeer asked as the door edged open a crack.

"Who wants to know?" demanded a short, scrawny man through the gap. Kelly recognized him as quickly from Captain Kiachifs description of a warty weasel as from DeVeer's updated file photo.

"Poldep,' DeVeer said, flashing his identification.

"May we come in?"

"You can state your business first,' Klonski said pugnaciously. "I've got nothing to hide from my neighbors.

"You did not keep your appointment yesterday with your parole officer, Mr. Klonski,' DeVeer said, keeping his voice low. Kionski wavered for a moment and then flung the door open wide.

"I'm not a well man,' and he coughed a few times to prove it.

"She knows. She don't hassle me."

"A few moments of your time is all that's required, Mr. Kionski,' DeVeer said smoothly.

"Well, if that's all, you can come in,' he said, his eyes shifting warily from one to the other of his unwelcome guests.

Klonski's apartment was of the size intended for the use of high-ranking families with two legal children. The main room was palatial compared to Dalkey's, but it had been furnished in a totally haphazard fashion: the furnishings and decorations were obviously expensive but were placed in awkward groupings or hung without care or taste.

If Klonski had intended to impress his neighbors with his wealth, he certainly had achieved that aim.

Kelly glanced at a brilliant pink couch draped with a handwoven teal and red throw, and shuddered at the effect.

Klonski might be wearing expensive clothing but it could not camouflage his small stature, and the color only emphasized his gritty complexion. The padded tunic did not disguise, much less improve, his narrow chest. So he gave the impression of being held prisoner inside his clothes. The style was practically a parody of what his neighbors wore with elegance.

"I'm respectable now,' the man insisted. "Gone straight and square. I'm not supposed to be bothered with parole matters. I call her up when I remember. Give me the usual blab, then you've done your duty and you can leave." DeVeer drew himself up to his own impressive height and loomed over the little man. "Askell Klonski, not only have you violated the terms of your parole with your nonappearance, but you seem to have violated it much more seriously. We'd like you to come down to Poldep with us and to answer a few questions."

"What about? I haven't done anything wrong."

"That is what we need to determine,' DeVeer said.

Klonski eyed them. "You're on a fishing trip, Officer,' he said, grinning maliciously. "You haven't got a thing that could make me go anywhere with you. You're from them, out there." He jerked his thumbs toward the apartments on either side of his. "They want me to leave, but I won't. I like it here, see, and I've got a long, long lease.

All paid up through the year double-dot."

"Yes, we have that data in our files. But there are other discrepancies in your record that are currently of interest to Poldep."

"Yeah? What, for instance? Ask me anything you want to. . . right here." The former felon hitched himself up into a huge, thronelike chair.

"On a routine investigation of your case,' DeVeer went on, ignoring the sneering voice, "it would appear that the robbery for which you were incarcerated involved a death. "It was an accident!' Kionski said agitatedly. "He shouldn't oughta have been there in the first place.

That's all in my testimony."

"The laws are explicit in the case of death, whether accidental homicide or premeditated murder. Especially murder. You were rocketed up without the possibility of parole. So how. Askell, were you allowed back on Earth at all?"

"I was given clemency for being a sick man." Kionski essayed a few dry rasping coughs, then he looked up, his expression far more genuinely indignant.

"Hey, those records were supposed to be sealed!"

"To Poldep?" DeVeer asked scornfully. "Well, they might remain sealed to the public at large, or they might not. That's up to me-and up to you. I think Poldep might ignore that anomaly if you will help us with our inquiries in another matter. Come down to my office to talk." There was evidently something in those records which Klonski didn't want made public. Or was there someone he didn't want to know that his file had been opened? He was on his feet and standing by the door, exhibiting a marvelous agility for a man ill to dying from a cough.

"You call for a private copter, then, hear? I don't want to be seen talking to no Poldep inspector." He straightened his tunic as they stepped outside. "I got some standards." As soon as they had arrived, Klonski made himself comfortable in a chair in DeVeer's office.

When the computer recorder was turned on, he took the oath to give a true statement. (Not, Kelly thought, that the truth was likely to mean much to a man like Klonski.) "So I'm sworn in. Let's get this over with." DeVeer began austerely, "You're known to have unusual laser skills. We have reason to believe that you have perfected a means to alter or undo freezedry chemical brands on the skin of herd animals." "What?" Klonski bounced up and down in his chair in amazement and began to howl with laughter, rolling from side to side, until the tears streamed down his warty face. "That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard a Poldep say! Ohhhoo, hnahaha!" He was off again in paroxysms of mirth.

With hands lightly clasped on his desk, DeVeer regarded Klonski patiently while he enjoyed his amusement at their expense. Getting madder every moment because she knew this little weasel was a key find, Kelly wanted to box his ears or kick shins or do something to stop him laughing with such abandon. She saw her hope disappearing to the sound of his cackles. They merged into a genuine coughing fit. DeVeer poured a glass of water and passed it on to Klonski, no emotion whatever on his face.

"Me? Rustling?" Klonski demanded when he finally caught his breath. "Waste my time and know-how changing freeze marks? Mind you, that's beyond even me."

"It made a starting point,' DeVeer said, not the least bit disconcerted. "A man must keep his skills up or lose them. Right?" "Ri . . ." Klonski began, and then realized he was being indiscreet. He pressed his lips together.

"However,' DeVeer continued, "you do have laser skills and we do believe that a laser technique had to be used to alter freeze marks.

Therefore, if you do not wish to be charged with aiding and abetting the theft of livestock and the illegal transportation of animals, you might just clear up the point of what you are doing with your special skills.

"Now, wait a minute. . ." Klonski began, no longer so arrogant.

"You know the drill, my man. Rustling's grand larceny, and between unauthorized planets, it carries a double penalty. There'd be no possibility of parole for an offense of this magnitude." He pulled his console to him and began typing. "We'll just enter you for a preliminary, based on those unusual deposits in your credit account." DeVeer peered at Klonski from under his thick eyebrows.

"You'd never trace the source of those deposits, Klonski said with a sneer, his confidence somewhat revived.

"Really?" DeVeer asked cheerfully. "Anything on a computer tape, no matter which mainframe, can be opened for inspection-especially when a major crime is involved."

"They told me no one could crack their codes!" Klonski was mutinous with fear.

"They?" DeVeer asked softly. "You forget that Poldep has extraordinary powers to investigate any department, given sufficient cause. Rustling is an excellent example." He turned back to his keyboard.

"Stop!" Klonski cried. DeVeer's face was immutable stone. "I never rustled nothing, nor helped no rustlers.

DeVeer pushed the keyboard slightly to one side, folded his arms on his chest, and gazed at Klonski.

"I'm waiting."

"I need a deal from Poldep.

"Our budget is exceedingly tight this quarter."

"I don't need credit. I need immunity. I want an undetectable change of identity and location." He paused as DeVeer nodded solemnly. "I didn't help rustlers, and I sure didn't change freeze marks, "cause you can't. But I'll tell you what I did do. Is that enough to deal?"

"I can't say until I know,' DeVeer said. "I may just consider your information sufficient to return you to your current quarters with the parole violation forgotten."

"I gotta have security." Klonski was so insistent about that point that Kelly's hopes began to rise again.

"Security you'll get for cooperating with Poldep."

"Okay,' but Klonski's expression indicated he was still dubious. DeVeer just waited while Kelly found it hard to restrain herself from jumping up and shaking the truth out of the weasel. He gave a nervous cough and then said, "What I did do was a little patching and splicing of log tapes. Nothing that looked illegal."

"For that kind of credit?" DeVeer allowed his face to register disbelief.

"And . . ." Klonski hesitated, his eyes darting from DeVeer to Kelly. She tried to look encouraging. "And. . . I showed "em how to neutralize sec\irity systems."

"Really?" DeVeer's response was mild, but Kelly had to grip the arms of the chair to keep from jumping up in exultation. "I thought your specialty was improving such systems." Feeling slightly more confident, Klonski grinned, showing badly discolored and jagged teeth.

"Improve, disimprove. Same techniques needed."

"Who?"

"You think I'm stupid, Polly? No blinding way do I name names. You find "em yourself with all your extraordinary powers." He leered smugly. "We made a deal. And I don't say nothing more. I got rights, too, you know."

"However, for a new location, new name, and the right to retain the credits in your account, you might nod your head if I drop a familiar name or two?" Klonski was not too pleased to be probed so deeply but he didn't deny further assistance.

DeVeer pulled over a flimsy.

"Your file indicates that you worked for Spacedep before your first prison term,' the Poldep inspector said conversationally.

Klonski gave a sharp nod of his head and darted a glance at Kelly.

"You were in Research and Development, is that correct?" Klonski did not hesitate to nod, since that was known fact. "Wasn't old Bert Landreau in charge of R&D?" Kelly hoped that DeVeer noticed the shuttered look that altered Klonski's expression.

"Isn't his son an Admiral now?" DeVeer went on in that deceptively casual fashion. This time KIonski's head moved as if physically restricted. "I think that about covers it, Klonski,' DeVeer said more briskly. "You'll be moved in the morning to similar quarters in a different sector. New ID will be issued and KlonskiiBoronov will be listed as deceased, cause of death, a fatal respiratory condition.

Does that suit you?" Klonski's nod was enthusiastic.

"I'll have you returned in an ambulance to your current residence.

Tomorrow a reputable firm of undertakers will arrive and your "corpse" will be removed for the benefit of any observers." DeVeer pressed a button on his comunit and a uniformed constable appeared in the door.

"Medical escort is to be provided for this person, Constable. Do you wish a guard?" Klonski snorted in his arrogance. "No one could get in my place!" Then he clamped his mouth shut, shooting a quick glance at the rigidly attentive constable.

"Use the discreet exit from the block, Constable."

"Very good, sir. This way, sir,' and-the constable gestured courteously for Klonski to follow him.

"We got a deal, Polly,' Klonski said, turning in the door and jabbing his finger at DeVeer, who nodded acknowledgment.

The door hissed shut behind him and Kelly bounced out of the chair in her elation.

"He admitted it. Those log tapes were altered.

Todd and Hrriss are innocent."

"Do calm yourself, Miss Green,' DeVeer said, flicking off the recorder. "This is only the beginning of what is going to be a very difficult investigation."

"But he said he altered log tapes and tinkered with security systems. Don't you see what that means?"

"I see what you wish it to mean, but the wish is not always parent to the proof. However, such statements do cast doubt on the authenticity of the logs in question. Nor did he give us any inkling as to which security systems he has adjusted."

"But don't you see? It has to be the DoonaiRrala satellites. That would explain how rustlers could get in and out with livestock and be undetected!"

"Oh, I take that point, Miss Green. But it doesn't solve the matter of mismarked hides, does it?"

"No, it doesn't,' Kelly said, and then started to giggle, covering her mouth with her hand and shooting an anxious look at DeVeer. "Klonski was so indignant to be taken for a rustler!"

"I have discovered, Miss Green, that there is a certain form of honor among thieves."

"Well, then, honest men ought not to be discredited, should they?" DeVeer regarded her kindly after that vehement declaration. "No, they should not. I shall consider it my prime obligation and most urgent priority to assist you in clearing the good reputations of those two young persons. But,' and he held up his hand warningly when Kelly exclaimed her joy aloud, "to prove that Klonski did, in fact, use his skill on the tapes in question and on the Doonan security satellites is going to take time."

"We don't have time,' Kelly said in a despairing wail. "The Councillors will bring Todd and Hrriss to trial any day now. And then there's the Treaty negotiations. . . The charges against Todd and Hrriss were planned to coincide with this critical period. My home is at stake, Inspector DeVeer."

"So you are a Doonan colonial?" Kelly sighed for her indiscretion.

Not unkindly, he smiled. "Doona must fall or stand on its own merits, but clearly the odds against it have been staked by what does appear to be a genuine conspiracy. Personally I have had doubts about the Experiment, but I was old enough to experience the repercussions of the Siwanna Tragedy, so perhaps I'm not entirely without prejudice.

But I try to overcome what I know to have been early conditioning.

I think it's a mistake to mix two such advanced races."

"But that's the best kind to mix,' Kelly exclaimed.

"Equal intelligence and parallel'societies with similar aims and mutual respect.

"But Hrrubans are much more powerful than we smaller Humans. And their technology more advanced. "Not in the same direction ours is.

So we've learned from each other.

"They have not granted us that transportation system of theirs .

. -"

"And we have not given them the right to build our more sophisticated spaceship engines, so I think we're even on the question of space travel."

"You argue well, Miss Green."

"I've specialized knowledge to back up my arguments, Mr. DeVeer."

"I trust that events will conspire to let us continue.

I have never met a more devoted adherent of the Experiment.

But, in my estimation, the appalling Siwanna Tragedy has not been diminished by the short period of Doona's success." He brought himself up short. "You remind me of my daughter.

She argues for her causes with all her heart, too.

And you've risked much to lay your case before me." He rose to his feet, signalling an end to their discussion.

"I'd risk a lot more!" Kelly got to her feet and shrugged out of Poldep black. "Can you let me know how your investigations progress?

Or do you no longer consider me your special deputy?"

"That deputization will be in force for the remainder of your stay on Earth, but I'd prefer that you didn't wander into a situation where I have to notice you officially. I'll be in touch with the communications number that made your appointment with me. And by the way,' he said, "next time, please obtain permission to visit Earth. If you have a legitimate reason, or an invitation, there isn't any problem." Kelly smiled. "You are thorough.

"I like to think that I am, Miss ah, Green." He actually winked at her and she wondered if he had discovered her real identity but thought better about asking. "The amnesty policy is scrupulously maintained." "Can that cover my "sources of information," too?" DeVeer frowned slightly, then his face cleared.

"You did mention that there's someone about to whistle-blow, didn't you? We'll see that your friends are protected if at all possible. I expect there'll be a great deal of housecleaning before this matter is concluded. An official privacy seal is not meant to conceal capital crimes such as grand larceny and security tampering." DeVeer took her hand. "I am grateful to you for your information.

Poldep does need the help of all honest citizens, otherwise where would we be? Thank you, Miss Green." Kelly grinned at him, positive that he did know who she really was. "Thank you, sir." She spent the night curled up on Dalkey's hard mattress, dreaming of snaking tapes with matched ends that then split apart to reattach themselves to other loose ends, and satellite spheres with the face of Askell Klonski, and each wart on his face another capped sensor.

The medical supply warehouse was in a section of Corridor and Aisle that Kelly had never visited before. She had to descend on a packed elevator through several levels, through the newer, smaller residences of Labor workers, and then pattered off the elevator into the manufacturing zone. Her fellow passengers, mostly maintenance workers for the Air Recycling Service, marched past her in a single mass, almost as if they were stuck together from being squeezed in the elevator.

The noise control standards had evidently been waived for this level, and so had the air purification ordinances. Hooting and wailing from machinery battled with the deafening thrum of turbines and the cumulative babble of Human voices. This Corridor was full of unrelieved gray and black buildings. They looked clean enough-no graffiti, no layers of dirt or filth-but they left her with the feeling that if she touched anything her fingers would come away filmed with soot.

Kelly found the address Nrrna had written down for her and slipped past the great open doors.

Inside was the largest single room she had yet seen on Earth. The raftered ceiling loomed the full height of the level. Hundreds of men and women in drab bodysuits and heavy gloves passed her in pursuit of their various tasks. Pallet loaders, large, small, and staggeringly huge, rolled around the floor, picking up crates and packages from teetering stacks of merchandise. The scale of the warehouse amazed her. The entire Doona Launch Center could fit in the middle of this vast facility, and leave room for its normal day's operation on every side, and this facility only forwarded medical supplies to outer worlds.

Stinking of hot oil, the forklifts trundled great bales of goods into giant freight elevators, for conveyance to the lower levels for distribution, or to the surface, where they could be loaded into spaceships. Neither of these two destinations was appropriate for Kelly. She needed to find where a particular small delivery was being prepared. The Hrruban Center grid was only a few meters square.

She had fitted herself out with a clipboard and a small parcel, wrapped under Dalkey's instruction and sealed with a Spacedep logo they had cut out from a discarded film copy. The box was filled with food from his synthesizer. Alter two unappetizing meals of the stuff at Dalkey's flat, she hoped she wouldn't have to eat it, but who knew how long it would be before she could be rescued from the container? Nrrna might have to wait for solitude to open the crate.

"Is this the shipment for Doona?" Kelly asked in a bored tone, consulting her clipboard. "I've got a parcel to add to it. Spacedep,' she added with a nice touch of apathy.

The man glanced up at her with equal disinterest.

"Nope. Try dock sixteen."

"Is this the shipment for Doona?" Kelly inquired at dock sixteen.

"It is." The short woman directing the lowering of boxes from one side of the dock onto a pallet glanced back over her shoulder at the tall mousyhaired girl. "Why?" Kelly's heart gave a little jolt within her. "I, uh, have a package to go on it. Spacedep."

"There's nothing in my manifest from Spacedep for Doona,' the woman said, tapping the clipboard she held under her arm.

Kelly pretended disgust. "Well, it was handed over to me this morning to make sure it got aboard." The woman stopped and flipped open the clipboard. It was full of neat documents, all sealed at the bottom by the departments of authorization.

"Codep; Healthdep; Healthdep, that's not here yet; Aireldep; Healthdep. . ." She turned each one over until she came to the last one. "No, nothing from Spacedep. You must have the wWng order." The woman looked up, but her queflst was gone.

Shrugging, the woman turned back to her bales.

While the woman's attention was focused on the documentation, Kelly had slipped away and squeezed between two large boxes. One of the crates heading for Doona was only half full. Nrrna had arranged for Healthdep on Earth to send just enough sterile gloves to fill half a standard case but too many to be crated in a smaller container.

Nrrna and Kelly calculated that there should be enough room for her to fit. Kelly began to look at labels to find the Healthdep shipment.

She found it by the logo - a cross and crescent in a circle marked on a blue crate. She tapped out the security code on the small comp, wriggled into the crate, and pulled the lid down over her, hearing the whirr as the cover locked itself again. Now all she had to do was try to make herself comfortable, and she would be home in hours.

The muffled sounds around her crate got louder, so she had a bit of warning before the box rose into the air and swung wildly from side to side. One of the cranes wa doing the transfer. Kelly had the terrifying sensation of flying through the air, followed by a bump that tossed packages of the flimsy gloves all around her. The plastic envelopes stuck to her clothes, hair, and face. She peeled them off, and cupped her hands over her face to keep from being suffocated by the flying packages.

As soon as the case was fastened down on the pallet, the gloves settled. She burrowed her way into the packages until only her head and her shoulders were jammed against the side of the box, her feet propped against the lower end and her knees under her chin. Not the most comfortable of positions and she tried to make herself believe that claustrophobia was a small price to pay for the success of her illegal voyage.

The crate jerked again as it started to move sideways, bumping Kelly's head. The whole pallet must be on its way to the Hrruban Center. She could hear the squeak of unoiled wheels as it was pushed onto the transportation grid which rattled under her buttocks. She had little room in which to relieve cramped muscles and half wished that she'd asked Inspector DeVeer to arrange legitimate transport for her back to Doona. But that would have required too many explanations and too much time by ordinary Human spaceship. However uncomfortable, at least this trip would be instantaneous.

Through the sides of the crate, she could hear the low rumble of Hrringa's voice, asking for the cargo manifests. She hoped he didn't have to search each package before sending it. No, she merely heard the telltale beeping of the bomb detector as it was swept over the bales, and then it trundled sideways again. Kelly hoped her bale wouldn't be sent somewhere else in error. All she could do now was wait and try not to worry.

At least she didn't see the transfer mist or feel nauseated by the dislocation amid her padding of glove packets.

CHAPTER 7

B NRRNA WAITED AT ThE TRANSPORT station. She was trying to appear calm, but she could not control the nervous twitching of her tail tip, a giveaway to anyone watching her. She was no longer of an age where she could have held her tail between her hands to subdue its reaction to her mood.

The Hrruban male who was in charge of the transport grid had passed a few pleasantries with her, but he had to keep his attention on his job, and not on the very attractive female hovering nearby.

The timetable on transmissions and receptions was very tight. Two sendings could not be received on the grid at the same time. If one overlapped another, he had to put it on hold until the first one was entirely received.

"The medical shipment is not due from Earth for another thirty minutes,' he said once again.

"I know that,' Nrrna said, dropping her jaw in an appealing smile to belie her nervousness. "It is very important that I take delivery as soon as possible.

There's quite a lot of fur flying over letting the supply of sterile gloves get so low."

"Hmm,' grunted the technician, unimpressed.

Everyone was always in a hurry. Her tail began to twitch impatiently.

The Treaty Controller, clad in his magnificent red robes, appeared out of a corridor and addressed the technician, who stood to attention.

Nrrna slipped into the shadows of the terminal to keep from being noticed. "Hasn't the transmission from Hrruba arrived yet?" the Controller asked.

The operator made the proper bow to such an important Hrruban.

"No, honored sir. It is scheduled to arrive in three dots. You do not have long to wait.

I could have notified you if you had called me."

"Hmm,' the Treaty Controller growled his dissatisfaction. His eyelids lowered halfway over glaring green. "I was informed that it would be here at half past the tenth hour. The grid operator courteously gestured to the display of quartz timers, synchronized with grid transporter terminals in the other spheres of Hrruban autonomy. "That time approaches rapidly, honored sir,' he said, his voice hoarse.

The Controller turned away from the nervous young Hrruban and noticed Nrrna. To distract the grid operator, she had put on some of her most attractive ornaments, and a spicy cologne which approximated the pheromones of mating. She had not counted on anyone else coming along, espedally not the Treaty Controller. At once she assumed a position both humble and hardworking, hoping he would look away. To her. horror, she saw his nostrils flare as he scented her.

"Rrrmmm,' he purred, moving toward her. "And who is this? what is your name, lovely one?" Flustered, she murmured her name, and was gently asked to repeat it. "Nrrna."

"Nrrna. A soft name for a soft pelt. I find you most attractive, Nrrna." He rubbed his hand alon the length of her arm. Offended by the familiarity of the contact, she moved her arm, trying not to give deliberate insult. After all, she was wearing a provocative scent.

"You honor me, sir, but I am already promised."

"Surely no single male will be sufficient to relieve one as young and feminine as you, Nrrna,' the Controller said, pitching his voice intimately. "I would be the one honored if you would choose to favor me with your company." Nrrna looked to the grid operator for assistance, but he had folded his ears tight to his head in an effort not to overhear. which was only discreet of him, Nrrna had to admit. Why had she chosen such an alluring scent? She really had left herself open to offers. The operator she could have teased, but it would be most unwise of her to lead on the Treaty Controller.

"Please, sir, I am prom5sed as lifemate." She hadn't wanted to admit that yet. Particularly not to this old male. She edged away.

He sidled closer to her, and she could feel the heat of his body against hers and the rising scent of his sensual response to her condition. "I am not yet at full cycle,' she added as coolly as she could. Indeed she was a few weeks away from her season and sexual activity would be distasteful. He had no right to be harassing her.

"Really?" and the Controller looked genuinely surprised. "I think perhaps you have misjudged your readiness, soft Nrrna,' the Controller suggested in a low voice. "My quarters are most comfortable." He was a much older male, with persuasive ways that should overwhelm such a young and obviously inexperienced female.

She shifted away from him, revolted by his manner. Any decent male would have desisted, but this old stoker obviously didn't recognize a genuine denial.

"The transmission from Earth,' the operator announced.

With the agility of her youth, Nrrna sprang toward the pallet in a graceful leap that took the Controller totally by surprise. With her own hands, she helped the operator roll the crate off the transport grid to make room for the next transmissn.

However, the Controller, not to be done out of his prize, followed her. Ignoring him, she opened the top crate, which did not contain Kelly, and began to inventory the materials very slowly, checking each box several times as she marked it off on her list.

"One box of size OO sutures, one box of size 0 sutures, four cases of plas-skin .

"You haven't answered my question yet, Nrrna,' the Treaty Controller pressed.

She gave him a smile. "All thought of personal indulgence must give way to duty, honored sir." She paused to give him the most courteous and coolest of bows. "You must forgive my diligence but it is my first position and I cannot discredit my Stripe with less than my closest attention. Everything must be inventoried before it can be transported to the village center." She began her count over, glancing from the clipboard to the pallet with an anxious expression. "One box of size OO sutures, one box of size 0 sutures .

"I thought you needed to get this to the medical center as quickly as you could,' complained the operator, wondering that the pretty female was silly enough to ignore a Controller.

"As soon as it is counted,' Nrrna said firmly.

"Earth must be notified promptly if the count is short." Once again, she began at the top of her list.

Just as the Treaty Controller moved in to pursue her, the grid bell rang.

"Honored sir, the transmission from Hrruba!" On the grid platform a cluster of small boxes appeared. The Treaty Controller bent over them and straightened up with an exclamation of selfsatisfaction, one of the document cases clutched in his hands. "Yes, this will ensure the number of days is finite." He glanced at Nrrna, who was still pantomiming a diligent inventory and walked over to her. "Silly stripe,' he said in a voice low enough to reach her ears only, "you would do better to accept my protection and virility so that I can provide well for you when you have to return to Hiruba. It is not too late to reconsider."

"My Stripe has a long tradition of honoring its promises,' Nrrna said with a swift sideways glance toward him before returning to her inventory check. Halfway between checking off a film tape for educating small children about bacteria control and reaching for the next film in the stack, she heard an annoyed snort, and the Treaty Controller swept away, holding the small document box. She sighed with relief.

"My goods are all accounted for,' she told the grid operator.

"Will you transport me and this shipment now to First Village?" The gesture with which the irritated technician directed her onto the platform showed that he would be very glad indeed to get rid of her.

For her sake, he had nearly had to annoy the Treaty Controller.

No male, not even a Treaty- Controller, should persist when a female has made her disinterest so plain. He would be glad to see the last of both of them and the end of a possible disgraceful incident.

The moment that the village coalesced around Nrrna, she shoved the crate off the grid and tapped the code to open it. Kelly exploded up in the midst of a snowstorm of plastic packets. They were plastered all over her like wet leaves.

"Oh, my poor neck,' she groaned. "This was such a good idea but neither of us counted on sweat and plastic suffocation. I hope I don't offend your nose."

"I am so glad you are all right,' Nrrna said, trying hard to keep her nostrils from flaring at the reek of the Hayuman. She couldn't help her current odoriferousness and Nrrna helped Kelly out.

"I would not have left you in it so long, but that wretched ol' cat'-and Kelly blinked at such an epithet coming from the gentle and polite Nrrna-'of a Controller was revoltingly offensive!" Nrrna almost spat in outrage and Kelly could see every single hair of her stripe was standing up.

Nrrna began to pick the static-charged packets off Kelly's hair and clothes. Each time she tried to put a pile down, they seemed to spring back to adhere to her fur. when Kelly tried to help, it only made matters worse. The packets merely transferred themselves from Nrrna to Kelly. Frustration gave way to laughter and then Nrrna thought of moistening her hands, and when that seemed to help, Kelly wet hers and they began to divest themselves of their unusual decorations.

"I heard him, the old tomcat,' Kelly said, grinning at Nrrna.

"But he's a persistent bugger, isn't he? I thought males didn't bother females without permission.

"It's partly my fault,' Nrrna said. "I used too much of a provocative scent."

"Not to get his attention, I'll warrant." Nrrna wrinkled her nose. "The operator was too well mannered to pursue me, but it kept him interested until white muzzle interfered."

"All's well that ends well. But remind me not to ride in a crate again,' Kelly said when the last of the gloves were stuffed back into their container, and the top was clamped down again. "I also caught that bit about you reconsidering him so he could provide for you when you had to return to Hrruba.

What's happened since I left here?"

"Nothing,' Nrrna said, but she was as worried about his phraseology as Kelly was. Possibly more than Kelly was, for she had lived on Rrala all her life and the quarters of her clan on Hrruba were very crowded.

"what was he waiting to collect? Did you see?"

"A document box.

Well covered with Third Speaker seals, that much I did notice."

"Neither the Treaty Controller nor Third Speaker is a supporter of the colony. Strikes me as odd that that Stripe should be in control with Treaty Renewal approaching. I wonder what kind of documents were in that box. "I don't know how we'd find out, but I'd better complete this shipment without any more delay." Nrrna spoke into a radio unit which was hooked to her belt, contacting the Health Center's operator.

"They will send a flitter for the shipment. Now, did you have any luck on Terra?"

"I sure did, Nrrna. We've got a Poldep inspector on our side, willing to look into certain oddities that came to light. I want to tell the Reeves, but I'll meet you later at Hrriss's so I only have to tell this twice, but tell him I got good news." She was stretching and working her arms and legs to relieve the kinks. "I never could have found out so much without your help, Nrrna. You've been a star! See you soon." With a final wave, Kelly jogged off toward the Friendship Bridge on her way to collect Calypso and make her way to the Reeve Ranch.

Todd took one look at her and yelled, "what did you do to your hair?" "My hair?" she shrieked back at him, hand to her head before she remembered the rinse. "I couldn't go back to Earth in my own hair and expect to be unnoticed!"

"To Earth?" he roared, white-faced with shock.

when he had finished bawling her out for the risks she had taken, she got just as angry right back at him for not letting her deliver her good news.

"In the first place, I was never in danger, Todd Reeve. In the second place, I got more information than I ever thought I'd get, and thirdly, we got Inspector DeVeer actively pursuing an investigation on our behalf."

"Is that Kelly Solinari with you, Todd?" Pat called, and rushed into the room, her expression both anxious and relieved. "Young woman, where have you been? Your family's been worried sick about you.

And what have you done to your hair?"

"It washes out and I left my parents a note to say I'd be away a few days. Didn't they get it?" At that moment, Ken Reeve came bursting into the room. "Robin was right.

It was Calypso tearing up the road. where have you been? And what did you do to your hair?"

"I dyed it! And if you'll all drop out of panic mode, I'll tell you why I dyed it and where I've been and what I've been doing,' Kelly yelled back, glaring at all of them. Then she turned less aggressively to Pat. "That is, if I can have a drink to soothe my throat after all the shouting I have to do in this house to get listened to." It was Todd who provided the jwce and then sat down at the table, where she began the recital of her inquiries.

"Nrrna helped?" Todd interrupted as she began.

Then, "How well did you know this Dalkey? Can you trust him?"

"I probably shouldn't have mentioned his name, Kelly said tartly, "but I trust you not to repeat it.

And not to get stupid about me approaching the only one I felt could help us. And he's still helping us, or rather Inspector DeVeer is." "Cool it, Todd,' Ken said in an aside. "Continue, Kelly." She did but was aware that Todd was uncharacteristically morose until she got to the part about DeVeer taking her with him to interrogate Klonski.

"You see, we were all working on the wrong assumption,' she said, looking at Ken, "that the brands had been altered somehow. Even Kiachif thought Klonski might be able to do that but he didn't. In fact, he burst out laughing at the very notion that he was being accused of rustling." The others didn't quite seem to see the humor in that, so she continued. "He did much worse. .. all to incriminate you,' and now she turned her gaze to Todd to see the dawning of hope in his eyes.

"Klonski altered the log tapes . . . By the way, which of you handed them over to Rogitel?"

"Neither of us did. He removed them from the unit himself,' Todd said.

"Well, then, that's when he switched them." Todd opened his mouth to protest. "You know, you're right. He bundled the log box into a plastic sack and carried it off in a proprietary fashion. I didn't think about it till now and I was certainly too shocked at all he was flinging at Hrriss and me to think his manner odd. Kelly nodded. "It had to be Rogitel substituting the altered tapes and at that moment, since the ship had been properly sealed. I wonder where your real log went."

"Into the nearest vat of acid,' Todd said with a deep sigh.

"Possibly not,' Ken suggested thoughtfully. "Go on, Kelly. what else did Klonski do?" Her eyes glowed. "This is sort of the best part.

He altered satellite security modes."

"He what?" Ken lifted off his chair and Todd stared at her as if she had suddenly changed shape.

"Don't know how, do know why,' she went on.

"To let the rustlers in and out,' Ken continued, throwing both arms in the air at such an obvious explanation.

"Klonski was rather proud of that. And DeVeer has it all on tape!" Kelly said, grinning broadly.

"Is DeVeer really on our side, Kelly?" Ken asked, his expression grim.

"I think so, sir,' Kelly replied. "He admitted he doesn't really like the Doona Experiment. He was alive when the Siwanna Tragedy occurred but he also admitted that colored his opinions. But,' and she waggled her finger at all three Reeves, "he's out to crush the rustling because too many uninoculated animals are being transported illegally.

And he said the incidents of rustling had increased all out of proportion. He couldn't figure out why."

"I brought the illegal hides to him .

"And I've been squaring my eyeballs trying to match missing horses to those hides with duplicate Reeve marks." Ken brought his fist down on the table so smartly that it startled everyone else. "Okay, we've had the wrong end of the stick. Kiachif gave me a clue in reporting Mark Aden helping to load that leopard Apple for export. He was also about the height you are now, Todd, dark-haired and blue eyes, and to Zapatans that description also fits you. Let's assume that Mark rustled while he worked for me.

So he probably stashed unmarked foals, born in the pastures, in some blind canyon. He had the run of our ranch as well as our neighbors'. He could have picked up unbranded foals from all over.

Every breeder expects a few mares to abort in a year or lose their foals to mdas before we round "em up for branding. But just one or two from fifty or so ranches, and that'd make a nice shipment offworld.

Especially if someone is turning off the satellite tape-or however your Klonski rigged the system, and your rustler's away with no one the wiser."

"Spacedep is involved up to its armpits,' Kelly said, "and I think Inspector DeVeer is going to prove it. which reminds me, I promised my friend Dalkey that I'd sponsor him to Doona."

"You did?" Todd gave her the queerest look she'd ever seen on his face.

"How else can we repay him for the help he's given?"

"If there is a Doona for him to come to,' Todd said in a bleak tone. "Neither Hrriss nor I is cleared "You will be!" Kelly said emphatically.

"Kelly, this family can never properly repay you, Pat said, tears of relief in her eyes. She dabbed at them with the edge of the dish towel she had had in her hand when she heard Kelly arrive.

"We're neighbors, aren't we?" Kelly replied, struggling not to get too sentimental. Wanting very much to hear Todd commend her. "And it's Hrriss and Todd who've been jeopardized. I don't let my friends get done over. How much more time dowe have before the trial?" She looked at Ken Reeve because she couldn't look at Todd, who still faced that ordeal unless lots of things fell into place in the next few days.

"We've not yet been informed,' Ken said in a taut voice. Then his face broke into a relieved smile and he leaned forward with his elbows on the table.

"Look, we can't do much about the satellite . .

"Kiachif?" Todd asked, also leaning forward, his expression alert even if he wouldn't look at Kelly next to him.

"Possibly,' Ken said, "and I don't know how we'd locate the genuine log tape -, "Emma Sumitral?" Pat suggested, her eyes brighter with hope than with tears.

"I can ask, but now we concentrate our efforts on finding where stolen livestock could have been hidden."

"Tadpole in a tangle of tiddlers,' Todd said, "but there'd have to be water, good grass, some sort of shelter. . "Well off all known trails, especially snake ones,' Kelly added. "But every rancher'll help now."

"They've all been helping. . ." And Todd inadvertently turned his head toward her.

Kelly held her breath, not wanting to turn away from the look in his eyes, keen again and as intense as they got when he was thinking rapidly, as he did on a Snake Hunt, examining and rejecting alternatives.

He was her buoyant, marvelous, alive Todd again.

He lifted his body from the chair in a lithe movement. "I'll send out a revised message, for mares that ought to have foaled and didn't come in with foal at foot. Let's see how many come up missing on that data!" "No, son,' and Ken grabbed Todd's arm as he passed. "You'll saddle up Gypsy and go out hunting for likely places to stash livestock. Pat, you send out a blanket message to all ranches to be on the lookout for such storage spots, and also query folks about barren mares. Kelly, will you ask your father and brothers to help?"

"I'll go there first, but I promised Nrrna that I'd come over and give Hrriss the good news as soon as I'd told you." She dared look at Todd again.

"You were nearer Hrriss if you came in on the village grid,' he said.

Kelly cocked her head at him, thought she wanted to shake him out of his stasis. Couldn't he see what her priority was? She planted her fists at her belt so she wouldn't do something drastic in front of his parents. "I've got my priorities in order, Todd Reeve. Hrriss doesn't ranch horses." With that she pushed past him and out of the house, down the steps, and vaulted to Calypso's back before she thought what she was doing.

"Hey . Kelly?" Todd's plaintive, puzzled call followed her down the track.

when he went back into the house, he saw the amused expressions on his parents' faces. "what'd I do to upset her?"

"For a bright man, you can be as dense as two planks,' his mother said, and took herself back to the kitchen.

Todd looked at his father, who was making strangled noises.

"I think, son, it's more what you didn't do that's upset her. And you should get your priorities right.

But not now. Now we got some rustler pens to find.

You'll have time to apologize to Kelly later."

"Apologize?" Ken turned his son around and shoved him toward the door. "Saddle my horse when you're tacking Gypsy. Tell Lon what we're going to look for and let's get going!" Ken's voice raised to a triumphant shout as Todd pitched forward and out the door from his father's hefty push.

what he should apologize to Kelly for bothered him as soon as he set off in the southeasterly direction his father had appointed him to search so that he could stay within the Reeve Ranch limits for more klicks than if he went west ornorth.

Perhaps he ought to have been more effusive in his thanks, but he'd been so scared that Kelly had done something stupid-which she had, only it worked out right-or been abducted-which was not really a possibility, but in his anxiety he had imagined all kinds of gory fates. She really had come up a heroine to smuggle herself back to Earth on a Hrruban grid. . . he ground his teeth, knowing that she had faced a sentence of life on a penal world if she'd been caught. why hadn't she gone to one of those girlfriends she'd told him about? who was this Dalkey Petersham? why would she sponsor a Terran to Doona, a Terran working in Spacedep? It was analogous to inviting Jilamey Landreau to a weekend at her family's lake cabin.

And this DeVeer Polly! who hadn't really listened to his father when he reported hides that didn't match their records. They had got the wrong end of that stick, l right. Stupid not to have tumbled to the duplications. Kiachif once again to the rescue. Only then did Todd become aware that Gypsy's gallop was slowing. Gently he eased the gray to a more sedate pace. No sense taking his frustration out on his horse. He gave Gypsy's neck several affectionate slaps to reassure him and kneed him toward the nearest height. It commanded a good view over to the next range of hills. As he reined Gypsy in, he looked out over the land, peaceful and greening up well. More mares would be foaling.

An odd noise attracted both him and Gypsy a the same time, the horse pricking his ears anc turning his head to the right. An echo it was, a has, echo, too loud for a nearby mda. The sounc gathered intensity, and suddenly, out of the fold 0 the hills before him, he saw the pointed snout of shuttle angling upward. It pulled up above the hills1

its engines roaring, thrusters blazing.

Todd sent Gypsy down the hill at a gallop while he grabbed for his radio and called the ranch.

"Mom! Notify Martinson at once. A shuttle jusi illegally lifted off our property. I'm going to see ii there are any traces of stock near the launch burn."

"what? Are you sure, Todd?"

"Mom! Don't argue.

Tell Martinson to monitor the tracking satellites. They can catch him as he leaves the atmosphere." Despite the clip at which he pushed Gypsy, it took him nearly an hour to reach the launch spot.

what he saw there made him weep, but it was also incontrovertible truth that someone had been rustling Reeve livestock. Concealed in a fold of the hill, where trees formed a screen, a paddock had been fenced, the posts and rails so well disguised by shrubs, some of them rroamal, that Ken, or Todd, or Lon could have ridden by here every day and never noticed the setup. They wouldn't have looked past the rroamal to the glade, for horses avoided that plant as carefully as Humans did.

Water had been piped into a big barrel, fitted with a stopcock.

Dung dotted the little glade, enough for twenty or so horses, just the number to make a nice profit for the rustler's efforts. But not nIl the horses had been loaded and that's what upset Todd the most.

Three yearlings, well grown, freeze-marked with the Reeve brand, lay on the ground. One had a broken neck-probably caused fighting to resist being loaded, for the rope burns on head and neck were obvious. The other two had broken legs. The nails that had been driven between their eyes into their skulls had not been removed. Todd shuddered.

Circling the corral, Todd also found the bleach marks that freeze-brand chemicals made when carelessly spilled.

His radio bleeped.

"Todd?" It was Lon.

"They caught "em?"

"Nothing, Todd,' and Lon's voice sounded as savage as Todd felt. "Linc Newry says there was no alarm from the orbiters."

"But that's impossible. I saw it launch. There has to be traces of that!" "I'll patch Linc through to you,' Lon said, and Todd was too enraged to bother to hold the handset from his ear to avoid the high-pitch squeal as the patch to the Launch Center was made.

"I know you think you saw something, Todd,' Newry said apologetically but firmly. "But no ships took off Doona today at all and none were scheduled to land."

"Linc, I know what I saw! I know what I see about me right now-three dead yearlings with nails driven through their skulls because one had a broken neck and two had broken legs. Check your readouts, will ya? Check your equipment Todd almost suggested that Linc check for tampering but that would be premature.

He knew Linc Newry too well to suspect the man was in league with Doona's detractors, but this was the time to stand pat and let someone with clout, like DeVeer, handle that end of the business.

"Todd, I'm serious. Nothing came through the atmosphere. All readings are normal. But you can be sure I'll keep my eyes peeled to the gauges.

Could be they only up-and-overed. Maybe they had another rendezvous but they won't leave Doona without my seeing "em tonight.

"You're probably right. They up-and-overed.

Thanks, Linc. Over and out!" He held the radio away from his ear as the connection ended, then dialed Lon again.

"Ouch,' Lon said. "I didn't disconnect. I heard what he said, Todd, and I heard what you said.

Fardling bastards! When I get my hands on "em . - Give me your whereabouts. We'll join you to film the evidence. Got any idea whose they were rustling?"

"The one with the broken neck is a leopard Appaloosa,' Todd said, his shoulders sagging at the irony.

Uncharacteristically loud voices echoed in the Council room of the Speakers of Hrruba. Third Speaker raised his voice to be heard above them all. He was getting old, but fury gave his throat the power to shout down his opponents who were arguing over his tirade against Rrala. Only the banging of the gavel of First Speaker Hrruna put an end to the snarling and growls.

"That is enough,' First Speaker said in a very soft voice. "Third Speaker, will you give substance to your demand that Rra}a be disbanded?"

"You have all read the report from the Treaty Controller,' Third said, raking his fellow administrators with a glare which stopped short just before it fell on First Speaker. "One of our most prominent young diplomats is involved in a disgraceful situation, in which he is accused of capital crimes, in violation both of the Treaty of Rrala and of Hrruban Law. Hrrss theft! Robbery from interdicted worlds! He has been corrupted by his Hayuman companion. I have been getting full reports from my representatives on Rrala, and none of it is good news.

It would seem that this is not an isolated case. Honorable, honest citizens are being lured into a life of crime by these animals who walk like Hrrubans! Rrala must be closed to Hayumans, or all of society will suffer!"

"Surely responsibility for reporting the actions on Rrala falls to Second Speaker for External Affairs,' Hrruna said, indicating Hrrto, seated to his right.

The First Speaker's mane had gone entirely white, but his eyes were as keen as ever. "I have already had his report, and it gives me the same information you offer.

"This information affects Internal Affairs,' Third Speaker said doggedly. "Now that the date draws near for Treaty Renewal, when the Hayumans hope to have it extended, there is a chance to painlessly end these harmful influences before they do more ill unto the youth of Hrruba. I have been besieged by special interest groups here on Hrruba.

This young Hrruban, Hrriss, has been implicated in crimes committed solely to profit a Hayuman. We cannot support corruption of this kind. It is an ill example for our young people. We must withdraw our support for the continuation of the Treaty." There was more shouting, and the First Speaker applied his gavel to its stand.

"I have heard also from Hrruvula, counsel for the accused. He is adamant that his clients are innocent of the charges brought against them and must be allowed to clear their names. I find that I agree with him. Hiriss and Zodd have always acted in honor before."

"A ruse!

Never did trust bareskins." Seventh Speaker for Management was the newest member of the Council, and of the narrowest stripe. As a result, he tried harder than any of the others to follow a, clear mandate from his constituency rather than make risky decisions on his own. He was diligent and the trade figures continued to rise. So much so, in fact, that the higher the balance from the benefits of trading under the Treaty conditions, the more certain he was that the Hayumans were stealing profit from Hrruban interests. "They will destroy us."

"I disagree,' said the Fifth Speaker for Health and Medicine. "1 have close associations with many Hayuman practitioners in my specialty.

They have provided us with knowledge and techniques we could not have developed on our own. They have done nothing but improve our standards. You cannot deny that mental outlook and physical health have been on the upswing since the Rrala Experiment began. Rrala has moved steadily out of what could have been a terminal situation in the younger generations, in the main due to interaction with another speaking, thinking race. Why,' he said, trying to lighten the mood, "if only for the fresh food alone, the Rralan Experiment should not be ended-certainly not because of a situation involving one single Hayuman."

"He is representative of his race,' Third Speaker raged, unamused. He pounded on the table and pointed a claw at First Speaker.

"The one you considered to be most honorable, above all other Hayumans. Here, honor is at stake. what is cohabitation without trust? We were warned from the beginning of this unnatural colony, by this Zocid's own father, that one day Hayumans might try to take what is ours. what is more precious than honor?"

"Honor certainly is at stake,' Second Speaker Hrrto agreed. "The honor of a Hrruban as well as a Hayuman. And Hrruban honor requires us to wait for the results of their trial before we condemn an entire society. That would be honorable behavior on our part." There was more shouting, which First Speaker silenced by banging the gavel.

"Very well, we will put it to the vote,' Hrruna said. "Those in favor of allowing Hiriss, son of Hirestan, and Zodd Rrev to be proved innocent, vote aye." Third Speaker held up a hand to stay the voting.

"As a rider to this resolution, let us set a time period in which their honor must be proved. A significant date approaches: Treaty Renewal Day. If these two have not expunged the stain on their honor by that day, we must vote against renewal, for the sake of our youth.

Those on Rrala will not be penalized, for other planets have been opened,' he added, "and they can make homes there, safe from Hayuman influence." No one spoke to debate that rider, though several faces reflected dismay.

"Very well, the rider is allowed,' Hiruna said reluctantly, then called for the vote. It was overwhelmingly in favor of the motion.

Satisfied, Hrruna nodded. His eyes were bleak as he addressed Third.

"You may so notify the Treaty Controller of our decision. Third Speaker bowed. Probably to hide his true feelings, Hrruna thought sadly.

The Launch Center bar was the perfect place to hold meetings, All Kiachif thought as he entered the place. It had small nooks and obscure corners where private conversations could be held-and the proprietor debugged his rooms at random intervals.

Kiachif had most opportunely made a gap in his schedule for a long stopover at Doona; originally to discuss new rulings and profit principles with the captains who answered to him. He had acquired a second purpose which he diligently pursued, leading almost every conversation to topics that might help Ken Reeve and his boy.

"Well, look at you,' a man said, blinking, as his eyes became accustomed to the gloom in the bar.

"If I'd known you were already here, Kiachif, I'd have gone to the Centauris instead."

"what for?" asked Kiachif airily, shaking hands with Captain Feyder. "We've been there already, with all the best the colony worlds have to offer.

Tell "em, never compel "em, and you sell "em, that's my motto." The friendly rivalry between the independent merchant Rog Feyder and All Kiachif had gone on for years. Feyder sat down, and Kiachif signalled to the harman to bring bottles for them both.

"I've got a shipment of unrefined sugar for Doona. Special order.

Just unloading." Feyder let Kiachif fill his glass, waited till All had filled his own, and then raised it courteously to his old rival.

"Your health."

"Yours! Hear unrefined sugar used to make damned fine spirituous potables.4

"Did it? Well, we make sure the customers get what they order, don't we? Though sometimes you wonder why they pay the freight charges." "Oh?" Kiachif had long since learned the art of subtle prompting.

"Sugar's the most ordinary thing I have on board.

The damnedest things are getting shipped these days."

"That they are,' Kiachif agreed. "Last season, I carried a copper sculpture fifteen meters long to one of the outer agriworlds from Doona. A commissioned work by the governor to commemorate ten years of the colony, engraved with the name of every colonist and his accomplishments. It was a pain up the afterburners to handle, but orders are orders! I hate to see what he'll ask for when twenty-five rolls around, like Doona's is." "Aye, I wanted to come back for the big celebration, but I should be worlds away by then,' Feyder said. "I'm just here on turnabout, starting me route over from the topside. No, when I say strange, I mean the epitome of strange, not ordinary strange. Listen to this one. Got a meteorite puncture on my way in from the outer worlds. After we sealed it up, I found a container cracked open in that bay, with the meteorite smack in the middle like a ball through a glass window.

Splintered the whole damned thing into pieces.

D'you know what had been inside?"

"Not an idea."

"A beacon. An orbital drone beacon,' said Feyder, slapping his leg. "No assignment code. No idea where it came from. We checked its memory, and it was hollering Mayday like a pack of banshees. Did you ever hear such a thing in your life?"

"By all that's white, bright, and right,- All said, holding on to his excitement, "that surely is a strange thing to report. Never heard its like in all my years in space. And it didn't have no ID number. you say?" Feyder was not at all taken in by Kiachifs idle curiosity and gave him a long sly look. "Now I can't rightly remember."

"We could both take a look,' Kiachif said.

"So you can see what else I'm hauling and crossship me? Try another one, Kiachif. "Surely there must be a little favor! could do for you, Rog ol' boy!" Feyder regarded him speculatively. "Well, now, there's the matter of the Eighth Sector."

"Oh?" and the single sound dove and swooped up again while Kiachifs eyes went round as ball bearings.

"Hell, All, you gotta leave some routes open for the independents.

"That's true enough,' Kiachif said, scratching the stubble on his chin. "I don't want to appear greedy, or restrict free trade . . .

You don't happen to have it still on board, do you?" He winked at Feyder.

"Happen I do. But you don't get a look at it. That amadan portmaster's gone all rules and regs on honest traders and he sealed my hatch when I told him that I was only here to refuel and get a drink or two. I can't unseal till I reach Earth, my next port 0' call."

"Earth, huh? Is that where your funny gizmo's going?" Feyder drained his glass, which Kiachif promptly refilled. "Yup, going to Earth.

Spacedep's the address on the manifest.

"Is that so?"

"It is."

"That's the queerest sort of cargo to carry, I do agree. A beacon with no point of origin, screaming a Mayday, if you get what I mean."

"Do you mean to let us have some routes in Eighth, then?" Kiachif affected hurt innocence. "Of course, I do.

Soon's you can give me the beacon's ID. Give you my word,' and he held up his right, bargain-making hand in promise.

Just then some of Feyder's gangers entered the bar and Kiachif had a chance to slip away to find Feyder's supercargo, who was an old friend, and called in a favor he had with that man. "when you get to Earth, just make certain you order that box opened in front of the inspectors because it was "damaged in transit."

"why?" the super wanted to know.

"I'm not going to tell you why, what, or wherefore,' Kiachif insisted, fending off the man's questions. "That would be suborning the witness, if you know what I mean. I just need an official inquiry into the contents of that container! And let me know who picks it up.

That's important, too." He left the Launch Center, looking for Ken.

Only Pat was at the farm, just getting up from the computer and looking so sick to heart. Kiachif thought he'd better let her talk her worry out of her system. And a drink'd help that process.

"They should be back fairly soon, All,' she said, still distracted and worried.

"Now, Patricia, why don't you get me a little drink and tell me all about it?"

"All, you haven't changed in twenty-four years, she said, but she looked at him, not around him, and he chuckled.

"why should I?"

"I know what you mean, she capped his jovial question with his own words. "Perhaps a drink's not a bad idea what with everything that's happened today."

"You look wore out, Patricia.

You sit. I'll get the bottle. Know where you keep it."

"That doesn't surprise me,' she murmured, low enough so he wouldn't hear her out in the kitchen.

But his low chuckle suggested that he had. He was back in no time with the bottle of mlada and two glasses. "Oh, that's too much for me, All." "Not a bit of it. You're paler'n a milk stone and this'll put heart in you. Your health!" They touched glasses and she watched in fascination as half the large tumbler disappeared down his throat while a sip was all she could swallow. Still, as it slid down, she felt --i!s warmth easing the tension in her body.

"Now, what's been happening here today?" So she told him, including a summary of Kelly's activities on Earth, DeVeer's assistance, and Klonski's admissions.

"Knew that feller was involved in all this. Shoulda known he'd be put to better use than changing freeze marks. Hmmm. And Todd saw the shuttle blasting off and it didn't register at the Launch Center?" Kiachif frowned deeply. "That do sort of point to the fact that Doona's security satellites might have felt the touch of Klonski's little talented digits.

Pat frowned in the act of sipping the mlada. "Linc Newry-whom we've no reason to distrustthought maybe the shuttle up-and-overed. He promised to keep a close watch on all the orbital monitors.

"Huh! If one's been tampered with, they all have.

That your men coming back now?" he asked. Ears sharp enough to hear air escaping from a pinhole caught the thud of horses' hooves and wagon wheels. Two wagons, he thought.

Pat hurried to throw open the door.

"All!" Ken swung his leg over the pommel and, throwing his reins to Robin with an admonition to rub Sockertwo down well, charged up the steps to greet the spacefarer. "Glad to see you. Got some questions .

. "Got some answers, but not necessary to your questions. Hi there, ropy,' All added, shaking Todd's hand as he joined his father on the porch.

"Need a drink? Made your wife join me in a glass and you both look like you need a swig er two to set you right before we start jawing." Ken and Todd instantly saw the merits of that suggestion.

They'd had a bad time in that hidden corral. Vic Solinari and Ben Adjei had sledded over to verify their findings. Vic had taken blood and tissue samples from the little leopard Apple - he was positive it had been foaled by his spotted mare and Ben had done the same with the other two.

One bore so many of his sire's physical traits that it was easy to identify it as having come from the Hrrel Ranch. The other, a chestnut filly, had no distinguishing marks to give clues to her origin. Ben Adjei would freeze all three carcasses in case they were needed as evidence. They had made the most careful sweep, section by section, to find any more clues. The only one they did find was a half-empty sack of ssersa seed, which proved that the rustlers must have been responsible for the proliferation of that weed on previously cleared pasturelands.

Halfway through their recital, Pat slipped from the kitchen, having been distressed enough by the details to feel that preparing food was a better occupation for her.

With a tray full of steaming bowls of stew and bread rolls as well as a fresh bottle of mlada, she returned in time to hear why All Kiachif had sought them out.

"I've found me a new occupation,' All began, sipping at a freshly filled glass. "You might say I've taken to reading the future, if you know what I mean,' and he winked at Robin and Inessa, who had joined those in the living room once their evening stable chores had been completed. Lon had come in, too. "If I was to say, for example, that someone in the docks on Earth is going to open a container in four days, and make an official note that he found inside it a homeless beacon drone calling Mayday, would you believe me?" Todd and Robin let out a wild, joyous war cry.

Ken pounded the old merchant on the back. "How did you discover that, you old pirate?"

"Never mind,' Kiachif said, much gratified by the reaction to his news. He tapped his lips. "I have my sources, if you understand me. But I'll say that the probe's code number will be ARB-546-O8, and see if it isn't.

"I'd better let Poldep know,' Ken said, starting toward the computer.

Hastily Kiachif put a hand on his arm. "Easy on the retros, mate.

It'll be reported to them by the appropriate authorities. It might seem as if you know something about it as you shouldn't, if you know what I mean. Just concentrate on what's near, dear, and here, and everything will work out all right. They'll soon have proof that these boys passed through into Hrrilnorr space for good and sound reasons." He winked solemnly and took another long pull on his drink. "

"Sides, Patricia's been telling me a thing or two that falls pleasantly upon the ears. It's all coming together, if you get what I mean, all coming neatly together."

"Finding that shuttle beacon'll really clear us, Dad,' Todd said, his whole being revitalized. "How will we ever thank you for locating it, Captain Kiachif?"

"Well, laddie, there's such things as hidden profits. I get what you need, you keep this planet viable, and I cart off the excess and sell it. You plant it, I transplant it. Neither of us loses that way!

Better get going. Can't trust those gangers of mine.

M{ght get randy drunker something.

A few days later, Hrruvula notified them that information about the nameless beacon had been received by Poldep and passed on to the Treaty Council. An audience with the Council was arranged immediately to plead for their release.

Rogitel appeared, representing Spacedep, followed by Varnorian of Codep, who thudded heavily into a chair and gazed without much interest at the ceiling. Sampson DeVeer, having tendered an official copy of the supercargo's report, represented the Poldep arm of interplanetary government. Ken and Hrrestan slipped in when the boys' attorney was admitted. They ignored indignant, outraged, and pointed glances in their direction; Hrrestan patiently, Ken stubbornly.

Although DeVeer also handed copies to each of the individual Councillors, they seemed to read as if spelling out each syllable in whichever language the document had been rendered.

Hrruvula finally cleared his throat several times and gained the Controller's signal to proceed.

"As you have all had time to read and absorb the significance of the document so kindly brought by Inspector DeVeer, it is apparent, honored ones, that my clients have told the truth from the very beginning." Hrruvula noted the glowers from Rogitel and Varnorian. "I am certain we are all relieved that two such fine young men have been cleared."

"On this one point,' the Treaty Controller snapped out, "not on the other crimes of which they still stand accused. They must be adjudged guilty or innocent on all." The Treaty Controller was adamant in his particularity. "More than jut a simple matter of truth or falsehood is involved here. It pivots on the trust of one race for another in all matters concerning Rrala."

"Is that just rhetoric,' Ken asked Hrrestan in an undertone, "or is he issuing a challenge?"

"It would seem so,' the village elder said. "Hrruvula tells me that he has heard of a resolution passed in the Hrruban Council of Speakers that will require it to withhold approval of the Treaty if our sons are proved guilty of the charges laid against them." Ken felt as if the floor had dropped out from under him. "That's ridiculous!" he exclaimed, his voice rising. He hastily recalled where he was.

"Holding up the Treaty for a pack of trumped-up allegations? what happened to "innocent before being proved guilty"?"

"Silence, please!' Treaty Controller banged on the table with his gavel.

Ken glanced up and received the chairman's full glare. He forced himself to subside and sit quietly beside Hrrestan. Hrruvula resumed speaking.

"If one accusation has been proved spurious, honored Council members,' the attorney said, bowing gracefully so that his long red robes swayed, "and the characters of the two young men must speak for them somewhat . .

"Granted,' Councillor Dupuis spoke up from her end of the dais.

Councillor Mrrorra nodded her agreement, too.

Does that not cast significant doubt on the other incidents?" The Hrruban paused, hands extended to the board, appealingly.

"One piece of proof doesn't negate the other charges ipso facto,' Rogitel said with dry contempt.

His grasp of the formal court language was by no means as complete or subtly shaded as Hrruvula's, but his diction was exact. "They will have to prove their innocence on each and every count and I doubt that lies within their abilities. There is still massive evidence on the charge of illegal purchase and smuggling of controlled artifacts.

The Treaty Controller polled his Council, and the result, to Ken's dismay, was a majority requiring a total acquittal. "The Council agrees. Inn cence must be proved in regards to each of the remaining charges."

"Then let them prove their innocence together,Hrruvula said in a rich, rolling purr. "Keeping them apart was perhaps an acceptable remedy when their probity was issue. It no longer is. Therefore, I feel that the separation of these two friends of the heart perpetrates an unnecessary cruelty. They both must be proved innocent so let them both work to prove it. That is not an unreasonable,' and Hiruvula's cultivated voice rolled out the word syllable by syllable, and rolled out the next word, "request to make." His voice rose slightly, not quite a question, but certainly subtly insinuating that it was too petty a contingency to be denied. Now he made deliberate eye contact with the Treaty Controller. "There is much at stake as you, honored Controller, know.

The Controller seemed somewhat taken aback that anyone else knew about the Speakers' decision, and he stared at the tall and elegant attorney.

"We can't release them from house arrest, Rogitel protested vehemently. "If they are allowed loose, who can tell what they'll do next. Spacedep does not recommend giving that pair the freedom of the planet."

"Honored Council members, may I speak?" Sampson DeVeer rose impressively to his feet and gazed down upon Rogitel. "Poldep disagrees with Spacedep. I agree with honored counsel that to be fair the house arrest should indeed be lifted. I have only so many hands and eyes at my disposal. I would be grateful for the additional help, which I assure Spacedep I will direct most carefully." DeVeer bowed toward Rogitel, who sat staring up at him in barely concealed consternation. Ken could almost hear the wheels twirling in that machinelike brain of his. "They will be released, as it were, into my cognizance. I will know where they are at all times.

Ken and Hrrestan could have cheered for DeVeer when he sat down, but that would have annoyed the already tried Treaty Controller further.

"I cannot condone their release for any reason whatsoever,' Rogitel said flatly.

"Nor I,' said Varnorian, after being pointedly nudged by his companion.

"But you do not have to. You have no actual authority in these cases,' DeVeer said gently.

"Though you are frequently asked for advice, all misdemeanors and certainly grand arceny fall within Poldep jurisdiction. In my opinion, Codep and Spacedep are grossly overstepping their authority by attempting to investigate crimes or act as a judicial body where one is suspected." He raised his voice. "I held my tongue before this, but in light of proof represented by the beacon and other data I have recently been shown, I urgently request the Treaty Council to release Todd Reeve and Hrriss, son of Hrrestan, from a home arrest which I understand neither has violated in any particular. Rather this body should applaud their humanity in answering a Mayday signal, knowing that it was an infraction of the Treaty they have both upheld and promoted."

"He should have been a barrister,' Hrruvula murmured in an aside to Ken. "what a presence!" The Treaty Controller found himself outnumbered by his own Council, who were overwhelmingly in favor of DeVeer's proposal.

"We have spent enough of our valuable time on this case,' an elderly Hiruban member argued.

Treaty Controller had always suspected that Second Speaker Hrrto had seen to his nomination to the Council. "Our time is limited. We should turn our attention to the matters which truly concern us and I suggest respectfully that we have the chamber cleared so that we may proceed.

Treaty Controller had no choice but to agree. He referred to the printed agenda on the table before him. "Very well. The Council will reconsider this matter four weeks from today. The allegations against the defendants and the proof for and against their guilt will be discussed before the final vote on Treaty Renewal. So moved." He banged the small hammer.

"Seconded,' Madam Dupuis trumpeted. The gavel fell again. "You are excused, gentles." Ken almost danced out of the austere chamber and he could see the violent switchings of Hrrestan's tail as he walked beside him. When the doors had closed behind Hiruvula, Ken and Hrrestan could no longer contain their roars of triumph and were shushed by Hrruvula as well as the bailiff.

Ken's stride quickened to a jog, and he flat-handed open one side of the heavy door of the Treaty Building, Hrrestan doing the same to his leaf, until they were out in the open and able to cheer as loudly as they chose. Hayuman and Hrruban made for the transport grid' Hrrestan telling the startled operator to send them to the Friendship Bridge.

Once there, Ken looked at his old friend, his eyes dancing.

"Shall we see which of us gets to his son first?" Hiriss's swifter feet made the reunion just barely on the Human side of the Friendship Bridge. He and Todd slammed into each other's arms, pounding each other on the back and talking at the same time. Hrriss felt something slapping him in the legs.

After a startled downward glance, he started to howl with laughter until his tear ducts overflowed.

"So, my Zodd, while we have been apart, you have grown a new tail,' he said, when he could catch his breath between snorts of laughter.

"What better way to celebrate our reuniting, Todd replied, grinning until his jaw ached but not far from tears of joy himself.

"It proved a talisman once before and I felt we needed all the luck we could cobble up." With the practice of many childhood years, Todd reached for the length of rope, carefully frayed at the end to resemble the tufted tip of the Hrruban caudal appendage. Then with a decisive gesture, he hauled it loose from his belt. "I couldn't miss a real tail more than I have missed you, friend of my heart."

"I have missed you, too,' Hrriss said, giving Todd a rib-crushing hug. "Half of my life was severed from my heart, my mind, my soul. Twenty-four years we have been friends, and these last weeks have seemed far longer than those we have enjoyed together."

"We don't do as well apart as we do together, Todd said with a rueful grin. One arm about Hrriss's shoulders and he felt twice the man who'd slumped about the house and ranch, unable to concentrate, like a machine idling. - "whoa there!' And his hand dug into Hrriss's forearm to stop him.

Surprised, Hrriss stopped and regarded the sparkling in Todd's blue eyes and noticed the wicked grin shaping his hairless lips.

"what thought has occurred to my friend now that his brain is engaged again?" Todd slapped a hand to his forehead. "I haven't been thinking. And it only just dawned on "He turned, gripping Hrriss by both shoulders. "Okay, so they know we weren't lying about the Mayday: they found the bloody beacon, but there's other incontrovertible evidence that the Albie couldn't have made all those stops, and not one of us, not even Captain All, thought of it." Hrriss racked his brain, shaking his head. "I do not know what you mean. Spare me more suspense, zOdd." "The engines of the Albie - - and us!" Todd's grin got broader and his eyes were so bright that Hrriss thought they would pop from his head. He fanned his fingers at his friend. "C'mon, c'mon.

what effect would all that warp-jump travel have on an engine?

what effect would so many warp jumps have on the crew of a ship making them?" Hrriss's jaw dropped to his chest and his tail began to lash.

"Of course! Proof that we weren't where that tape said we were has always been in front of our faces.

"In our faces, if you please. That sort of travel would have left us trembling wrecks. How many jumps were we supposed to have made?

Nine?

We're pretty fit guys, but we'd've been dragging for days after so many transfers. And the engines?

They'd've been dry as old snakeskins and badly in need of realignment. Wowwee!" Todd ripped off a wild yell that echoed across the village green.

"C'mon. Race you to Hu's. His is the nearest console and we want him to hear this, too." Since their meeting on the bridge had been more on the Hayuman side than the Hrruban, their few steps brought them to the Hayuman lands.

"Rrrace me?" Hrriss demanded. "We rrrace but together, zOdd.

Together!" Hrriss was so full of joy he could have run to Hrruba and back without benefit of the grid, but now he lifted his thighs to push off, Todd beside him, the friends heading toward the low bungalow that housed Hu Shih and his wife, Phyllis.

She saw the pair thundering down the path toward her house and called over her shoulder at Hu.

"Todd and Hrriss are coming at a stampede.pace, Hu. Oh, dear, you don't think any more has happened, do you?" Her husband, his age showing only in his slower movements, patted her hand as he peered out the window.

"Something good, to judge by the elation on their faces." And Hu felt the better for seeing that as well as seeing them together again.

That had been such a miserable thing to do to those boys. Young men, he corrected himself.

"Mrs. Shih, good morning. Good morning, sir,' Todd said, his bows as jerky as his breath from running. "Please, sir, can we use your comunit? We urgently need to contact Captain Kiachif." Hrriss had said nothing but he was bowing and grinning his jaw off its hinges and Hu stepped aside, gesturing toward the alcove which constituted his home office and held the communications equipment.

"You'd better hear this, too, sir. Don't know why we didn't think of it sooner than this.

"You boys have always operated as a team,' Phyllis said, her indignant expression showing her poor opinion of the separation.

Todd raised Captain Kiachifs ship only to be informed that the captain was asleep.

"Look, Todd Reeve here. Hrriss and I have to speak to him. I know he's probably hung over. Put a cup of jnalak in his hand and ask him to please come speak to me. It's urgent or you'd better believe I wouldn't bother Captain All so early.

Todd flung a grin over his shoulder, for it was close to midday.

Hrriss chuckled, and even Hu smiled.

"That man!" Phyllis muttered, for she had never understood how anyone could consume so much hard spirits and be allowed to command a ship, much less a whole fleet of them.

"This better be good, young feller me lad,' came a growl that was barely recognizable as a voice.

"Drink the malak, Captain All, while you listen, Todd said. He explained his theory in crisp sentences and was rewarded by a string of curses.

"Plain as the nose on my face, which has always been very plain to see,' Kiachif replied, his voice rougher with chagrin than with overindulgence.

"Look, laddie, this is something we don't leave to just one engineer. And that ship of yours is under Martinson's seal, isn't it?

So we gotta have an order to see the condition of those engines.

They ain't been touched, have they? No, good! Ha! Better "n' better.

Them's as they were left but how d'you prove you and Hrriss weren't space-shattered?"

"And start organizing the Snake Hunt the very next morning?"

"Everyone saw you then?"

"Hrriss and I had day-long conferences and there'd be tapes on the whole day . that day and the next thirteen!"

"Ha! Best way to wake up of a morning, laddie.

Good news sure sets a man up, if you know what I mean. I'll just get the DeVeer feller. He seems to know beans from bran and brawn.

Leave it with me, laddie."

"Of course, of course, of course,' Hu muttered to himself, past chagrin that he hadn't thought of that factor: that no one, trying to clear the boys these past weeks, had thought of it.

"Don't fret, Mr. Shih,' Todd said, grinning, "Hrriss and I just thought of it ourselves! You'd have to make a lot of warp jumps to know what it does to your circadian rhythms. . . or be an engineer to know what that kind of punishment does to your engines?"

"Or the skin of the ship,' Hrriss added. "The Albatrrrossss is remarkably unpitted and bright."

"Thanks for the use of the com, sir. We'd best be going.

Got a lot more to sort out today."

"Have some . . ." Phyllis's offer of lunch trailed off as the two young men were out the door, leaping off the top of the steps and making for the village corral.

Spare horses were always available for emergency use.

Hu took a deep breath. "I feel better than I have since . .

"Since Todd Reeve came out of the mist leading the First Speaker?" his wife teased.

He nodded, his smile nostalgic.

Todd and Hrriss didn't bother with saddles. They used bridles only because they didn't recognize any of the horses standing hipshot in the bright noonday sun. They set off at the easy ground-covering lope most Doonan-bred horses were trained to use, kind to both horse and rider.

Pat and Inessa came out onto the porch the moment they heard the horses. Ken, Robin, and Lon jogged up from the barn, warned by shrieks of welcome from the two females.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, Hrriss,' Pat said, pulling his head down to rub his muzzle affectionately, squeezing his hand, for he was too massive now for her to embrace.

Inessa bounced about, clapping her hands and hooting like a hunting urfa, a habit her mother deplored, but this day was too special for reprimands.

Pat was babbling about the feast they must have to celebrate the reunion, that Mrrva and Hrrestan were coming, and "Kelly and Nrrna, Inessa said, "and half the Solinaris and most of the Adjeis, and Hrrula because that filly they killed was his." The men arrived and they welcomed Hrriss with much back-thumping and handshaking, while Ken went so far as to rub cheeks with the young Hrruban.

"You've had no lunch!" Pat declared, suddenly noticing their hot faces, the sweat on Todd's and the dust on Hrriss's. "Get washed up this instant.

Inessa, come with me.

"Dad, got some real good news for you,' Todd said, interrupting the general tumult and launching into what he had asked Captain Kiachif to do.

Ken stared, as drop-jawed as a Hrruban, as he assimilated the information. Then he swung about, banging his fist against the nearest wall in selfabnegation.

"Why didn't one of us think of that aspect?"

"Calm down, Dad,' Todd said, grabbing his father's fist. "You haven't warp-jumped half as much as Hrriss and me, and you haven't logged in enough spacetime to know how it disorients you.

You know we didn't come into your office that day shagged.

Ken shook his head from side to side, still blaming himself for not seeing so plain a verification that they could not have been plucking items from so many different systems during that controversial Hrrethan flight.

Todd gave his father a clout with his fist. "Stop it, Dad, no time for recriminations now. If Captain All gets an independent, and well-witnessed, overhaul of the Albie's engines, and we get statements from everyone who saw us working all hours of the day to organize the Hunt, that still only proves we couldn't have made those side trips.

It doesn't prove who did. And that. . ." Todd glanced at Hrriss as he began spacing his words in an implacwe. . . have able one, "is . . .

what to. . . find . . . out!"

"You're right about that, son,' Ken said. "From the way the Treaty Controller was handling the hearing, not to mention the smug look on Rogitel's face and that sycophant Varnorian, proof that you didn't smuggle is not as important as documentation of who did."

"Right. Then let's figure out how to go about getting the proof." Todd pulled his father to the dining room table at which so many happier conferences had been held, snagged a chair back, and guided his father to sit. He and Hrriss sat down in the same instant beside each other while a grinning Lon Adjei and Robin joined them.

"By any chance do we have bolos of those items we're supposed to have stolen?" Todd asked.

"Hrruvula should have been given copies of all the evidence against you,' Ken said.

"Rrrobinn,' Hrriss said, "please brrring us the star maps and the handoomp. We must calculate prrrecisssely."

"Kelly's good at that,' Robin said. "And she'd want to help." He didn't glance in his brother's direction but there was a twinkle in his eye.

"Both Kelly and Nrrna will be here shortly,' Pat said, bustling in with platters piled with sandwiches.

"We owe those girls a lot,' Todd said, reaching for a sandwich.

The appetite which had deserted him during his separation from Hrriss had returned, doubled.

"Well, don't tell me,' his mother said archly.

"Tell them!" Astonished at her tone, Todd watched her leave the room. Then shook himself.

"We've also got to find out who could have possibly assembled such a variety of items, how much they'd cost on the black market-I figure Kiachif might know-' "And I will inquirre of Hrruban sssourrrccs for those which came from ourrr interdicted planets. . ." Hrriss was making notes, too.

"Any word from Linc Newry about launches?" Todd asked, remembering another detail.

Ken shook his head. "But all the ranchers are looking for burnfls and other illicit corrals. Those hides aren't as important.

"Oh, yes, they are, Dad,' Todd replied. "Every single element has to be sifted, sorted, and sewed up.

"Could Kiachifisms be contagious?" Robin asked, his face screwed up in a grin.

Rogitel did not move from his seat when Reeve and his feline friends left the Council chamber so noisily. The bailiff closed the door and returned to his post. Once order had been restored, Poldep Officer DeVeer took up where he had left off, deferring to the Spacedep official.

"If Spacedep has any further objections, I hope it will inform Poldep,' DeVeer suggested politely.

"We would be happy to cooperate in any interdepartmental inquiries." Rogitel was already considering the ramifications of the Poldep official's words. He wondered what other data Reeve had uncovered that caused Poldep to intervene on their behalf. There might be a leak in Spacedep's own offices. Internal security checks must be promptly initiated. "None at this time. Spacedep is grateful for Poldep's interest."

"Then, honored Council members, and gentlemen, I must take my leave. There is much to do in the next four weeks." DeVeer left the chamber. It seemed larger without him there. Rogitel felt less pressured. Beside him, Varnorian had fallen asleep.

"I would not wish it to be understood that the department is unwilling to cooperate,' the Spacedep subchief said, addressing the board. "Admiral Landreau will be happy to assist in any way he can to fulfill all our wishes." He met the Treaty Controller's eye, and the Hrruban nodded almost imperceptibly. Landreau was correct. The Controller was willing to form a dtente to prevent the renewal of the Treaty of Doona. Little did Treaty Controller realize that his actions would displace his fellow animals and leave the entire planet in the possession of its rightful owners, the Human race.

"I am convinced that we both want the same thing,' the Controller said. He will help me, the Treaty Controller thought. And then he and his bareskin cohorts will be expelled, leaving only Hrrubans here on Rrala. The unnatural colony would be disbanded. He and Rogitel smiled at each other companionably over the conference table.

CHAPTER 8

CAPTAIN HORSTMANN FOUND DEVEER and whisked him off to Portmaster Martinson's office, where that official was in a state of dithering shock. For one thing, he had every spacefaring captain and every chief engineer of the many ships on landing pads in his facility crowding his office and the adjacent hall.

"Make way! I got "im,' Horstmann bawled, and bellies were sucked in, toes splayed, to allow the passage of two more large men. "Special delivery!

Live cargo!"

"Now, will you tell me what this is all about?" DeVeer demanded, for he was unused to being manhandled without explanation, and his temper, exacerbated by the hearing, was becoming shorter with every passing second.

"They say . the engines will show wear and tear,' Martinson said, gulping in anxiety and waving his hands about. "But I can't let them in unless I have proper authorization. They absolutely refused to let me contact Spacedep or Codep . . ." He flinched as bass and baritone rumbles reinforced that prohibition. "Inspector DeVeer, I can accept your authorization to unseal the Albatross?" It was more entreaty than query.

"It's like this, Inspector,' and a swarthy, hooknosed wiry man with a stubbled chin, bleary-eyed, stepped forward. He wasn't a large man, but he exuded an air of authority that DeVeer related to immediately, accepting him as spokesman for this crowd. "Ya see, Todd and Hrriss are supposed to have made these nine warp jumps in the Albie on their way back from that Hrrethan do. They say they didn't. The engines in a ship that has been tightly sealed since that Spacedep chair pilot charged "em with all that piracy will show to this impartial'-and a long stained hand waved at the crowd silently listening- "jury of experts just how much wear and tear those engines took since their last service." He hauled flimsies which DeVeer recognized as maintenance records. "We got these from Martinson here and the Hrrethan Space Authority, dated, sealed, and all legal-like, as proof of the most recent service checks the aforementioned Albatross had. You sign the authorization.

We all take a look, write up official reports, and I'd bet you credits to cookies, we'll all discover- not to our amazement but what we all know without having to check-that those engines'll prove those boys didn't take no nine warp jumps in that vessel like they're accused of doing. whaddaya say?" DeVeer had had to concentrate to follow the rapid-fire explanation in a hot cramped space. It took him a moment to absorb the points.

"It will not prove who did, 0' course,' the captain went on before DeVeer could respond, "but those engines will prove those boys didn't!

Hear you got word the Mayday beacon turned up, if you know what I mean?" The captain winked. "By the way, I'm All Kiachif, skipper of the White Lightning,' and he offered DeVeer his hand.

Absently DeVeer accepted and the slender fingers were as strong as his own though the hand was half the size of his.

"I believe that could prove a profitable investigation, Captain Kiachif." DeVeer turned to Martinson, who was wiping the sweat from his face, looking haggard and harassed. "Can you supply me with the proper documents, Mr. Martinson?"

"All made out, ready for your John-Cock on the dotted line,' Kiachif said, wiping out a second sheaf of official-issue flimsy and spreading it out on the one clear portion of Martinson's desk.

Writing implements were offered by eight or nine different obliging hands. DeVeer, for once feeling completely overwhelmed, twitched the nearest one free and poised it over the quintuplicate form. He was far too experienced an executive to sign what he had not scanned, but he was a speed-reader. The form had been filled in properly,- and when he actually started to sign, a deafening cheer resounded from office and corridor"You must of course be present during the unsealing and the investigation, Inspector,' Kiachif said, seizing the form and separating its sheets, crumbling the first one, which he fired at Martinson, shoving a second into DeVeer's hand, and, waving the rest over his head, pushed his way ou of the office while the cheers still echoed. Realizin that DeVeer was not on his heels, he paused an beckoned urgently for him to follow.

Several hours later, the truth of Captain Kiachif: allegation was proved beyond question. In al particulars, the engines were in excellent runnin1

order, no wear, tear, or abuse visible: rather n more than was consonant with a journey to an from Hrretha, and this was verified not only by th( Hrrethan Space Authority maintenance check hu by nine fully qualified warp-drive engineers anc nine fully qualified space captains of impeccablc integrity. In order to prove their qualifications anc allegations, DeVeer learned more about the workings of warp-drive engines, fuel capacities, gauges the pitting of ship skins from forced warp jumps and the condition of lubricants, greases, flux levels and rocket tube encrustations than he would evei again need. He fully appreciated why Martinso had looked so fraught: he felt rather wrung out hiniseff.

"Ah, Inspector, I see you are in need of sustenance,' Kiachif said, folding away the sheaf 0 formal declarations from captains and engineers.

"Lads, we can't let this fine gentleman suffer a moment longer." DeVeer had no option but to accompany the jovial group to the pub. He also had no memory o how he got back to the accommodations he had been assigned on the Treaty Island. Some thoughtful soul - possibly All Kiachif- had left a small vial and a brief note where he could not fail to see it the moment his eyes could focus. "Drink this!" the note said. He did and rather more quickly than he thought possible, his condition improved.

Others had celebrated during that evening of which DeVeer had few lucid memories. For immediately upon finishing the scrupulous inspection of the Albatross, All Kiachif had informed the Reeve family.

"Don't fret too much about the smuggling charge either,' Kiachif said. "Got friends working on that, too, if you know what I mean.

It'll take a bit more time "cause we've more to check."

"All, you must be calling in favors by the container load,' Ken said, immensely grateful.

"Give a little, take a lot's been my motto for decades, Reeve.

And, like I say, we all got a lot at stake, same's you Doonans.

You keep on tracking down livestock. That's where your expertise lies.

I'll keep on prodding, poking, and producing where mine'll do us good. Have a drink on me, you hear me?" Kiachif hadn't waited for an answer and Ken was staring at a crackling handset.

As everyone had heard Kiachif's inimitable voice on the radio, cheers rose from around the dining table. Kelly and Nrrna executed a triumphant dance routine before careening into a table.

"One by one, the charges are being dismissed,' Hrrestan said while Mrrva nodded as if she had expected no other outcome.

"Down to two-identifying who purchased the artifacts and who's playing Todd and Hrriss offplanet,' Ken said.

"No, three,' Todd said. "We've got to find out how the security satellites have been fixed."

"Is not Inspector DeVeer investigating that?" Hrrestan asked.

Ken and Todd both frowned, increasing the resemblance between them so much that Pat, Kelly, and Inessa grinned.

"DeVeer would need Spacedep authority to check the satellites,' Ken said, shaking his head over the improbability of assistance from that source.

"Would he?" Hrrestan asked, stroking his chin.

"Would he not have authority over Martinson?"

"He must have some, to get clearance for All to check the Albatross engines,' Ken replied, but he wasn't all that certain that DeVeer might not press the issue.

"But Linc Newry's got a separate authority and reports only to Spacedep."

"The inspector wants to help us,' Kelly said. "And he practically got Klonski to admit that he had."

"You didn't mention that,' Todd said bluntly.

"Well,' and she shook her spread hand to indicate uncertainty, "Klonski is known to have done that sort of security tinkering-Inspector DeVeer established that-So why else was Spacedep paying him, and putting him in their restricted "special services', category?"

"We still need more documented evidence of who's behind what we may now call a well-planned and long-standing conspiracy,' Ken said, addressing everyone but looking at Hrrestan.

"I think they overdid the evidence bit,' Pat said.

"They might have made one charge stick but so many?"

"Ah, but that is where they have been clever, not stupid, Pat." Hrrestan said. "They have created a variety of charges, none of which can be ignored by one or the other of those departments of yourrs and ourrs that are involved. Rrala is to be torn apart by debates on which allegations are true and which might be specious. The fact that would, I fear, become lost in the morasss of true, half true, and false, is that our sons never committed any of the crimes of which they stand charged.

But by the time they can be cleared of all counts, any hope of renewing the Treaty would be lost and the colony forced to decamp." Nrrna shuddered and drew closer to Hrriss.

"But L'm positive Landreau is behind all of this,' Ken said.

"He's hated me and Todd since the first time you all disappeared and left us looking like firsiclass liars." Firrestan and Mrrva bowed their heads. "We had no choice."

"Oh, I know that, Hrrestan,' Ken said, dismissing any implication of blame. "But it was Todd who kept us here because Hirubans would not leave a small child in a dangerous forest.

And it was Todd who brought First Speaker here, and Al Landreau has never forgiven him or me for that humiliation." Kelly and Hrriss grinned during Todd's obvious discomfort at that summary, but Nrrna was curious, not knowing all the historic details from that period.

Hrrestan sighed. "If only Third Speaker's associate were not Treaty Controller this period .

"Another piece of deft planning on Landreau's part. I gotta give him credit for that,' Ken said with a hint of grudging admiration.

"Trrrue, for with another Hrruban as Controller, we would be able to lay before First Speaker the framework of this conspiracy . . -"

"Would First Speaker not be aware of that already, Hrrestan?" Mrrva asked, her hand lightly on her mate's thigh. "We know the pressures that are being exerted in the Speakers Council."

"This time,' Hrrestan said, "there is no child with a tail of rope to capture the hearts and minds of our people and swing a vote in favor of a Treaty of Cohabitation.

"I know this might sound silly,' Kelly began tentatively, "and forgive me if this question offends, but it's something that has never been addressed in Alreldep either: if the Treaty breaks down, which of us gets to stay on Doona? Or do we both leave, lock, stock, and block?" She tried to make a joke of it.

When everyone stared at her, she began to flush and ended up with her head down.

"No, no, Kelly,' Todd said, "that's a very good question indeed.

In fact, that might actually be the crux of the matter.

Kelly looked up, eyes shining and face alight with his genuine approval.

"Indeed, Kelly, that is a question which has not been asked,' Hrrestan said, "and one we should have considered long before now.

Have we all been looking at the forest without seeing the trees?" He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his eyes slitting with the intensity of his thought. "You and I, Ken, like our sons, wish the Rralan Experiment to succeed. We both know in our minds that there are Hrrubans and Hayumans who do not wish that.

If the Treaty is not renewed, each sees this planet as a prize for the taking. As you once confided in me, Ken, twenty-four years ago on a hilltop, Haytimans get greedy. Well, so do Hrrubans.

There is indeed much more at stake than just this planet and which species gains control of it." Hrrestan paused, unwilling to follow that line of discussion to its obvious conclusion.

"An -interspecies war?" Todd exclaimed, horrified.

Nrrna gave a frightened yip and clung to Hrriss's arm. Kelly and Pat Reeve turned pale.

"I could go back to Alreldep,' Kelly said earnestly. "I may be only a junior but if I could present any proof whatsoever that this is what's going down on Doona . . ." Kelly's voice failed her as the permutations of a struggle between Hayumans and Hrrubans sank in. "Oh, no! We can't let that happen!" she said in a whisper.

Todd jumped to his feet, glaring about him. "You just bet we won't' His words rang in the frightened silence.

"By all that's holy, we won't,' Ken added, rising from his chair.

"We will not!" Hrrestan and Hrriss spoke at the same moment, springing to their feet.

"Rralans forever!" Kelly shouted in Middle Hrruban, jumping up and down, fists clenched.

Todd grinned at her, proud of her for using that language, and more moved than he could say by her offer to help, by returning to Earth and the Alreldep job he knew she must hate. But, then, she was as Doonan-no, Rralan-as he.

"All right, now then, folks,' Ken said, rubbing his hands together as he would before taking on any difficult task. "We've got more to do than we thought. But we've got help. I don't think we'd better let tonight's conclusions loose on the planet.

There's enough panic and crazy-minded speculation as it is, with rustling and false accusations and suchlike just before Treaty Renewal.

So, while we're knocking down the accusations against the boys, we'll see if we can also find any clues that might show us that the scope of the conspiracy goes beyond Landreau and-' He looked at Hrrestan.

"And Third Speaker,' the Hrruban added for him.

"Too bad we can't use their techniques against them,' Kelly said, "and start finding the tadpoles in their ponds. Get that Treaty Controller impeached or something.

"Oh!" Nrrna's little cry of surprise focused attention on her.

"Yes, Nrrna?" Hrriss prompted, and that was when Todd really began to notice how tender his friend was toward the pretty female and how often she seemed to rely on him for reassurance.

"The Treaty Controller,' and she bowed her head slightly, keeping her eyes averted from Kelly's sudden grin of comprehension, "received delivery of a document box the day Kelly returned. It must have been very important for him not to send an assistant or secretary." Kelly snapped her fingers. "I've got a memory like a sieve. I got a coded comThline message today from Dalkey Petersham. He was very cagey even in code. He's got something he needs to get to me and he doesn't trust the comp-mail lines."

"Did he say what?" Todd asked, aware of an unusual uneasiness with a guy comp-lining Kelly all the time. But that was silly. They needed help from whatever quarter it came.

"what I got from the code was that, as a very junior official, he was supposed to check over and delete some ancient accounting tapes.

They were for the Spacedep slush fund. There seemed to be large financial disbursements about ten years ago from that fund and all of them were paid to accounts off-Earth. He thought they might be useful to me, but he won't send it comp-line and wants to know how he can get it to us in as they say . . . a rapid irregular fashion."

"Isn't Captain Feyder back on Earth?" Todd asked.

"Been and gone, according to Kiachif,' Ken replied. "He'd done us all the favor we can ask of him with that Mayday beacon."

"We could get in another medical shipment,' Kelly said, glancing sideways at Nrrna.

Her eyes went into slits of anxiety. "Oh, no. I was in trouble over the gloves when they saw how many packets had been trampled on.

My superior was going to send a harsh message to our office on Terra.

So I told them that I had opened the box outside, to take inventory, and a wind had come up and scattered them."

"The wind was named Kelly,' the redhead said, giggling at the memory of the trouble she and Nrrna had had to get the staticbarged packets back into the carton. "I even found one inside my tunic."

"The count was off so I had to say that some had blown away,' Nrrna dropped her jaw and purred her pretty laugh.

"You've got a resourceful female here, Hr'riss, Kelly said. "And you nearly wouldn't let her help."

"I shall not again be so foolish as to interfere with her good plans,' he said, pulling a solemn face that made Kelly laugh.

Todd looked from Kelly to Hrriss and Nrrna, and then at Hrrestan and Mrrva, who seemed quietly pleased about the behavior of Nrrna and their son.

"Hey, friend, did you forget to tell me something this morning?" Todd asked.

"Nrrna and I plan to be lifemates,' Hrriss said, his eyes glowing as he glanced down at Nrrna. "The joining is due to take place about the time of Treaty Renewal." Todd dropped his jaw, so like a Hrruban that Kelly smothered her giggles. "Oh, really? Well, you didn't waste any time while I was gne, did you?" But his eyes were glowing with pleasure and approval. "why, you old tomcat, you! Congratulations!' He gave Hrriss a hearty punch on the arm and took one of Nrrna's hands, lifting it to touch his forehead in the Hrruban gesture of well-wishing and congratulation. "To think you went out and did that all by yourself,' he said, unable to leave off teasing Hrriss. He could see that Hrrestan and Mrrva were delighted and his parents seemed to have known. He felt a little silly that he hadn't twigged to it.

"We plan a celebratory feast on the occasion,' Hiriss said, "and we would be honored if you would stand as master of ceremonies."

"The honor is mine,' Todd said, falling back into his chair and letting out a hoot of relieved laughter.

"Well, I feel lots better. I admit I wondered why Nrrna was suddenly so much a part of the investigation. I thought she was a friend Kelly had brought in to help her."

"Of all the . . ." Kelly jumped to her feet and ran out of the room.

"what got her so uptight?" Todd inquired of everyone in the room.

"Kelly has been helping you, you numskull,' his mother said with a weary sigh of exasperation for her son's obtuseness. "She's the main reason you and Hrriss have been reunited.

"I know she's been helping me,' Todd said, still perplexed.

"Then do not sit like a mda in warm mud contemplating its toes." Hrriss said. He rose and gave Todd a shove toward the door. "I have had the opportunity to make plain to her my gratitude.

It is time that you adequately express your own.

Do it suitably in the style of Hayumans, but do it now!" Half stumbling onto the porch because Hrriss had put considerable strength into that push, Todd corrected himself and looked about for Kelly.

Twilight made if difficult to see, but he spotted Calypso's hide and saw the mare moving before he realized Kelly was astride her.

"Kelly! Kellllleeee! Wait a minute!

He knew she had seen him, for he saw her white face turned in his direction, but she cantered off anyhow. Piqued, Todd took the nearest horse from the tie rail, Robin's fleet racer Fargo, and started after her.

Todd was juSt gaining on the cantering Calypso when Kelly realized that she was being pursued, and kicked the mare into a gallop.