“And you’re not going to explain, eh?”

“Not entirely. Would you trust Dupaynil to have undipped whatever bugs he’s set out on this ship?”

“Mmm. I see.”

“And you are smart enough to figure out everything you need to know. You can think about it while looking up your remarkable relative.”

“But what about the depositions? I can’t leave now!” His face changed expression suddenly. “Oh. The only one who knew about those orders is ... Gods above, Captain, what did you do?”

“Used the resources available to make appropriate dispositions of personnel in a situation of extreme delicacy,” said Sassinak crisply. “And that’s all I’m going to say about it. Your assignment is to uncover whatever links you can between the suspect merchant families and planet piracy and the slave trade. On my orders, by my assessment that this need overrides any other orders you may have heard about.”

“Ummm . . . yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Dupaynil, meanwhile, is supposed to be investigating the Seti and their connection with all this nastiness. I have heard, from time to time, that the Seti