Part 14 (2/2)

Maybe even fighting among themselves.”

”I'd bet on at least two groups myself,” he said. ”And if they're fighting, they've got our blessing. They're still all opposition as far as we're concerned.”

She nodded, ”How are you letting them know about the move?”

”The mountains around here are lousy with observers. Very cute tricks some of them use--one boy has been sitting in a hollow tree for weeks.

We let them see what we want to. This evening they saw you coming in.

Later tonight they'll see you climbing into the s.h.i.+p with the rest of the party and taking off. They've already picked up messages to tell them just where the s.h.i.+p's going.” He paused. ”But you've got a job to finish up here first, Trigger. That'll take about four days. So it won't really be you they see climbing into the s.h.i.+p.”

”What!” She straightened up.

”We've got a facsimile for you,” he explained. ”Girl agent. She goes along to draw the heat to Manon.”

Trigger felt herself tightening up slowly all over.

”What's this job you're talking about?” she asked evenly.

”Can't tell you in too much detail. But around four days from now somebody is coming in to Maccadon to interview you.”

”Interview me? What about?”

He hesitated a moment. ”There's a theory,” he said, ”that you might have information you don't know you have. And that the people who sent grabbers after you want that information. If it's true, the interview will bring it out.”

Her mouth went dry suddenly. She turned her head to Quillan. ”Major,”

she said, ”I think I'd like that cigarette now.”

He came over and lit one for her. Trigger thanked him and puffed. And she'd almost spilled everything, she was thinking. The paid-up reservation. Every last thing.

”I'd like to get it straight,” she said. ”What you're talking about sounds like it's a mind-search job, Holati.”

”It's in that cla.s.s,” he said. ”But it won't be an ordinary mind-search.

The people who are coming here are top experts at that kind of work.”

She nodded. ”I don't know much about it.... Do they think somebody's got to me with a hypno-spray or something? That I've been conditioned?

Something like that?”

”I don't know, Trigger,” he said. ”It may be something in that line.

But whatever it is, they'll be able to handle it.”

Trigger moistened her lips, ”I was thinking, you know,” she said.

”Supposing I'm mind-blocked.”

He shook his head. ”I can tell you that, anyway,” he said. ”We already know you're not.”

Trigger was silent a moment. Then she said, ”After that interview's over, I'm to s.h.i.+p out to Manon--is that it?”

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