Part 27 (2/2)

”Perhaps not,” acknowledged Quillan. He grinned. ”But I'm a modest man.

One fortune's enough for me.”

”There was a time, you know,” Lyad said, ”when I was rather afraid it would be necessary to have you killed.”

Quillan laughed. ”There was a time,” he admitted, ”when I suspected you might be thinking along those lines, First Lady! Didn't lose too much, did you?”

”I lost enough!” Lyad said. She wrinkled her nose at him. ”But that's all over and done with. And now--no more business tonight. I promise.”

She turned her head a little. ”Flam!” she called.

”Yes, First Lady?” said the voice of the red-headed girl.

”Bring us Miss Argee's property, please.”

Flam brought in a small package of flat disks taped together. Lyad took them.

”Sometimes,” she told Quillan, ”the Askab becomes a little independent.

He's been spoken to. Here--you keep them for Trigger.”

She tossed the package lightly over to them. Quillan put out a hand and caught it.

”Thanks,” he said. He put the package in a pocket. ”I'll call off my beagles.”

”Suit yourself as to that,” said the Ermetyne. ”It won't hurt the Askab to stay frightened a little longer.”

She checked herself. The room's ComWeb was signaling. Virod went over to it. A voice came through.

”... The Garth-Manon subs.p.a.ce run begins in one hour. Rest cubicles have been prepared....”

”That means me,” Belchik Pluly said. He climbed hastily to his feet.

”Can't stand dives! Get hallucinations. Nasty ones.” He staggered a little then, and Trigger realized for the first time that Belchy had got pretty thoroughly drunk.

”Better give our guest a hand, Virod,” Lyad called over her shoulder.

”Happy dreams, Belchik! Are you going by Rest, Trigger? No? You're not, of course, Quillan. Balmordan?”

The Devagas scientist also shook his head.

”Then by all means,” Lyad said, ”let's stay together a little while longer.”

15

”She,” said Trigger, ”is a remarkable woman.”

”Yeah,” said Quillan. ”Remarkable.”

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