Part 43 (1/2)

The Ermetyne's face had turned white with shock. She flicked a glance down at the man, then looked back at Trigger.

”There're guns on me too, I imagine,” Trigger said. ”But this one goes off very easily, First Lady! It would take hardly any jolt at all.”

Lyad nodded slightly. ”They're no fools! They won't risk shooting. Don't worry.” Her voice was careful but quite even. A tough cookie, as the Commissioner had remarked.

”We won't bother about them at the moment,” Trigger said. ”Let's stand up together.”

They stood up.

”We'll stay about five feet apart,” Trigger went on. ”I don't know if you're the gun-grabbing type.”

The Ermetyne almost smiled. ”I'm not!” she said.

”No point in taking chances,” Trigger said. ”Five feet.” She gave Doctor Veetonia a quick glance. He did look very unpleasantly dead.

”We'll go over to that ComWeb in a moment,” she told Lyad. ”I imagine you wouldn't have left it on open circuit?”

Lyad shook her head. ”Calls go through the s.h.i.+p's communication office.”

”Your own people on duty there?”

”No. Pluly's.”

”Will they take your orders?”

”Certainly!”

”Can they listen in?” Trigger asked.

”Not if we seal the set here.”

Trigger nodded. ”You'll do the talking,” she said. ”I'll give you Commissioner Tate's personal number. Tell them to dial it. The Precol transmitters pick up ComWeb circuits. Switch on the screen after the call is in; he'll want to see me. When he comes on, just tell him what's happened, where we are, what the layout is. He's to come over with a squad to get us. I won't say much, if anything. I'll just keep the gun on you. If there's any fumble, we both get it.”

”There won't be any fumble, Trigger,” Lyad said.

”All right. Let's set up the rest of it before we move. After the Commissioner signs off, he'll be up here in three minutes flat. Or less.

How about this s.h.i.+p's officers--do they take your orders too?”

”With the obvious exception of yourself,” Lyad said, ”everyone on the Griffin takes my orders at the moment.”

”Then just tell whoever's in charge of the yacht to let the squad in before there's any shooting. The Commissioner can get awfully short-tempered. Then get the guards away from that entry portal. That's for their own good.”

The Ermetyne nodded. ”Will do.”

”All right. That covers it, I think.”

They looked at each other for a moment.

”With the information you got from Balmordan,” Trigger remarked, ”you should still be able to make a very good d.i.c.ker with the Council, First Lady. I understand they're very eager to get the plasmoid mess straightened out quietly.”