Part 58 (1/2)

”The Jesters were good at fighting, eh?”

Trigger nodded. ”Very good. Like us, again.”

”Where did they come from?”

”Repulsive thought they were outsiders. He wasn't sure. He and that other O.G. were on the sidelines, running their protein collecting station, when the Jesters arrived; and it was all over and they were gone before he had learned much about it.”

”From outside the galaxy!” Pilch said thoughtfully. She cleared her throat. ”What's this business about they might be back again?”

”Well,” Trigger said, ”he thought they might be. Just might. Actually he believed the Jesters got wiped out too.”

”Eh?” Pilch said. ”How's that?”

”Quite a lot of the Old Galactics went along with them like Repulsive went along with me. And one of the things they did know,” Trigger said, ”was how to spread diseases like n.o.body's business. About like we use weed-killers. Wholesale. They could clean out the average planet of any particular thing they didn't want there in about a week. So it's not really too likely the Jesters will be back.”

”Oh!” said Pilch.

”But if they are coming, Repulsive thought they'd be due in this area in about another eight centuries. That looked like a very short time to him, of course. He thought it would be best to pa.s.s on a warning.”

”You know,” Pilch said after a brief pause, ”I find myself agreeing with him there, Trigger! I might turn in a short report on this, after all.”

”I think you should, really,” Trigger said. She smiled suddenly. ”Of course, it might wind up with people thinking both of us are ta-ta!”

”I'll risk that,” said Pilch. ”It's been thought of me before.”

”If they did come,” Trigger said, ”I guess we'd take them anyway. We've taken everything else like that that came long. And besides--”

Her voice trailed off thoughtfully. She studied the table top for a moment. Then she looked up at Pilch.

”Well,” she said, smiling, ”any other questions?”

”A few,” said Pilch, pa.s.sing up the ”and besides--” She considered. ”Did you ever actually see him make contact with you?”

”No,” Trigger said. ”I was always asleep, and I suppose he made sure I'd stay asleep. They're built sort of like a leech, you know. I guess he knew I wouldn't feel comfortable about having something like that go oozing into the side of my neck or start oozing out again. Anyway, he never did let me see it.”

”Considerate little fellow!” said Pilch. She sighed. ”Well, everything came out very satisfactorily--much more so than anyone could have dared hope at one time. All that's left is a very intriguing mystery which the Hub will be chatting about for years.... What happened aboard Doctor Fayle's vanished s.h.i.+p that caused the king plasmoid to awaken to awful life?” she cried. ”What equally mysterious event brought about its death on that strangely hideous structure it had built in subs.p.a.ce? _What was it planning to do there?_ Etcetera.” She smiled at Trigger. ”Yes, very good!”

”I saw they camouflaged out what was still visible of the original substation before they let in the news viewers,” Trigger remarked.

”Bright idea somebody had there!”

”Yes. It was I. And the Devagas hierarchy is broken, and the Ermetynes run out of Tranest. Two very bad spots, those were! I don't recall having heard what they did to your friend, Pluly.”

”_I_ heard,” Trigger said. ”He just got black-listed by Grand Commerce finally and lost all his s.h.i.+pping concessions. However, his daughter is married to an up and coming young businessman who happened to be on hand and have the money and other qualifications to pick up those concessions.” She laughed. ”It's the Inger Lines now. They're smart characters, in a way!”

”Yes,” said Pilch. ”In a way. Did you know Lyad Ermetyne put in for voluntary rehabilitation with us, and then changed her mind and joined the Service?”

”I'd heard of it.” Trigger hesitated. ”Did you know Lyad paid me a short visit about an hour before you got here this morning?”

”I thought she would,” Pilch said. ”We came in to Maccadon together.”

Trigger had been a little startled when she answered the doorchime and saw Lyad standing there. She invited the Ermetyne in.