“How so?” asked Joachim.
“It’s ridiculous on the face of it that they should want to conquer us for any economic gain, and they must know we have no such intentions toward them. Therefore, in spite of all good intentions, we probably represent a threat to them.”
“Howls that?”
“Our civilization may be so unlike theirs that contact
would be devastating. Imagine, for example, that they have a very conservative aristocratic-religious setup. Interpretation by our culture would bring social upheavals their ruling class could not afford. That’s only one guess, and most
likely a wrong o-@ic.”
“I see.” Toachim sat quiet for a while, puffing out smoke. Then: “Well, we’ve a long trip ahead and lots of
time to tl@Dk.”
“Where are you going first?”
Joachim sq ‘ uinted. “Erulan.”
Trevelyan searched his memory. “Never beard of it.”
“YOU WOUIMT have, and yoiill stay aboard ship while we’re there.”
“Reason?”
“It’s illegal,” said Joachim tigbtlv. “Let’s think about you. You’ll get along fairly well, if you aren’t too obtrusive. But I’d suggest you get some shipboard garraents. Less conspicuous.”
“How’ll I do it?” Trevelyan di@t push the question of Er-ulan.
“Well-” Joachim reached in his desk drawer, pulled out a billfold, and tossed it to the other man. “Here’s your wallet back. Nice fat chunk o’ money there. I picked up some clothes thatre about your size. Couple of coveralls, shorts, boots, and so on. Sell you the lot for twenty credits.”
“Twenty credits! They’ll be worth five at the most.”
‘Well, I could let you have ‘em for what they cost me. Fifteen.”
“If they cost you seven, I’ll eat tbem-2’
They haggled for a while, and finally settled for twelve credits-about one hundred percent profit. Thereafter Joachim offered the Coordinator the extra bedroom at an only mildly exorbitant rental-along with meals prepared by his housekeeper, for an extra consideration. Trevelyan changed into shorts while Joachim happily counted his take.
“You might as well mooch around and get to know the ship,” said the captain. He grinned. “Nic@s place is number two seventy-four.”
“Do you know everything that goes on?’
“Just about.” Joachim chuckled. “Nield’s a good sort, but not like the gossips say, so I wouldn’t advise making passes at her.”
Trevelyan went down the corridors at an easy pace, hands in pockets and dark face turning from side to side. Nomads stared curiously at him but none did More than nod a greeting. Apparently they were satisfied if their captain was. Trevelyan moved between the muraled walls and the carved doors and waiscots until he found the place he was looldng for. No. 274.
The door stood ajar, between two posts graven in the shape of vine-covered trees. Sean’s voice floated out: ‘Come in, Cordy.”
Trevelyan entered. There was a bedroom on either side of the door; at the farther side the kitchen and bathroom
flanked the exit to the other hall, so that the main body of the apartment was cruciform. One arm of the cross was given over to microbooks, music tapes, and some rataier good murals; the other was a cluttered workshop. Sean sat polishing Ms spaces@t, and beside him, sitting at his feet, was the Lorinyan girl whom Nicki had mentioned. She was, in truth, the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Nicki was beat over a table, shaping a clay vase. She looked up and smiled. “You were right, ‘Lo,” she said.
“She’s always right,” said Sean. “She knows such tl-Angs.”
“What did she know this time?” asked Trevelyan. Sean was in a good humor apparently bearing DO grudge, and Nicld was as friendly as before. Ilaloa-he wasn’t sure.
“That you were cominL,.” said Sean. “She senses you. Right, ‘Lo?” His hand riaed the fine silvery hair.
“A telepath?” Trevelyan. He kept his manner casual, but under it his mind was suddenly taut.
She spoke in the voice that was like singing, so low he could barely hear it: “Oh, I cannot-it is not of me to flow the words from the bound-in-darkness self. You are too lonely, all of you locked from each other and from knowingness. Some wills I can tell-tbe sly little animal-thoughts. But you of humanity, no.”
“Then wbat-oh. Of course.” Trevelyan nodded. “You can sense emissions, and each of us has a characteristic pattern.,,