“N-no. Too many planets for a man to remember.”
.’ It’s a long and not very interesting story,” said Kogama, ‘but they’re a backward system out Canopus way whove been visited a few times by Galactic Survey and would like a space fleet. An agent of mine was on Thunderhouse a few years back to make some purchases, and happened to meet one of theirs who was looking for a contractor to build them ships. I arranged to do it. The ships are flown to Sura and paid for in goods. Naturally, the natives don’t know where their contractor lives, but they don’t care, either.”
“I see.” Like hell I do! Since when did an Erulani noble
turn manufacturer-or bother explaining himself in such detail?
“But what are you here after?” persisted Thorlild.
Joachim invented a planet. It bad good trading possibilities, but the social structure was an elaborate master-slave system with an unbelievable ceremony-fetish. He wanted
to get some pointers from Kaukasu as to how the natives
should be handled.
“It’s a long way to come just for information,” said
retroff .
“Oh, not actually, Your Majesty,” said Joachim. “We’ve found us a world not verv far from here-satellite Of a J-planet-with some pretty ‘rich ore lodes. Since we w re going there anyway, it wasn’t much off our track to stop by
Erulan.”
“Where is this system?” asked Thorkild.
Joachim looked pained. “Now really,” he said, “you don’t expect me to tell you that, do you?”
Petroff chuckled. “No, I reckon not.”
A banquet was given after sunset. When enough liquor had disappeared, the affair got as wild as a Nomad Mutiny. Joachim was sorry to miss it, but he thought it advisable to swallow a soberpill in advance and merely play drunk. His shipmates didn’t act, but secrecy toward outsiders was a conditioned reflex in every proper crewman. He himsplf let slip a tantalizing hint or two in the right direction, and noticed Thorkild’s eyes. The fish was nibbling.
When he finally steered a wavering course to his bedroom, he found that the Ar’Kulan had hospitably provided him with a servant.
The girl didn’t rank high in the barem, but she knew
some gossip and Joachim bribed it out of her. It didn’t prove that Thorkild and Kogama, among others, were conspiring against the Arkulan; but it was enough for his purposes.
He wandered about the castle the next day, asking questions that fitted his ostensible reason for being there, and wasn’t surprised when a slave handed him a note requesting his attendance on Thorkild. He followed the native along a warren of eorridors and up a ramp into one of the towers. There was a chamber just below the roof, its windows open to a frosty air and a dizzying downward view. The place was austerel, ‘ y furnished, more lilke an office than a noble’s reception room. Thorkild sat behind a desk, his body
wrapped in furs, his shaven head bent over some papers.
“Sit down, Peregrine,” he invited curtly, not looking up.
Joachim found a chair, crossed his legs, and got out Ms pipe.
I Finally the long, lean face turned to him. “Have you learned what you came here for?” asked the baron.
::Oh, I’ve gotten a few useful ideas,” said Joachim.
Let’s not feint.” Thorkild’s countenance was irnmobile and unreadable. “This room is spy-proofed. We can talk plainly. What did you mean last night when you said the Great Cross had some, very interesting possibilities? And when you said it was a pity Hadji Kogama was building ships for Sura, when a really juicy market lay right to hand?”
“Well,” said Joachim, “I have a low mind. Things occur to me. Like the possibility that Kogama was@t selling Ms ships at all, but just stockpiling them somewhere until he has enough of a fleet to take over this business.”
“He isn’t doing that. I know.”
‘Because you’re both figuring to run ErulanF’ “We aren’t traitors.” Thorkild’s voice was flat.
“Mmmmmm-no, I never said that. Only His Majesty might misinterpret certain information. Such as-” Joachim mentioned a suborned vizier and a captain of household troops to whom promises bad been made.
“If you start meddling in thinos that are none of your concern,” flashed Tborkild, “I might forget you’re a guest.”