“Morning, Charles.”
The holo nodded once. “Administrator Matthias. If there’s a problem, I hope it’s minor. We’re stretched pretty thin here right now.”
“I know,” she told him understandingly. “I’m sorry, but there’s something that needs to be done.”
He looked resigned. “I can’t spare any people to run an observation. Those who aren’t trying to keep Sakuntala fanatics from burning every Deyzara building they come across are busy dealing with security at the refugee encampments.”
“This is nothing like that. Do you know those two AAnn the government accredited as observers? Thessu and Jaill or Jaal or something?”
Some of the officer’s fatigue seemed to slough away. “Why?” he inquired sharply. “You’ve found something out about them?”
“No. At least, not yet. I just need to talk to them. Ask them a few questions.”
“About what? No, no, don’t tell me. I’m already dealing with far too many outlandish suppositions. Talk to me again when you have facts you want me to act on.” His expression turned thoughtful. “So you need to talk to our AAnn guests, hmm? Might take a while to track them down. From what I hear, they spend a lot of time out in the forest, traveling from community to community. On the lookout for commercial possibilities, or so I’m told.”
“Just find them and bring them in.”
“It’ll be done. Suppose they don’t want to come?”
“Have your people explain that there’s been some trouble with their accreditation.”
Bredel matched her thoughts. “They’ll wonder why a simple bureaucratic procedure can’t be performed remotely.”