“And you’re really going to let them go?” asked Ellin.
“Have they contributed anything to our inquiry? The technicians—who are not political appointees, thank whomever arranged it—have given us considerable help, but they’ve done it from orbit and can go on doing so. So long as we can reach the ship, what do we need these people for?”
“I am not seeing why you are having those people in the first place,” sniffed Bao.
Questioner laughed, a mirthless bark. “My dear young people, they are foisted upon me. A century or so ago, the Council of Worlds decided that providing me with an entourage would open up opportunities for some of their juvenile kinfolk. Many of the functions of COW are cluttered up with witless fetchers and carriers who are somehow related to council members. A pity Haraldson never forbade nepotism!”
“If you are not needing them, are you really needing us?” Bao asked.
“I am. I really need non-threatening persons with alert, questioning minds and enough good sense to spot the oddities. Thus far, you’ve done well. So, let us proceed.”
A Mantelby servant came in to announce that dinner was served in the adjacent salon, to which Questioner, Ellin, and Bao immediately repaired to indulge themselves in a long, elaborate, and delicious meal. The servants had just set dessert on the table—a fluffy concoction of fruits and cream which Ellin had been looking forward to with delicious guilt since it had appeared on the morning menu card—when the link to the ship announced itself.
Bao spoke to the Gablian watch officer, who asked for the staff member who was handling the geological reports.
Bao informed the ship that the entire staff should be aboard. A long silence presaged a denial by the watch officer that any of the staff members were anywhere on the ship.
Questioner rose and approached the link. “Commander, I sent all my entourage except the two young Earthians back to the ship some hours ago.”
“I was alerted to expect them. They never arrived.”
“Hold fast,” suggested the Questioner. “Let’s see what we can find out here.” She turned to Bao and Ellin, putting on an exasperated face. “Would you mind, young people? Go see what’s holding them up?”
Ellin had a mouth full of delight and her eyes shut. Reluctantly, she swallowed.
“You, a dancer, consuming such stuff!” said Questioner in mock reproof.
“I know,” Ellin cried guiltily. “But then, I keep thinking it might be the last chance I ever have.”
“Last chance, child?”
Seduced by food and wine, her thoughts burst out without censor. “Oh, Questioner, something’s building to a climax! I keep hearing the music for it, all those tremorous violins, the slow descending basses, each note deeper into the fabric of the world, the brasses, muted, like voices calling in a dark wood … “
“All day she has been hearing this, nodding her head in time to this music,” confirmed Bao. “I am finding it quite interesting.”
Questioner nodded, unimpressed by this idea. “Very poetic, my dear, but hardly your last chance. Your dessert will wait for you.”
As they departed, Questioner tasted the dessert and approved. It was not necessary to eat more than one taste, as she could recall the flavor and texture at will. Which she did as she sat, musing, going over everything she had learned on this planet. She had already decided mankind could not be allowed to continue on Newholme. The presence of indigenes was uncontrovertible. If mankind had settled in ignorance of their presence, they should have reported it the moment the first indigenes showed up. The fact they had not condemned them, and she had no intention of arguing with Haraldson’s edicts. And then there was this viral disease that constricted the female population …
But there were other riddles still to be solved, interesting habits, like the reverse veiling and the Consorts, and there was also this strange geological business …
Gradually it occurred to her that a very long time had passed since Ellin and Bao had left in search of the members of the entourage.
A steward was summoned and asked to go find Bao and Ellin. He departed, veils flapping. After a short time, he returned. The Questioner’s aides were nowhere to be seen. Neither were any other of the Questioner’s people. The last anyone had seen of them was when an understeward had served a light meal in their salon some time ago while they were packing. Their salon was now empty of persons. None of them had asked for transportation. They had not set out on foot or they would have been seen.