“ ‘Domain,’” Sundaram said low. “That word tells a great deal about your attitude.”
“We are not hostile, Colonel. Nay, let me urge that you never thrust onward unguided. You know not the safe ways to fare. Satellite maps and inertial navigation reveal naught of the treacheries—rubble pits, crevasse skins, infall-broken screes that any disturbance may bring down in a landslide. For your sake, I pray that you turn about.”
“Such hazards are exaggerated in … folklore.”
“You seem more knowledgeable about this ancient world than us its dwellers.”
“If we should come to grief, would you assist us?”
“We respect the law that makes abandonment a felony first class, but we cannot promise to be aware of your trouble or able to rescue you if we learn.”
Sundaram paused before he rapped, “You break the law as you stand there. Those are weapons you carry, are they not?”
Kaino waved a hand. “Sporting devices,” he replied airily.
“They look like none I have ever seen.”
“Nay.” Kaino donned seriousness. “Weapons are not supposed to be in space, true, save small arms for police purposes. During the troublous years, we thought it advisable to develop better models. We do not yet feel assured that those years are quite behind us. It seems well to stay practiced in arms. But never gladly will we fire upon living targets.”
“So you say.” The officer sat silent for a time. The broad forward port framed his head in blackness.
“Let me talk to your brother,” he then said. “The … lord Brandir may be … realistic.”
Kaino smiled. “You may call, certainly. If none respond, I will give you a code for his private quarters. I know not whether he is at the fasthold and willing to converse.”
“He knows full well we are here,” Sundaram said roughly. “How many hidden monitors do you have spotted around these parts?”
The presentation skimmed over the next few minutes. The connection had been made through a buriedrelay cable. A face appeared in the phone screen before Sundaram. In the screen that Dagny watched, it replaced the view of her son.
Ivala, who had been christened Stephana Tar-nowski, was Lunarian-beautiful, as white of hue as Brandir but with amber hair that fell to her shoulders, the big oblique eyes hazel, the countenance narrow and thinly chiseled. Iridescence played over the garment that sheathed her slenderness. Behind her a giant orchid bloomed against a crimson drape. Dagny caught her breath. This was the mother of her and Edmond’s grandson.
“Greeting,” she almost sang. “The lord Brandir is absent—“ was he? “—but he and I are as one.”
Dagny admired Sundaram’s quickly regained equilibrium. “You are the lady Ivala? My pleasure, mad-ame, I trust.” He named himself. “I am sure you realize what our mission is.”
The woman nodded. “You would inspect throughout all installations and operations at Zamok Vysoki.”
“Yes, exactly. Persons here at the gate are obstructing our passage. Please direct them to assist us.”
Ivala’s lips curved upward. “In our earlier conversations, we explicitly did not pledge collaboration.”
Sundaram stiffened. “You are now required to, by warrant of the Lunar Authority.”
“You bear a search warrant?” Laughter trilled. “Has the Authority recognized these lands as our freehold? I am delighted.”
“Kindly do not play games, madame.”
The timbre grew cold. “Then shall I, rather than use the word ‘inspect,’ say, ‘Invade, interfere, imperil?’ We assert our right to refrain from partaking.”
“That is not a claim the courts will grant.”
“Are you a judge advocate?” she gibed.
“I am an officer of the law, given a duty which I intend to carry out.” Sundaram paused again. When he spoke once more, it was evenly. “If you have nothing illegal to hide, why do you put yourselves in violation like this? Let my group conduct its survey, and we may well recommend that you receive a concession to regularize your status.”
The fluid features congealed. “Rape of privacy is a violation.”
Sundaram frowned. “I do not understand.”
“Nay, you would not, would you?”
“Do you—you people—do you positively refuse to cooperate? Would you actually resist?”
“Some questions are best left unanswered, Colonel,” Ivala said.
Kaino’s voice broke in: “Before we go further, I pray your heed. You inquired about our equipment. Wish you to see a demonstration?”