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〃How much more difficult？〃
He shrugged again。 〃They would need to remain guests of the Patthaaunutth Director General for a time。 In quite pleasant surroundings； I assure you。 Eventually； they would certainly be released。〃
〃I'm sure they would be counting the days；〃 I said。 〃And how long would you anticipate this luxury vacation would last？〃
His eyes seemed to probe mine。 〃Until such time as the alien device you carry could be made operational or else proved nonfunctional。 Your assistance； or lack of it； could certainly affect the length of that study。〃
〃Only if I knew anything about it；〃 I said； wondering how much he knew about the artifact。 Or rather； how much he thought he knew about it。 〃It's pletely sealed up。〃
〃The unsealing will be the least of our difficulties；〃 Nask said dryly。 〃So： the lives and eventual freedom of your traveling panions。 What else？〃
〃Well； there'd have to be money； of course；〃 I said。 〃Lots of it。〃 I lifted my eyebrows to him。 〃Unfortunately； money's not much use if you aren't able to spend it。 And I'll hardly be able to spend it if I'm locked away； will I？〃
He made an unfamiliar gesture with his fingertips。 〃If you're worried about retribution from your panions； we can arrange that you be housed separately。〃
〃You misunderstand；〃 I said。 〃I'm saying that I walk。 Immediately。 You can lock up the others from now till doomsday as far as I'm concerned。 But I get my money and walk。〃
He shook his head。 〃I'm sorry； but I'm certain the Director General would never agree to that。 We can't allow even a hint of this find to leak out to the rest of the Spiral。〃
〃What about Cameron himself？〃 I countered。 〃He knows about the Icarus； and last I heard he was still at large。〃
〃Your information is out…of…date；〃 Enig spoke up。 〃Arno Cameron was apprehended on Meima two days ago。 He is being held at our pound there。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said。 So much for Brother John's support； now； so much for Patth honesty； too。 Big surprise on both counts。
〃Still； I can assure you that during the time you're detained you'll have acmodations and treatment suitable for Steye'tylian royalty；〃 Nask went on； his voice low and earnest and utterly trustworthy。 Even the normal smarminess level had been muted for the occasion。 〃And afterward； you will be a friend to the Patthaaunutth for the rest of your life。〃
〃Something to strive for； all right；〃 I said with only a trace of sarcasm。 The glow on his face； I noticed； had changed subtly。 Had one of the displays facing him altered？ 〃But suppose the device turns out to be useless？ How much of a friend will I be then？〃
〃When the Patthaaunutth promise friendship； that promise is always fulfilled；〃 he said。 〃Your goodwill and assistance will be counted toward that end； no matter what the final result。〃
〃I see；〃 I said； the hairs on my neck rising。 Suddenly Nask's words and tone had gone mechanical； his full attention riveted to the displays。 Something was happening out there； something even more important than sweet…talking me out of the Icarus。 〃Suppose I can find a way to guarantee my silence in some other way…〃
〃You must choose quickly；〃 Nask interrupted me。 〃Tell me where the Icarus is； or the decision will be snatched from your hands。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 I demanded； the sinking sensation back in my stomach。 〃How could…〃
I broke off at the sound of clinking from the door to my right。 The sound of a lock being keyed。 〃He is here；〃 Nask said with a forlorn…sounding wheeze I'd never heard a Patth make before。 〃The glory and profit now pass to the Director General。〃
The door swung open。 I turned to look…
And felt my breath catch like fire in my throat。 Two figures were striding into the room； looking as if they owned the place and were about to raise the rent。 One was another robed Patth； the by…now…familiar starship…pilot implants twinkling around his eyes。
The other was Revs Nicabar。
CHAPTER 20
IT WAS； ON stunned reflection； about the last sight I would have expected to see。 The last person in the Spiral I would have thought would be striding with such casual arrogance into a Patth den。 I opened my mouth to say something…anything…but he beat me to the punch。 〃I see you've got him；〃 he said to Nask。 〃About time。〃
〃Yes； I have；〃 Nask said； considerably less taken aback by Nicabar's appearance than I was。 〃And you are。。。？〃 he added as Nicabar crossed the room toward him。
〃What do you mean； who am I？〃 Nicabar countered scornfully。 〃Weren't you watching when Brosh held my ID up to the monitor？〃
〃Only the Director General's seal was clear；〃 Nask said。 〃Not the number or rank designation。〃
With a supremely restrained sigh； Nicabar pulled an ID folder out of his inner pocket and dropped it on the desk。 〃Fine。 Help yourself。〃
Nask did。 For nearly half a minute he studied the folder； while the rest of us sat or stood where we were in silence。 Nicabar sent his gaze around the room； pausing briefly and measuringly on each of the Iykams in turn； sent me a brief and totally impassive glance； then looked back at Nask。
Finally； almost reluctantly I thought； the Patth closed the folder and laid it back down on the table in front of him。 〃Satisfied？〃 Nicabar asked。
〃Quite satisfied； Expediter；〃 Nask said； his voice almost sullen。
〃Good；〃 Nicabar said； holding out his hand。 〃Then you can return the favor。 Brosh tells me you're the ambassador to Palmary。 Unless you want to try telling me this is an embassy annex； I'd like to see some proof of that。〃
〃Of course this isn't the embassy；〃 Nask said stiffly； reaching into his robe and pulling out his own ID folder。 〃I chose this place precisely because I didn't want the encounter taking place on official Patthaaunutth soil。〃
〃So where exactly are we？〃 I asked。
Nask glanced at me but didn't answer。 Nicabar； studying Nask's ID； didn't even bother to look at me。 I looked around at the Iykams； but none of them seemed interested in talking to me； either。 After a moment； Nicabar closed Nask's ID and dropped it onto the desk beside his own。 〃Fine；〃 he said。 〃Any progress so far？〃
〃We have him；〃 Nask said； gesturing toward me。 〃That's a start。〃 He cleared his throat。 〃You'll forgive me if I find myself surprised by your unexpected arrival； Expediter。 I was not informed of your presence on Palmary。〃
〃You'll be even more surprised when I tell you the name of the ship I came in on；〃 Nicabar said dryly。 〃A little independent freighter by the name of Icarus。〃
It was as if all three Patth had simultaneously grabbed hold of the same high…voltage wire。 〃What？〃 Enig said； the sound ing out more as a gasp than a legitimate word。 〃The Icarus？〃
〃What； don't you read your own government's hot…sheets？〃 Nicabar sniffed。 〃My picture ought to be plastered all over the embassy identifying me as one of the Icarus's crewers。〃
〃There have been no such pictures；〃 Nask said。 〃We have only now begun to piece together the profile of the Icarus's crew from sifting through the various reports； and there are no pictures or sketches as yet。〃
Nicabar grunted。 〃Sloppy。〃
〃We are doing the best we can with what we have；〃 Nask insisted； his voice still civil but clearly showing som