Warden folded his arms over his chest; waited grimly, hoping that he would hear the truth.

"You are angry," Hashi began, "because I have not been wholly open with you. In terms our redoubtable Governing Council would employ, I have not practiced 'full disclosure.' For that you will censure or value me, as you deem fit.

"But I must say plainly," he added with a defensive buzz, "that I do not consider 'full disclosure' germane to my duties. I have never failed to reveal my acquired data when it was needed. And it is clear that disclosure is necessary now."

He adjusted his gla.s.ses to confuse or clarify what Warden saw.

"Captain Scroyle's report is not the only transmission I have received concerning events on or around Thanatos Minor. There has also been a flare from Captain Succorso. The implications of his message explain my reluctance to reveal my data fully, as well as the actions I have taken in response."

There is treason here. Treachery and betrayal. Nick Succorso is- Warden bit down on the back of his tongue to contain his impatience. What treason? What actions! actions!

"I will quote Captain Succorso exactly." The strain in Hashi's tone made him sound unusually formal. "He said, 'If you can get her, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you can have her. I don't care what happens to you. You need me, but you blew it. You deserve her. Kazes are such fun, don't you think?'"

Startled out of his self-control, Warden echoed involuntarily, "'Kazes are such fun.' He said that!" that!"

Hashi nodded. He may have been gratified by Warden's surprise. "You see the difficulties. Superficially he appears to possess an implausible knowledge of our recent adventures. And his taunting references to 'she' and 'her' are obscure.

"I considered it my job, Director Dios, to draw conclusions from Captain Succorso's transmission-and from Captain Scroyle's. To account for the plain threat in Captain Succorso's words, as well as to explain the suggestive details of Captain Scroyle's report, I have constructed a scenario which appalls me."

He didn't look appalled. The smeared gleam of his eyes suggested pride.

Kazes are such fun. Fun? Fun?

"One more item of background," Hashi continued pedantically, "and then I will proceed. As you know, Captain Scroyle makes mention of Soar Soar, a vessel captained by a certain Sorus Chatelaine. Data Processing has presented me with the hypothesis that Soar Soar is a retrofitted avatar of a former illegal by the name of is a retrofitted avatar of a former illegal by the name of Gutbuster. Gutbuster. Perhaps coincidentally-and perhaps not- Perhaps coincidentally-and perhaps not-Gutbuster was responsible for the death of Morn Hyland's mother. And was responsible for the death of Morn Hyland's mother. And Gutbuster Gutbuster also killed the original also killed the original Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy, leaving only the boy Nick Succorso aboard alive."

Warden tightened his arms, clamping himself in his stolid pose. Get to the point! he wanted to yell. What actions? actions?

But Hashi's love of his own explanations was inexorable. He plodded on.

"Nick Succorso, Morn Hyland, and Sorus Chatelaine are linked to each other by bonds of bloodshed. It may be, however, that those bonds are of opposing kinds. The natural a.s.sumption is that Morn Hyland loathes Gutbuster Gutbuster's memory. In contrast, Nick Succorso's survival aboard Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy may have been a gift from Sorus Chatelaine." may have been a gift from Sorus Chatelaine."

Warden snarled in the pit of his stomach. "What's the relevance of all this? I'm running out of time. I need facts, not moonshine."

I need the truth.

Hashi flapped his hands as if he could wave away urgency. "Grant that it may be so." His aura suggested more than pride; it hinted at righteousness; vindication. "Consider what follows.

"Morn Hyland and Nick Succorso are natural enemies, if for no other reason than because he must have used her zone implant against her. Being who he is, he could hardly do otherwise. And he and Sorus Chatelaine may be allies. Why would a man such as Nick Succorso risk visiting Enablement Station simply so that a natural enemy could have a son? And why would rumors of an antimutagen surround a possible ally on Thanatos Minor?

"Here, briefly, is my scenario." Warden took a deep breath against the weight of his arms.

"Nick Succorso and Sorus Chatelaine propose to make themselves unimaginably wealthy." Hashi spoke with his head tilted back, as if he were addressing the ceiling. Despite the abstraction of his delivery, he sounded almost smug. "At the same time they mean to punish us for our failures to give him support when he demanded it. Morn Hyland was taken to Enablement with the connivance of the Amnion so that she could be transformed into some manner of genetic kaze aimed at us."

By an act of will, Warden showed no reaction. Yet his head seemed to reel as if it were full of ghouls. Autonomic terror squeezed sweat like blood from the bones of his forehead. A genetic kaze? Horrific idea: anyone but Hashi would have been appalled by it; dismayed to the quick. And it was possible. possible. Warden had prepared or planned nothing which might have prevented it. And Angus would accept her in that condition, as long as he failed to detect any sign of genetic tampering. Warden had prepared or planned nothing which might have prevented it. And Angus would accept her in that condition, as long as he failed to detect any sign of genetic tampering.

Christ, it could work! Treason was too small a word for it. If Hashi's view of the connection between Nick and this Sorus Chatelaine was accurate, Warden could think of no reason to dismiss the DA director's interpretation.

Oh, Morn! What have I done to you?

Hashi hadn't stopped, however. Still regarding the ceiling, he explained, "All subsequent conflict between Nick Succorso and the Amnion was mere chicanery, designed to conceal the truth. Morn was sent to the Bill by ejection pod as a pretense. Then she was reacquired, presumably with Amnion aid.

"For her part, Sorus Chatelaine began spreading the gossip that a mutagen immunity drug exists-and exists in her possession. The crewmember delivered to and then retrieved from the Amnion by Captain Succorso was a ploy to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug. That done, Captain Succorso positioned himself-perhaps by means of his past a.s.sociation with Milos Taverner-so that he and Morn Hyland would be preserved with Trumpet. Trumpet.

"What results? Apparently harmless, Morn is brought to us. UMCPHQ falls to genetic a.s.sault, terrorizing all of humankind. And where does the species turn for hope? Why, to Nick Succorso and Sorus Chatelaine, who possess a proven antimutagen."

Finally Hashi lowered his gaze to Warden's. "Does this not sound like our Captain Succorso? He becomes as rich as the stars. At the same time"-Hashi smiled bleakly-"we are discomfited. Hence his flare. He dares to taunt us because he believes that we cannot penetrate his deception-and he cannot resist displaying his superiority."

Warden swallowed harshly. "That's it?" He couldn't force himself to stop sweating; but he kept his voice under rigid control. "That's your scenario?"

Hashi nodded. Pride stained his aura like a malignancy.

"And you believe it?" Warden demanded.

"'Believe it'?" Hashi waved away the question airily. "I neither believe it nor disbelieve it. It is a hypothesis, nothing more. I consider it plausible. Therefore it may be accurate. Belief or doubt are moot."

"But it doesn't scare you," Warden pursued.

"'Scare' me? No, I am not scared. As a conception, I find it appalling. In practice I see nothing to fear."

Warden released his arms in order to clench his fists on the desktop. He wanted Hashi to see his anger-and his restraint.

"It doesn't scare you," he rasped, "because you've already done something about it. You've already 'acted with almost prescient wisdom,' as you call it." Done something great and terrible. great and terrible. "Don't stop now. That's the part I've been waiting to hear." "Don't stop now. That's the part I've been waiting to hear."

Hashi's mouth twisted primly. He adjusted his gla.s.ses, crossed one thin leg over the other.

"Director, I did not speak of this earlier because I did not trust the time. You will tell me whether I have judged aptly.

"When Punisher Punisher encountered encountered Free Lunch Free Lunch and Captain Scroyle, he had relayed his transmission to me and was awaiting orders. In response I offered him a new contract." and Captain Scroyle, he had relayed his transmission to me and was awaiting orders. In response I offered him a new contract."

Warden was suddenly sure that he was about to heat the truth. "What contract? What was it for?"

Hashi faced his director like a blue sky. "In my judgment action was urgently required. Therefore Captain Scroyle has been handsomely remunerated to destroy Trumpet Trumpet and everyone aboard." and everyone aboard."

Warden nearly cried out; nearly broke into a yell-or a wail. His fists. .h.i.t the desktop. Destroy Trumpet! Trumpet! Kill Angus and Morn just when Warden himself had almost literally moved heaven and Earth to keep them alive? Kill Angus and Morn just when Warden himself had almost literally moved heaven and Earth to keep them alive?

Hashi, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You unconscionable b.a.s.t.a.r.d. b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

But his surprise and shock pulled him in so many different directions at once that they held him mute; hurt him in so many different ways that he couldn't utter any of them.

Destroy-?

This of course of course of course was the real reason Hashi had concealed his dealings with was the real reason Hashi had concealed his dealings with Free Lunch. Free Lunch. He hadn't wanted to admit what he'd done. Left alone, he might have taken his involvement in the ruin of what he saw as Nick's treason to his grave. He hadn't wanted to admit what he'd done. Left alone, he might have taken his involvement in the ruin of what he saw as Nick's treason to his grave.

Warden didn't know how he kept from howling. His fists pounded the desktop so that he wouldn't hit himself.

Hashi's gambit dismayed him to the bone. But at the same time, oh, s.h.i.t, at the same time at the same time it offered him a way to subvert Holt Fasner's orders; a seductive answer to the treachery Holt demanded. Let it offered him a way to subvert Holt Fasner's orders; a seductive answer to the treachery Holt demanded. Let Trumpet Trumpet be killed by be killed by Free Lunch. Free Lunch. Morn and Angus would be granted a clean death, if no mercy; Nick would die as well; and Davies would be kept away from the Dragon. Warden's own hopes and needs would die with them; but he could claim with at least superficial honesty that his hands were clean. Morn and Angus would be granted a clean death, if no mercy; Nick would die as well; and Davies would be kept away from the Dragon. Warden's own hopes and needs would die with them; but he could claim with at least superficial honesty that his hands were clean.

Didn't that make sense? If Morn was a genetic kaze?

No, he swore with all his heart. No. I will will not. not.

He was ashamed to the pit of his stomach, the core of his heart; his blood burned with shame in his veins. He was beside himself with fury at the DA director-yet Hashi wasn't to blame. This would never have happened if Warden's own plotting and subterfuge, his complicity with the Dragon and his covert efforts to be free of it, hadn't created an environment which permitted, encouraged, even necessitated manipulation and secrets for the people around him.

He was the director of the United Mining Companies Police; no one else. was the director of the United Mining Companies Police; no one else. He He was responsible. was responsible.

And he was Warden Dios. Shame made him strong.

Grimly he unclosed his fists. He couldn't swallow his anguish and rage, but he allowed himself no recrimination.

"There's only one problem," he retorted through his teeth. "It's all bulls.h.i.t. Your scenario may be plausible, but it's not true. That's not why Morn is alive."

Hashi opened his mouth; closed it again. Streaks of apprehension ached across his aura. As if he didn't notice what he was doing, he put down his hands to support himself on the sides of his chair.

"She's alive," Warden grated, "because I told Angus to rescue her. I changed his programming-I swapped out his datacore before he and Milos left. You're trying to kill her"-the words broke from him like a cry-"and I need her alive."

Hashi's heart staggered; missed several beats. The blood drained from his face as if he were being sucked dry. Nevertheless he didn't flinch; didn't protest; didn't refuse to hear or believe. The blow was hard, but he strove to bear it.

"You changed his programming." He spoke like a sigh. "You need her alive." His hands shook slightly as he raised them to his face and removed his gla.s.ses; folded the stems carefully; tucked the gla.s.ses into the breast pocket of his lab coat. Without them his face seemed oddly vulnerable, as if he wore them to conceal a weakness. "You are a challenge to me, Warden. Your game is deeper than I imagined.

"Only now does it occur to me that you might profit from Morn Hyland's life."

Warden hugged his pain and remained silent, giving Hashi time to think.

"In one sense," Hashi went on, "she threatens us all. But in another-" His voice cracked; his emanations cried out with chagrin. More than anyone Warden had ever known, Hashi relied on his own mind. Now he was being told that his intelligence and skills had failed him. "Ah, your game is indeed deep. Now that the opportunity has pa.s.sed, I ask myself how you might better demonstrate your honor and usefulness to our esteemed Council in these troubled times than by rescuing the very woman who has suffered most for your decisions.

"And the benefit is only increased by the threat she represents." He seemed to be sinking in his chair; shrinking in his own estimation. "If she is a kaze, we are forewarned. We will be able to guard against her. But your honor and effectiveness-your survival-would inevitably be enhanced by the rescue of a woman who has such tales to tell at the Dragon's expense."

He may have been able to lie to the whole world, but apparently he couldn't lie to himself.

"Please accept my regrets, Director. I have done you a singular disservice."

True. But the contract had already been sent. It was beyond recall. Unless- Wearily Warden asked, "I don't suppose there's any way you can contact Captain Scroyle?"

"Alas, no." Hashi frowned in regret. "I cannot know where he has gone, except in pursuit of Trumpet. Trumpet. And he will not expect contact from me. Therefore he will not look for it." And he will not expect contact from me. Therefore he will not look for it."

No, of course not. That would have been too easy.

"In that case"-bracing his palms on the desktop, Warden pushed to his feet-"you can go back to work. I'm out of time. Like everybody else around here, I've got orders to carry out."

You don't have to resign, Hashi. I still need you.

Hashi rose from his chair. Fumbling in his pockets, he found his gla.s.ses and put them back on his nose. He made no pretense of looking through them, however.

"Forgive me if I appear slow," he wheezed. "I simply wish matters to be clear so that I will make no more mistakes. Do you have orders for me?"

"Yes." Warden didn't hesitate. "You have no more responsibility for Trumpet Trumpet or Joshua. Leave them to me. If any more information about Billingate, the Amnion, or Joshua. Leave them to me. If any more information about Billingate, the Amnion, Trumpet Trumpet, Joshua, Free Lunch Free Lunch, or even Min happens to be routed your way, you will make sure I see it immediately."

No more games, Hashi.

The DA director nodded. "I understand."

"Instead," Warden continued, "I'm leaving the investigation of G.o.dsen's murder to you."

Hashi c.o.c.ked an eyebrow, but Warden couldn't tell whether he was surprised or relieved.

"Min isn't here, and her Chief of Security is out of his depth. If you can't uncover the truth"-Warden used the word deliberately-"about those kazes, no one can.

"But there's one fact you may not know. Shortly before that kaze reached him, G.o.dsen got a call from Holt Fasner. Holt wanted G.o.dsen to go see him immediately. G.o.dsen refused because I'd restricted him to UMCPHQ."

After only a slight pause, Warden finished, "Before he died, G.o.dsen called me to tell me what he'd done."

Now Hashi's surprise was unmistakable. He pursed his lips, hissed softly between his teeth. "So our G.o.dsen discovered loyalty before he died. I would not have believed it."

"That's why he was killed," Warden p.r.o.nounced harshly. "Because he discovered that particular loyalty."

Are you listening, Hashi? Do you hear me?

"I see," Hashi murmured while he considered the implications. "Then perhaps he deserves to be lamented."

Warden forced himself to make his point more clearly. "Hashi, don't let it happen to you."

The DA director replied with a smile that left his blue gaze cold. "I am not afraid. His position and mine are dissimilar. No one but you has ever had reason to question my loyalty."

He gave Warden a small bow, then moved to the door and waited for Warden to unlock it.

As the bolts and seals opened, however, he turned back to his director. "It occurs to me," he said in a musing tone, "that the Amnion cannot force-grow a mind."

Warden was running late. And he still had decisions to make-decisions on which any number of lives depended, including his own. "I jumped to the same conclusion," he retorted brusquely.

Hashi didn't stop. "It seems consistent with what we know of their methods in other areas, however, that they are able to copy one. Therefore, if young Davies Hyland has a mind, it must have been imprinted from someone else."

"Fine," Warden growled. "From whom? Nick Succorso?"

"I think not." Hashi was still chewing on the question; but his emanations were calm, and his voice sounded confident. "Can you imagine that Captain Succorso would submit to such a process? Surely the Amnion could have offered him no certainty that his own mind would remain intact when it was copied.

"Indeed, it seems unlikely that any ordinary human being would have valued Davies Hyland enough to accept the hazards of such a process."

Hashi flashed a speculative glance at Warden, but didn't wait for a response. He reached for the door, opened it; in a moment he was gone.

Yet he'd left behind the hint Warden needed; left it in the air and silence after he closed the door as if he were trying to make amends.

Hashi Lebwohl, you G.o.d d.a.m.n sonofab.i.t.c.h, you're a genius. Davies Hyland must have a mind, a human mind. Otherwise the Amnion wouldn't want him back-not badly enough to risk an act of war by chasing Trumpet. Trumpet. That was the whole point. If his mind was Amnion, they wouldn't have lost him in the first place. That was the whole point. If his mind was Amnion, they wouldn't have lost him in the first place.

So where did he get it? Whose Whose mind did he have? mind did he have?

Who would consider him precious enough to be worth the risk of madness or even a complete breakdown? What kind of person would do such a thing?

Only Morn.