"I advise you not to have worries on that account. Must you carry that thing everywhere?" He indicated the metal case with its explosive, deadly contents. One breath of the powder could kill any of his command slowly and painfully.

"Oh, it's not activated just now for my, ah, bargaining purposes. Sorry if it makes you nervous. It's just that I've gotten in the habit of not letting it out of my sight. Not that I'd expect you ever goin' back on your word, you understand."

Parquit made an A-Ann expression indicative of nausea, coupled with unconcern.

"Just that I feel more secure with it near me, see?"

"I neither pretend nor care to," the Commander replied.

"Incidentally, where are we headed?"

"Harbor Control." They halted outside a door. Sensing their body heat, the semi-transparent portal slid back.

They entered a wide room that was completely transparent from walls to ceiling. Only the floor was opaque. They were not terribly high. Still, there was no sense in subjecting some timorous controller to vertigo. It wasn't necessary to see beneath one's feet. They were in the approximate center of the island, just above the tallest trees of the forest.

"As your companion is due with your possessions soon, I would prefer you to be here. There -should be no confusion if the agreed-upon coding is properly utilized. A proper visual identification, however, is far preferable. I have reasons for such precautions. Someone else could have intercepted the coding. This way we will be certain."

"Afraid of something, old skin?"

"No more so than normal. Besides, anything that will aid in expediting your removal gives me enjoyment.

Other matters press heavily on my time. Rest assured, however, that getting rid of you is foremost in my mind."

"Flattery'll get you nowhere."

The Commander was already talking to a detec operator. "Communication from the anticipated arrival yet?"

"No, your Excellency. The channel is held open, though."

"Good. Notify if-"

"Excellency?" Parquit turned.

"What is it, Harbormaster Third?"

"Pardon, your Excellency, for disturbing. The Terran female is broadcasting. Directionally, it appears, to somewhere within the central city."

"A logical place." Parquit was only mildly interested. "I did not know that a raft of that class could beam so far directionally."

"Some have the capability, Excellence. Boostering and expensive modifications."

Parquit grunted. "Nothing of interest, presumably?"

"No, Excellency. Nothing unique. It appears to be a series of complaints distinguished only by their vituperativeness. Should I try to damp her out?"

"No, let her rave. Hopefully she will annoy the humanx authorities as she has us. I would not personally inflict such a female on the most desperate mate-seeker. Such selfrighteousness! I understand this grouping has been an abnormally difficult one."

"Abnormally vocal, anyway, Excellence," smirked the Harbormaster.

"You're holding a group of people?" Rose inquired. He'd understood enough of the preceding conversation.

"No, not people. Humans, and one other. Tourists. Along with an occasional commercial fisher, who hopes to find an unfinished area close to the center of population, they sometimes stray within Concession boundaries. Most such are the result of honest errors of navigation. Others do so, I suspect in the hopes of achieving a small thrill. Unfortunately, I cannot react as I would prefer. This would entail frying the lot of them. We are 'at peace,' you see. So such actions are proscribed by treaty. I believe some would actually enjoy the threat. Most merely express outrage that we constrain their sacrosanct person. You are the first, I regret, to arrive here with purpose."

"What do you do with them?"

"Hold them over for a day, make brief suggestions of bodily dismemberment, lodge a protest with the authorities, who, I understand, sometimes even actually levy a fine on the offenders."

"You said humans and 'one other."'

"A Tolian. Petty aristocrat. These small mammals ..." Parquit paused. Rose bad turned away and was trying hard to control himself. "Does it shame you so much?"

"It's laughter I'm trying to hold back, not shame, your scaliness! Two humans and a Tolian. One large male and one exceptionally attractive female?"

"By your standards, as I vaguely comprehend them, yes. How do you know?"

"And you don't want visitors. Oh, Luna! ... Listen, brighteyes. The female and the furry posturer are Church undercover agents, both officers. The male is an independent freighter-captain with more connections than an all-purpose 'puter linkup. In the words of ancient hue, me boyoh, you've been took!"

The drugger burst into laughter, causing heads to turn in the control room.

Parquit did not betray any emotion beyond a slight tightening of horny lips.

"Harbormaster Third, damp that broadcast!"

"Excellency!" The reptile jumped at the sting in the command.

"Controller! Kindly inform the sergeant in charge of that landing section to conduct our visitors to my rooms. Under guard. Put their raft under cross-coverage from harbor turrets. If they make the slightest move to depart, destroy them."

"It is done, Excellence."

"Hey, no reason to jump on them like that! They're probably lookin' for me," said Rose.

Parquit turned and gave the drug-runner such an intense stare that the normally stolid Rose looked away.

"You flatter yourself, human. As you said, it gets one nowhere. I have reason to believe they are here for reasons and purposes other. I am admittedly curious as to how you know them."

"They're the ones-the two agents, anyway-who've forced my reluctant and hasty departure from these parts."

"I see. Reason enough to condemn them, for inflicting you on me. I sometimes wish for more primitive days, when decisions were a simple question of sharper teeth and stronger claw. Yet I endeavor to cope with civilization. Come along. You may be of some use, Sand knows."

Parquit headed for- the door, paused at a word from the Harbormaster.

"What is it, Third?"

"Excellence, the human's expected shipment has contacted us."

"Monitor it closely." He turned back to Rose. "You will remain to make visual identification. Following that, direct yourself to my rooms."

The series of rapid, ultra-high-frequency numbers was picked up, recorded and transcribed by the Rectory 'puters. Coupled with the phycoded information just received, they were sufficient to send the padre in charge scurrying for the Major's office.

"You realize your confession of your profession is a mere formality now," said Parquit. "I am as certain of it as of my own ancestral tree. It is your purpose that concerns me more. You no more landed here by accident than I did by desire. Why not observe courtesy, be polite, and tell me freely? I shall be courteous in turn. I will not have you shot out of hand ... No, please, young female. Subside. No more imagined insults. Surely the maintenance of this act is as wearisome to you as it is to me. I could search your vessel. Interesting things would no doubt turn up. But should they, I would be impelled by precedent to have you exterminated. I would far rather have answers to some questions- before."