"When it became clear we could not resist the creature, an ultra-high-frequency emergency signal was transceived to our scattered personnel. This drew them back to us. Until they arrived with their ships, we had no proper receiving equipment for local castings. Judging from what we have been able to intercept since then from the Rectory and receive from the Consulate, the creature appears to be lying just offshore the capital city itself."

"Which could complicate the procedure of bombardment," said the Baron.

Parquit glanced at Rose. "Yes, Baron. The prospect does not bother you, human?"

"Nothing to endear me to this clump of earth." The old drugger shrugged. "Unless ... maybe I shouldn't leave here after all." He looked thoughtful.

Parquit was so surprised by this announcement that he momentarily forgot the Baron. "You have changed your mind, after all you have gone through to assure your safe leaving?"

"Naw. Just a crazy thought. From what I've been able to worm out, it just might be possible to communicate with the thing, somehow."

"What makes you believe that?"

"Well, it seems pretty clear to me that it can detect thoughts of other intelligent beings. It sure knew what you were up to. All your fancy equipment and all probably wasn't even necessary. Bet it would understand you if you just thought at it. Seems to be practically invulnerable. Sure, the thing turned on you once. Doesn't mean it's all-over evil. Might just have been defending itself, frightened, or uncertain, or who knows what? Properly approached in an unconfined situation, like now, it might prove docile enough to handle."

"Do you not realize," began Parquit, "that the monster deliberately carried out a complex program of deception? That it waited until it felt ready to break free?" The Commander made a sharp, angry gesture.

"Is this the work of a potentially docile creature? I think not."

"Mebbee not. But the idea of controlling a thing as powerful as this has a heap of appeal. Even if the association was set up on an equal basis, say."

"An arrangement at best worse than uncertain," said Riidi in clipped tones. "Besides, the thing is not, as the Commander states, apparently inclined to friendly discourse. And we have no evidence of this unique invulnerability you speak of beyond the original records of the first expedition."

"But it is!" the drugger protested. "Ask your own people. You should've seen it, with lasers and torpedoes and all bouncing right off!"

"Yet we have no permanent- confirmation," said Riidi, seeming to waver slightly. "I cannot risk recommending a single nye without more than verbal proof to present to my superiors. Not even that of my own subordinate." He looked pointedly at Parquit.

"Look, with half a chance I'd take it myself," said Rose. "Some day, but not today. But there is concrete proof. There was a special recorder going the whole time. I saw it activated and it never stopped until the thing broke in."

"You are observant," conceded Parquit. "Indeed, I set it myself. Yet it was smashed in the general destruction, I fear."

"You're crazy! It's back in the shelter, right where you left it. A big dumb-bell-shaped affair."

"You must be mistaken," said Parquit. "Yet your description is accurate enough."

"You must be blind. It's setting there still, I'll bet"

"Could you find it?" asked Riidi. "The Commander seems to believe it does not still exist."

"Sure I can get it."

"Do so, then, and I will see you receive proper recompense. The records themselves will be invaluable.

Yet we cannot remain here much longer. You have," he glanced at a chronometer, "four time-parts." The Baron turned to face Parquit. "If the human is right, you will suffer for it."

"Baron, I...

"We've got a bargain, then," said Rose. "I'll be back in two." He whirled and headed back into the ruins.

Parquit waited till the human was out of -sight, then turned back to the fleet commander. "My thanks, Baron."

"Thanks are accepted, if not necessary. Not where the subject is mere vermin control. Your suggestion worked well. He is blinded by greed and thoughts of power."

"You had him thinking too fast to be reflective," said Parquit. "As to your own instructions, shall we return to the ship?"

"If all your people are boarded by now, as planned."

"Yes. I regret the need of treating such as that with such elaborate planning. Yet the drug he threatened us with requires the most delicate handling. Once released we would have had no second chance. I am relieved to have it out of my sight."

"I understand," the Baron said. He turned and led the way back towards the shuttle, Parquit keeping pace at one side. "And now we come back to the problem itself. And the simple question of a possible interstellar conflict neither party would wish."

"I would suggest following the official conversation with the Governor with a private one involving the local military leader. He is sufficiently prosaic, enough to countenance the bombardment if convinced of its need."

"I wish it so," replied Riidi. "If this creature gains in power as rapidly as you imply, it should be destroyed as soon as possible. If it can be arranged, such action must be taken with the approval and agreement of the vermin authorities. If such is not forthcoming ... well, the red sand blows where it will, Commander, where it will."

Rose heard the muffled growl of the AAnn shuttle when its engines caught. He turned and ran without thinking. After covering a few meters, be slowed and stopped Such exertion was not good for a man of his age. Nor practical. So he watched quietly as the AAnn vessel made a perfect lift-off and rose on a pillar of yellow-red waxen fire. It disappeared into the comforting clouds.

He permitted himself a few choice cuss words. Actually, he was more unhappy at being outfoxed than being left behind. That lizard had set him up perfect and he, Rose, had been picked off clean and clear.

He brightened abruptly. If what the snake had said was true, then he wasn't completely marooned here.

There should be some sleek Enclave hoverafts and maybe a foilskipper or two tied up in the ruined harbor. The ones that those scattered diplomatic personnel had returned on. If just one held a fair amount of fuel, it wouldn't be impossible for him to make it back to the capital.

Once there- well, the same trick worked on different folks. The death he toted was very democratic.

And there was another possibility, interesting in light of his prospects for the future. If the AAnn chanced across him again he'd be incinerated without thought-if he were lucky. With a complete record of his drug-running and other illegal activities, the humanx were unlikely to greet him with rosewater and lemonbeef. Nor would his colleagues in the underworld consider him a safe risk anymore. Even his friends would consider him too hot to help.

There remained that other choice. He'd only flippantly meant what he'd said about attempting a single-mind contact with the monster. Given his other chances, the idea took on a certain reckless appeal.

Perhaps ithad bolted off in a sudden snit. Maybe itwould be amenable to some form of control or direction. Or if it were as intelligent as it seemed, an alliance? Rose spun thoughts insideout, the reverse of small spiders. Such power! Ain't it worth a try for such a prize? Always do the unexpected, old man!

You're running out o alternatives. The law off averages is ready to prosecute. Take the sun-risk, side-pockets, take it!

You're gonna die soon anyway. And there are plenty ready to give you a hand-down. Bootstraps, old man, bootstraps?

He realized the decision wasn't entirely sane. But it was made. So the creature was lying offshore the capital? That would take care of the usual commerce patrols. He would go there.

Perhaps all it soak to make comprehensible contact with an evil-minded being was another evil-minded being.

He began walking towards the harbor. The laugh that bubbled up out of him was a little too high and west on a little too long.

There were a few standard hoverafts- and the big cargo waveskimmer. Deity knew what the AAnn, who hated water-Contact, did with an open-decked craft. But it would take a beam or shell better than the lower lying, thinner-hulled rafts. And its tank was three-quarters full. It was a locally built craft and not an imported AAnn device, so the controls were familiar. The foredeck had been built up even higher to keep out any hint of spray. Even so, it would get cold up there.

The thing was built for long jaunts. He'd have a margin of safety in the tanks that a raft couldn't afford.

No point in making it to the city and stopping dead in the water. He'd like the option of further travel. It would be fast enough.

The Vom and the Guardian fought.

On certain levels molecules were badly battered. There was a change due and both sensed it. The Vom could not tell how or when, but it was still jubilant over the arrival of the AAnn fleet. For this was one way it had traveled between worlds, on the ships and backs and minds of other races, chained to the Vom-self. Chained.

Kitten piloted the hoveraft over a mild sea. Whitecaps sparkled like citrine in the early morning sun. The mist was burning upwards and it would be clear and bright soon.

If he weren't involved in an impossible series of events culminating in an absurd search, Mal might have enjoyed the sight. He wasn't hungry, nor tired, for the first time in some while. He longed wishfully for the routine and peace of a normal trading cruise, light-years from everything. He was just about fed up.