"My opinion exactly. With his intelligence, I don't un- - derstand why he's not commanding a ship, at least."

Barton shrugged. "Politics, probably-it usually is.

Look at ap Fenn."

Tarieton said nothing.

"All right," said Barton. "Scrub that-sorry I brought it up. Now, about today's agenda-fill me in a little, will you?"

Tarieton did so, and Barton left for the conference with more in his head and notebook than he expected he could keep straight. But he would try ....

Entering the conference building, he was met by Slo- bodna, accompanied by a short, sandy-haired man. Barton felt he should recognize the latter, but couldn't place him.

"Hi, Slowboat."

"Morning, Barton. You remember Kranz?"

"Oh, sure I do, now." Other than Barton, Kranz had been the first man-and Slobodna the second-to fly the captured Demu ship. But that had been months earlier;

Barton hadn't seen the man since. "How are you?" They shook hands.

"Just fine. Barton. My ship got the nod to go with you on the strike force. I hope you're not superstitious-it's Ship Thirteen."

Barton laughed. "The only unlucky numbers I know are the ones that lose at roulette-and I don't play rou- lette."

252.

"Me neither." Kranz looked toward the entrance. "Hey, I think we're about to meet our other sidekicks."

Estelle Cummings approached; a dark, thin man es- corted her. "Gentlemen," she said, "I should like to in- troduce to you. Captain Lombard of Ship Thirty-four.

He joins you with my highest recommendation."

They exchanged names and handshakes all around.

"Let's stick together pretty much," Barton said, "so we all get the same info and don't have to pass it around later.

Okay? I know we won't get too much chance to confab on our own plans, but Tarleton's asked for a skull session this evening on Ship One, if that's agreeable."

It was. Referring to Tarleton's notebook, Barton checked on each ship's current state of preparation. Prog- ress was good; he decided that these people knew how to work fast under pressure. He was almost through the list when the conference was called to order. "Okay-we'll get the rest of it at the first break."

Vertan spoke; he gave a brief status summary and as- signed troubleshooters to a few problem areas. Slobodna reported on weapons, including Barton's side gun. "The weapons group can discuss this at the break, and decide how many ships it is feasible to convert." He did not men- tion the individual Shields; Barton made a note to ask him later.

Scalsa described, as simply as possible, the complex arrangements for rendezvous tetween the various groups.

"Don't bother to write this down," he said. "We're feeding it to each ship's computers; you can get a readout on your own boards." He related the contingency plans-for a later rendezvous of ships that couldn't meet the accel- erated deadline, and for the possible meeting with part or all of the strike force returning from Sisshain. The con- cept of a time-space corridor for rendezvous confused several. Not Corval, though-when Scalsa ran into diffi- culties explaining it, the Larka-Te took over for him.

Then it was break-time. Vertan joined Barton's group and was introduced all around. "It is good to have you back. Barton." He spoke in English. "Is all well now, with you and your ship?"

"As well as circumstances allow-yes, progress marches.

The strike force-I guess that's next on the agenda, but we leave on schedule, late tomorrow. Far as I know, we'll have everything we need-everything we've thought of,

253.

that is-except maybe the personal Shields. Oh, yeh-

how about our Instant Demu kits?"

"Those are to be delivered to your ship this morning."

"Good. That was a fast job, Vertan-thanks."

"They are well executed- The young Demu cooperated

well- I ... I spoke with it, Barton. And behind that bony

mask I found a young person that I could easily befriend..

I had not expected such a thing."

Barton hid a grin. "Yeh-the kid grows on you, doesn't

she?"

"She? But I thought-"

"Oh, sure-they're bisexual-but our language doesn't allow for that very well. And Eeshta being small, I-and most of us, I guess-tend to think of her as her."

Vertan nodded. "I can understand. And-it does give hope, the young one's attitude. . . ."

"Yes-but It's the adults we have to worry about. We never made any kind of dent in Hishtoo's hard shell-his mental one, I mean."

"No. But some of our own people, and allies, are as rigid. Many resist Tarleton's saying that the Demu are to be stopped only, and not punished. They consent because they must, but deep in their beings they do not agree."

'Trouble, you think?"

"None, I would hope-but the balance may be fragile."

"I'll tell the boss." A nagging worry surfaced in his mind. "How come we haven't seen Corval or Kimchuk today-or any of their people-to talk with? Are -they bugged with us? Offended, I mean?"

Vertan shook his head. "No, Barton. It is that you have had trouble. As is their custom, they leave you to re- cover from it, and signify your recovery by approaching them."

"Oh? Interesting-and useful to know. But if you see them first, tell them our trouble is past and their company is welcome. All right?"

"I will do so. And now I see my assistant beckoning.

Will you permit my departure?" Smiling, Barton nodded.

He turned to Slobodna. "I notice you didn't mention the one-man Shields in your weapons roundup. Will we have them?"

The other man frowned. "I wish I could tell you. The team's working like crazy, but there's an instability in one of the phasing circuits. It didn't show up until we applied heavy stress, testing, and they haven't 'ocated it

254.

yet because the damned thing is intermittent. You know how that is."