"Yes."

"Very well. I will speak to him. In the meantime, get out of my way." He didn't wait for me to do that; he just pushed me aside and walked into the ballroom.

I stepped back out into the Promenade.

Again. I'd done it again. Probably there was something I should have said, something I should have done, but- My phone buzzed; I raised my wrist to my face "Yes?"

"Senhor Curdova, the package is now ready for delivery."

"Package? I didn't order a package."

"It is a present from your cousin, Emilita."

Gina!

"Senhor Curdova?"

"Y-yes. Where, how-"

"If you will return to your suite, we may complete delivery."

Ignoring curious glances, I ran.

The two buzhes waited patiently by the door, the large wooden box on the aircushion dolly between them. They were dressed in normal tunics, wearing what looked like an Elwerie's defensive harness, but wasn't. It was just the opposite, really; instead of looking for external threats, activating shoulder-mounted powerguns if necessary, these harnesses monitored the wearers, deciding, several thousand times per second, whether or not the buzh wearing it was attacking an Elwerie. The circuits could deliver a graduated-voltage electric reminder for minor offenses, or set off a shaped charge against the buzh's breastbone for major ones.They both ducked their heads at my approach.

"Senhor David Curdova?"

"This box is for me?" I thumbed the door open, ushering them in.

"Yes, senhor. We will wait outside the door, for when you are finished with the... merchandise."

"I don't think that will be necessary."

"It is required, senhor. Such merchandise must be returned to the outside before nightfall."

I nodded and let the door whisk shut in front of their faces, then spent a few seconds tearing my nails at the box's catch.

The front of the box fell open. Gina sat on the small bench inside, her arms crossed tight over her chest.

"It's about time," she said, smiling faintly.

"Gina-"

"We'd better talk about the money, first."

I opened my pouch and scattered the jewels on the carpet. "Enough?"

"Just barely," she said, as I offered her a hand out. "Just barely."

"You're quite the talk of Lower City, little David," she said quietly, her face buried against my chest.

"Even old Amos was running scared for a while."

Amos van Ingstrand scared? Of me? "He d.a.m.n well had better be."

She snorted. "Was. Until your father sent him the payment for killing Carlos." She sat up, drawing the sheets around her like a robe. "I think he's gone more than a little mad on the subject of you. When they do let you out, be careful. If there's a way around an Elwerean's defenses, he just might find it."

"If I ever go out. I'm not allowed. This place is a prison."

She glanced around the bedroom, taking in the tapestries and fixtures with a practiced eye. "Nice prison."

"Gina, I don't fit in here."

"Learn to."

I let the subject drop. "Tell me, how are things in Lower City? I'm really out of touch."

She smiled knowingly. "Oh, the usual. The new crop of mannafruit are a bit dry, there's been an increase in the payoff to the Protective Society, Alfreda's house is now catering to the leather trade-"

"Stop it. Gina, I need to talk to you."

"So talk." She shrugged. "It sounds like you want some pity." She held a thumb-sized diamond up to her eve. "You'd better look elsewhere for that. You didn't pay me enough to pity you, Senhor Curdova.

Looks to me like you've got a good deal here. Enjoy it."And there it was. I couldn't enjoy it here. The words tumbled out. "This place isn't right for me. I don't fit in. I don't know what these people want from me. I don't want to stay here. I don't belong. My father is going to get killed because I'm clumsy. They destroy beautiful things just to show they can afford to.

This-"

"Do me a favor and don't complain." She raised an eyebrow. "If it bothers you that much, leave. I don't care."

"I can't. The outside door wouldn't open for me, not unless my father clears me."

"Just as well. If you go back into Lower City, Amos would have you for breakfast." She smacked her lips. "Maybe even literally."

"So I have to stay."

"Right." She snorted. "Be a victim. Idiot."

"What are you trying to say?"

"David, I like you. You're not all that bad-looking, you're fun in bed..."

"I think I hear a but."

"... but, you're a born victim. You stayed with Carlos for most of your life, let him push you around."

"But I only did that for Marie."

"Nonsense. You've never done anything for anyone else. You did that so that you wouldn't have to run your life for yourself. Then you let Eschteef and the rest of the schrift badger you-"

"How did you know about that?"

"Eschteef looked me up." She laughed. "And you should have seen the looks I got. Matter of fact, my prices went way up just after; all the offworlders figured that if I'm good enough to turn on a schrift-"

grabbed her arms. "Why?"

"Why what? Why did Eschteef look me up? The stupid creature is worried about you. Figured that somebody from your own species might be able to give some perspective." She shrugged. "And since I'm your only human friend..."

I sat up and let my legs dangle over the edge of the bed.

This was ridiculous. I'd lived my whole life in deprivation and fear. Here in Elwere, that could be over. I could forget everything.

So why did I keep hearing Eschteef saying, You are of my schtann, David?

And Marie...

"I've got to get out of here." I shook my head. "But there isn't any way. Not now. Maybe, in a few years, after I seem to settle in, my father will let me, but-"

She snorted. "Whatever you do, don't take charge of your own life, David."

"What's that supposed to mean?"She gestured toward the open door. "There's room enough in that box for the two of us. It'd be a bit cramped, but if you're really serious..."

I didn't stop to think about it; I just nodded. "We'll do it. Just one thing, first." I got out of bed and walked over to the delivery box.

"Going to find somebody to talk you out of it? Maybe get your father to prevent you from leaving?"

"No." I leaned over the delivery box. "One powergun, fully loaded, please. And three spare clips."

"Yes, senhor."

Her eyes widened. "Amos?"

"Amos."

She smiled. "Order up some more jewels, as long as you're at it. Hmmm, and some muslin, and thread We'd better make you a tunic that isn't so flashy."

"Right." I ran to. my workroom and wrapped my sword. It was too fine to leave in Elwere.

The box may have been roomy for one; even with the bench removed, it was awfully small for two.

Gina's hipbone kept digging into one of my thighs, the power-gun into the other.

And the buzh handler wasn't any too gentle.

Finally, the hissing of the carrier stopped. "All right in there, we're out. Now, what'll you do for me if I open-up the box?"

"Let me out!" Gina shrilled.

"C'mon, now, how about a little something for the working man-" the voice cut off into a strangled moan; the outside catches snicked loose.

'Well, David? Do you like the cramped box? Or would you rather see the daylight? ' The door swung open, and a familiar face peeked in.

"Eschteef!"

"Good guess." Gina snickered, blinking against the bright sunlight. She levered herself off my lap and out of the box.

I followed.

Eschteef stood on the bare dirt, one hand wrapped around the handler's throat. The human face was bright red; his eyes bulged as he clawed uselessly at the schrift's arm.

"How did you know?"

"You are of my schtann, David. The link is there, whether you admit it or not. I told this Gina that you would come." Eschteef was polite; he was talking in Basic for Gina's benefit.

"He even offered to bet." She smiled at me. "But I didn't like the odds."I eyed the setting sun, then hitched at the powergun. "I'd better get going-"

'No, little one. Not today.' He released the guard, who fell to the ground, choking. 'It is too close to sundown. We will deal with Amos van Ingstrand tomorrow.'

"We?"

'Yes, David, we. You are of my schtann, and Amos van Ingstrand has threatened you. But for now, we had best decide where you will spend the night. '

"I figured I'd stay at home." Home. That was a strange word, but Eschteefs cul-de-sac was my home, dammit. Not Elwere.

"No. I am involved in some work that will keep me busy well through midday tomorrow; you would not be able to sleep."

"I don't mind not sleeping-"

Gina elbowed me in the side. "Since you're not going to sleep anyway, maybe you'd like to not do it somewhere else? If you've got some coin, that is. I don't come cheap by the night, you know."

"Fine." I smiled, tossing her a diamond from my pouch. "This enough?"

"For now."

Eschteef hissed. "You must explain all this to me sometime."

She c.o.c.ked her head to one side. "If you have to ask, you won't understand it. Let's get out of here."

SIXTH INTERLUDE:.

Eschteef The child would not be left alone, Eschteef thought, sitting in front of its workbench. There would be two groups after it: the Elwereans, who would want David back in the city; and Amos van Ingstrand's Protective Society, still holding a grudge for the youngling's having stolen van Ingstrand's brooch.

The Elwereans could be handled. There was no cherat between them and David; a simple change in the child's appearance could fool them. Possibly, Eschteef could plant a rumor that David had left Oroga.