"I can tell you this, because if anything happened to me it's terribly important people should know if. Gehenna has to stay quarantined. My predecessor was under Defense Bureau orders, but it scared her; and that was why she left things sealed for me. -Ser Hannah."

Chaos broke out. Everyone was shouting.

"Wasn't that irresponsible of your predecessor-if it was that important?

Why did she keep it secret?"

"It was a Defense secret and it was was quarantined. She quarantined. She did did tell some people. But a lot of them are dead, and some of them probably don't understand what she did. tell some people. But a lot of them are dead, and some of them probably don't understand what she did. I I don't know it all yet. That's the bad thing: you have to be as smart as she was before you can work with the problem. She's dead and n.o.body else understands what she understood. That's why they made me. I'm don't know it all yet. That's the bad thing: you have to be as smart as she was before you can work with the problem. She's dead and n.o.body else understands what she understood. That's why they made me. I'm not not a Bok-clone situation. I cm a Special, and someday I'm going to be able to understand what happened there. Right now n.o.body does. But she did leave instructions, and I'm not giving them to anybody until Council asks me under oath, because I'm not going to muddy up the waters by talking until I a Bok-clone situation. I cm a Special, and someday I'm going to be able to understand what happened there. Right now n.o.body does. But she did leave instructions, and I'm not giving them to anybody until Council asks me under oath, because I'm not going to muddy up the waters by talking until I can can swear to what I'm saying and the whole universe knows I'm an adult and I'm not lying. If I did it any other way, people could question whether I was telling the truth or whether I knew what I was doing." swear to what I'm saying and the whole universe knows I'm an adult and I'm not lying. If I did it any other way, people could question whether I was telling the truth or whether I knew what I was doing."

They shouted and pushed and shoved each other. She felt Florian and Catlin move up on either side, anxious.

But she Had them. She was sure of it. She had gotten out exactly what she wanted to say.

ii "Release the d.a.m.n broadcast!" Corain yelled into the securitied phone, at Khalid's chief of staff, who swore Khalid was not available. "G.o.d! I don't care if he's in h.e.l.l, h.e.l.l, get hold of him and get that release, you d.a.m.n fool, it's gotten to my office, and thirty-five top reporters sent it downline-what do you mean security hold?" get hold of him and get that release, you d.a.m.n fool, it's gotten to my office, and thirty-five top reporters sent it downline-what do you mean security hold?"

"This is Khalid," the Councillor cut in, displacing the aide. "Councillor Corain, in light of the content of the interview we've requested a security delay of thirty minutes for the child's own protection. We seem to have a major problem."

"We have have a major problem. The longer that hold stays on, the more that a major problem. The longer that hold stays on, the more that hold hold is going to become news, Councillor, and the longer it stays, the more they're going to ask why. We is going to become news, Councillor, and the longer it stays, the more they're going to ask why. We can't can't stop that broadcast." stop that broadcast."

"a.s.suredly we can't. There were too many news-feeds. I told you not to allow the interview. A minor child is making irresponsible charges on extremely sensitive matters, with international implications. I suggest we answer this with a categorical denial."

"It would have been foolhardy not not to allow it. You can't keep the newsservices away from the kid, and you saw what she can do with innuendo." to allow it. You can't keep the newsservices away from the kid, and you saw what she can do with innuendo."

"She's obviously well-instructed."

"Instructed, h.e.l.l, h.e.l.l, Khalid. Khalid. Take that d.a.m.ned hold off!" Take that d.a.m.ned hold off!"

There was long silence on the other end. "The hold will go off in fifteen minutes. I strongly suggest you use the time to prepare an official statement."

"On what? what? We have nothing to do with these charges." We have nothing to do with these charges."

Again a silence. "Neither have we, Councillor. I think this will require investigation."

It was a securitied line. Any Any communication could be penetrated if one could get access to the installers; or to the other end of the transmission. communication could be penetrated if one could get access to the installers; or to the other end of the transmission.

"I think it will, Admiral. There will be a Centrist caucus in one hour. I hope you will be prepared to explain your position."

"It's completely without substantiation," Khalid said to the cameras, on the office vid, while Corain rested his chin on his hand, glancing between the image on the screen and the news-feed that an aide slipped under his view: NP: DEFENSE BUREAU SPOKESMAN DECLINES COMMENT ON ACTION NP: DEFENSE BUREAU SPOKESMAN DECLINES COMMENT ON ACTION and and CP: KHALID CALLS CHARGES FABRICATION. CP: KHALID CALLS CHARGES FABRICATION.

"... nothing in those files to substantiate any continued quarantine order. It's exactly what I say: Giraud Nye has come up with a piece of fiction, an absolute piece of fiction, and tape-fed it to a minor child who is in no wise fit or competent to understand the potential international repercussions. This is a reprehensible tactic which seeks to use the free press to its own advantage-utterly, utterly fabricated. I ask you, consider whether we will ever ever see doc.u.mentation of the child's representations-files which a fifteen-year-old girl see doc.u.mentation of the child's representations-files which a fifteen-year-old girl maintains maintains she alone has seen, which she cannot-I say she alone has seen, which she cannot-I say cannot cannot produce-unless others produce these putative files produce-unless others produce these putative files for for her-files which an impressionable fifteen-year-old child maintains were left for her by her predecessor. I will tell you, seri, I have grave suspicions that no such secret files her-files which an impressionable fifteen-year-old child maintains were left for her by her predecessor. I will tell you, seri, I have grave suspicions that no such secret files ever ever were made by Ariane Emory, that no were made by Ariane Emory, that no such program such program was ever created by Ariane Emory to give ghostly guidance to her successor. I suspect that any was ever created by Ariane Emory to give ghostly guidance to her successor. I suspect that any such program such program was written much closer to hand, that the child has been was written much closer to hand, that the child has been programmed, programmed, indeed, programmed-a process in which Reseune is absolutely expert, and in which Councillor Nye himself is an acknowledged authority-in fact a Special who gained his status as a result of his expertise in that very field. The child is a p.a.w.n created by Reseune to place legal and emotional obstacles in the way of matters of paramount national interest, and callously used and manipulated to maintain the privilege of a moneyed few whose machiavellian tactics now bid fair to jeopardize the peace. ..." indeed, programmed-a process in which Reseune is absolutely expert, and in which Councillor Nye himself is an acknowledged authority-in fact a Special who gained his status as a result of his expertise in that very field. The child is a p.a.w.n created by Reseune to place legal and emotional obstacles in the way of matters of paramount national interest, and callously used and manipulated to maintain the privilege of a moneyed few whose machiavellian tactics now bid fair to jeopardize the peace. ..."

Reporters were waiting at the hotel. "Are you aware," someone shouted, "of Khalid's accusations, Councillor Nye?"

"We heard them on the way over," uncle Giraud said, while Security maintained them a little clear s.p.a.ce in the foyer, while cameramen jostled each other.

"I have an answer," Ari said, ignoring Florian's arm as he tried, with other Security, to get her and uncle Giraud on through the doors. "I have an answer," Ari said, ignoring Florian's arm as he tried, with other Security, to get her and uncle Giraud on through the doors. "I want want to answer him, can we set up in a conference room?" to answer him, can we set up in a conference room?"

"... Thank you," the girl said, made a very young-girl move with both hands getting her hair back behind her shoulders, and then grimaced and shaded her eyes as a light hit her face. "Ow. Could you shine that down? Please?" Then she leaned forward with her arms on the conference table, suddenly businesslike and so like Emory senior that Corain's gut tightened. "What's your question?"

"What do you think about Khalid's allegations?" some reporter yelled out over the others.

Chaos. Absolute chaos. The light swung back into the girl's face and she winced. "Cut it off," someone yelled, "we don't need it."

"Thanks." As the light went off. "You want me to tell what I think about what the admiral says? I think he knows better. He used to be head of Intelligence. He sure ought ought to. It's not real smart either, to say I'm programmed. I can write psych designs. to. It's not real smart either, to say I'm programmed. I can write psych designs. He's He's trying to run a psych on everybody, and I can tell you where, do you want me to count it off for you?" trying to run a psych on everybody, and I can tell you where, do you want me to count it off for you?"

"Go ahead," voices yelled out.

The girl held up one finger. "One: he says there's nothing in the files about a quarantine. He says he doesn't know know what's in the files in Reseune: that's what he's complaining about. Whichever way it is, he's either trying to trick you or he's lying about what's in the files. what's in the files in Reseune: that's what he's complaining about. Whichever way it is, he's either trying to trick you or he's lying about what's in the files.

"Two: he says my uncle tape-fed me the stuff. He doesn't know any such thing. And in fact it's not true.

"Three: he says I don't understand what it could mean in international politics. Unless he knows what's in those files, he doesn't know as much as I do what it could mean.

"Four: he makes fun of the idea my predecessor left a program for me. That's a psych. Funny stuff breaks your concentration and makes you not think real hard about what he's really saying, which is that it's impossible. It's certainly certainly possible. It's a simple branching program with a voice-recognition and a few other security things I don't want to talk about on vid, and I could write it, except for the scrambling, and that's something my own security understands-he's fifteen too. I'm sure Councillor Khalid does, if he was in Intelligence, so it's a pure psych. possible. It's a simple branching program with a voice-recognition and a few other security things I don't want to talk about on vid, and I could write it, except for the scrambling, and that's something my own security understands-he's fifteen too. I'm sure Councillor Khalid does, if he was in Intelligence, so it's a pure psych.

"Five: he says my uncles write all the stuff. That's a psych like the first one, because he can just say that and then everybody wonders. I can give you one just exactly like it if I said Khalid won the election because he made up the rumor Gorodin was against the military retirement bill, and because of the way news goes out to the ships in s.p.a.ce, and it being right before the vote, the vote was already coming back and being registered by the time Gorodin's saying it wasn't true even got to a lot of places. I heard that on the news. But I guess people forget who it is that makes up lies."

"Oh, my G.o.d. . . ." Corain murmured, and rested his head against his hands.

"I think that's done it," Dellarosa said. "I'd advise, ser, we hold a caucus without without Defense. I think we need to draw up a position on this." Defense. I think we need to draw up a position on this."

Corain raked his hand through his hair.

"Dammit, he can't even sue her for libel. She's a minor. And that went out live."

"I think the facts are, ser, the military may have had real practical reasons for preferring Khalid in spite of the rumor. But I think he's taken major damage. Major Major damage. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see a challenge from Gorodin. We need to distance ourselves from this. We need a position statement on these supposed secret files. We need it while this broadside barrage is still going on." damage. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see a challenge from Gorodin. We need to distance ourselves from this. We need a position statement on these supposed secret files. We need it while this broadside barrage is still going on."

"We need-" Corain said, "we need need to call for a Science Bureau select committee to look into this, to call for a Science Bureau select committee to look into this, past past Giraud Nye, to rule on the girl's competency. But, dammit, you Giraud Nye, to rule on the girl's competency. But, dammit, you saw saw that performance. The girl that performance. The girl got got Khalid, extemp. He played a dirty little in-Bureau game he'd have gotten away with because no one could pin it on him Khalid, extemp. He played a dirty little in-Bureau game he'd have gotten away with because no one could pin it on him or or his staff-but no one's going to forget it in his staff-but no one's going to forget it in that that context." context."

"Nye told her."

"Don't make that mistake. Khalid just did. And he's dead. Politically, he's dead. He can't counter this one."

"She could charge anyone with being in those d.a.m.n files!"

"She could have charged Khalid. But she didn't. Which probably means they exist and she's going to produce them. Or she's keeping her story clean . . . that she's waiting on Council. I'll tell you the other problem, friend. Khalid's going to be a liability in that office."

"Khalid's got to resign."

"He won't! Not that one. He'll fight to the b.l.o.o.d.y end."

"Then I suggest, ser, before we even consider Gorodin, who's stuck with the two-year rule, we explore who else might be viable for us inside that Bureau. How long do you think this is going to go? One bit of garbage floats to the surface-and other people start talking to the press. One more-and it becomes a race to the cameras."

"Dammit."

He had insisted Khalid take the hold off the news releases. had insisted Khalid take the hold off the news releases.

And there was no practical way to answer the charges, except to stall with the Bureau hearings. Which Nye could rush through at lightning speed. More exposure of the girl to the news-services.

No way. Withdraw opposition.

Then the girl got herself a full Council hearing. the girl got herself a full Council hearing.

And the repercussions of revelations on Gehenna went to the amba.s.sadors from Alliance and from Earth.

The girl was not not bluffing. bluffing.

"One thing," he said as Dellarosa was leaving, "one thing she absolutely beat him on. Find Find somebody in Defense who makes speeches people can somebody in Defense who makes speeches people can understand, understand, for G.o.d's sake." for G.o.d's sake."

iii Justin watched and watched, every nuance, every shift in the replay. He had missed the whole afternoon, buried in the sociology lab; and he watched it now, once and twice, because the keyword response in the vid recorder had gotten all the references to the hearings, to Ari, to all the princ.i.p.als.

He shook his head, hands under chin, elbows on knees.

"Remarkably accurate retention," Grant said, beside him on the couch. "For a CIT. She hit every point she wanted to make, certainly. And confused them about the rest."

The tape reached Khalid's second refutation, the cold, pa.s.sionless statement that Ari had been prompted with that accusation by Giraud Nye, that Giraud used her as his voice because it was otherwise actionable.

Justin shook his head again. "He may have given it to her. But the kid's sense of timing is impeccable."

"Khalid mistook his opponent," Grant said. "He thought that it was Giraud all along."

"Vid off," Justin said, and there was silence in the room.

Grant reached across and shook at his knee. "Do you think Khalid-is capable of harming her?"

"I think that man is capable capable of anything. I don't know. He won't move on-won't move on of anything. I don't know. He won't move on-won't move on her. her. She's too hard a target. I'm going to call Denys." She's too hard a target. I'm going to call Denys."

"Why?"

"CIT craziness. Politics. She's too hard a target. Jordan Jordan works for Defense." works for Defense."

Grant's face went expressionless. Then showed shock.

"I don't think we should put that through the Minder. We should go go to him." to him."

"How in h.e.l.l do we get an interview with Denys at this hour? There's no way he'll open the door to us."

"Security," Grant said after a moment. "We ask him to meet us in Security."

"I appreciate your concern," Denys said, the other side of the desk from them, themselves in two hard chairs, Seely standing by the wall, in the interview room.

Justin remembered the place-too well. "Ser, I-don't call it an irrational fear. Order him not to answer any calls from the base."

"We don't need any moves against Defense on record," Denys said. "That in itself-could call unwelcome attention to your father. Possibly you're being alarmist ..."

"Khalid has reason to want an incident, ser. And my father is sitting there without protection. They can tell tell him d.a.m.ned well anything. Can't they?" him d.a.m.ned well anything. Can't they?"

Denys frowned, thick fingers steepled, then interlocking. "Seely. Move on it. Now."

"Yes," Seely said, and left.

Grant rose from his chair, following Seely with his eyes. Then Then the thought came; and Justin stood up, suddenly facing two armed guards in the doorway. the thought came; and Justin stood up, suddenly facing two armed guards in the doorway.

"What is he going to do?" Justin asked, looking at Denys. "That wasn't an instruction. What is he going to do?" What is he going to do?"

"Relax," Denys said. "Relax, son. Sit down. Both of you. There are contingency plans. You're not the first one to think of these eventualities. Seely understands my meanings perfectly well."

"What contingencies?"

"Dear G.o.d, we certainly don't intend any harm to your father. Sit down. Please. You have a very active imagination tonight."

"What is he going to do?"

"He's simply going to go to the front desk and they'll transmit a code, which you don't need to know, which simply advises Planys lab to go on extreme alert. That means Reseune Security trusts no one who is not Reseune Security. And no one comes in or goes out who's not not Reseune Security. We simply claim a laboratory incident. Very simple. Since Jordan has the highest-level Security flag at Planys-rest a.s.sured, he's not available to any calls, except from us. Sit down." Reseune Security. We simply claim a laboratory incident. Very simple. Since Jordan has the highest-level Security flag at Planys-rest a.s.sured, he's not available to any calls, except from us. Sit down."

Justin sat, and Grant did.

"There," Denys sighed. "Thank you. I appreciate your level of paranoia, Justin. It's finely honed, G.o.d knows. I never undervalue a good set of nerves. Storm-sense. Seely-never needs the weather warnings. Isn't that an odd thing-in a mind so rational? -What did you think of her?"

Off the flank and unforeseen. Justin bunked, instantly wary-and that in itself was a reaction he did not want. "Of Ari? Ari was brilliant. What else could she be?"

"I have a little pride invested in her," Denys said. "You know she brought up her psych scores six points in less than a month, when the rascal got the notion she had to. I told the committee exactly that. And they wouldn't believe she was laying back. Forgive me. I'm also extremely nervous until we get her back here safe, inside our our perimeters." perimeters."

"So am I. Honestly."

"I believe that. I truly do. I must tell you-our concern with your father has been in an entirely different context during this trip. I told you I would tell you-when Ari became aware of her predecessor's-death."

"You've told her, then."

Denys bit his lip and studied his hands. "Not all of it. Not yet." He looked up. "On the other hand-I sweated through that first interview. At one point I was sure Ari was going to say-in response to why why the first Ari didn't make better provision for pa.s.sing on the information-that Ari was murdered. And then the reporter would have keyed right onto the relationship of the murder to that information-no valid connection, of course. But I felt for a split second that was exactly where it was going-and then Ari changed course. Thank G.o.d. I really don't want her to hear the words 'the Warrick case' for the first time-in front of the cameras. Or in the hearings. She's flying home tonight. Totally unscheduled departure, Science Bureau chase planes with full radar coverage. You see we're likewise very paranoid. Giraud is, I think, going to break the news to her on the way. So I've warned you." the first Ari didn't make better provision for pa.s.sing on the information-that Ari was murdered. And then the reporter would have keyed right onto the relationship of the murder to that information-no valid connection, of course. But I felt for a split second that was exactly where it was going-and then Ari changed course. Thank G.o.d. I really don't want her to hear the words 'the Warrick case' for the first time-in front of the cameras. Or in the hearings. She's flying home tonight. Totally unscheduled departure, Science Bureau chase planes with full radar coverage. You see we're likewise very paranoid. Giraud is, I think, going to break the news to her on the way. So I've warned you."

iv "Ari," Giraud said, settling into the seat Florian had vacated for him, across from her, while RESEUNE ONE RESEUNE ONE flew through the dark and there was nothing but stars out the windows-stars and the running lights of the planes Giraud said were flying with them. flew through the dark and there was nothing but stars out the windows-stars and the running lights of the planes Giraud said were flying with them.

Because they had to worry about electronic interference and all sorts of things that even Florian and Catlin frowned over. Because they had challenged a very dangerous, very desperate man who had all kinds of contacts, and because the world had crazy people in it who might try something and try to blame it on Defense.

She would be very glad, she thought, when she felt them touch down at Reseune. Enemies didn't much bother her, except the kind who might aim another plane at you or take out your navigation or who might be Defense trying to blame it on extremists or extremists trying to blame it on Defense.

"We're doing fine," uncle Giraud said. "Radar's perfectly clear. Our escort is enough to keep them honest. I imagine you're anxious for your own bed tonight."

Oh, d.a.m.n, we've got the Minder checkout to go through when we get back to the apartment, and Florian and Catlin are tired as I am. I just want to go to bed. And I can't sleep.

"I did worry today," Giraud said, "about one thing I was afraid they were going to throw at you. That-we really haven't wanted to go into. But I think-and Denys thinks-I've talked with him on the Bureau system-that you need to know."