man, even if he is a librarian.”
“I know it isn’t true. I think it’s ... something else entirely. You’re so strange sometimes, Balt. How could somebody who comes only from the other side of the same world be so strange?”
He forced a grin. “Suddenly you’ve become very cosmic. What do you know of our—of the world? It’s a big place. And nobody else in Katund seems to be so impressed by my strangeness; they think a foreigner’s entitled to his queer ways.”
“Nobody in Katund knows you as well as I do. And I’ve seen foreigners before. They’re not different in the way you are.” She looked intently at him. “It’s not a shameful kind of strangeness, just a ... strange kind of strangeness. Fascinating in its way—I don’t want you to think I just married the first stranger who came along....”
“I’m sure you had many offers, dear. Come, help me fold this cloak or I’ll never make the bus.”
“You know what I’m reminded of?” she said, coming forward and taking the cloak. “Of the old tale about the lovely village maiden who marries the handsome stranger and promises she’ll never look into his eyes. And then one day she forgets and looks into his eyes and sees—”
“What does she see?”
“The worst thing of all, the greatest horror. She sees nothing. She sees emptiness.”
He laughed. “The moral’s clear. She shouldn’t have looked into his eyes.”
“But how can you help looking into the eyes of the man you love? Maybe that’s the moral—that it was an impossible task he set her.”
“In those tales it’s always the man’s fault, isn’t it? Not much doubt who made them up. Now, Belsir, please, I’ve got to finish packing. It’ll be just my luck to have today be the day the bus to Zrig’s on time.”
“A couple of weeks ago I was in Zrig shopping and I saw an Earthman,” she said, folding his cloak into the kit. “The way he walked, the way he moved, reminded me a little of you.”
It was a long moment before he could speak. “Do I look to you like a dark-faced, dark-haired, brown-eyed—”
“I didn’t say you were an Earthman! But if Earthmen can travel through the sky, they might be able to do other things, too; maybe even change the way a man looks.”
He snapped the kit-fastener. “If you really believe that, you should be careful. Creatures as clever as that might be able to pluck your words from my brain.”
“What if they did? I’m not ashamed. Or afraid, either.”
He reached out and patted her arm. Maybe she wasn’t afraid, but he was. For her. And for the people of Damorlan. If there was a deep-probe on the staff ship.... If only something could happen to him, so he could never reach Barshwat ... Spano wouldn’t know. He might guess, but he wouldn’t know. He’d have to start all over again—and maybe things would turn out better next time.
General Spano and his secretary were waiting in Blynn’s office. Clarey stretched out his foot in greeting, then recollected himself and reached out his hand. “You see, sir,” he said with a too-hearty laugh, “I’m really living my part.”
Spano beamed. “Damorlan certainly seems to agree with you, my boy. You look positively blooming. Doesn’t he, Han?”
She nodded grave agreement.
The general sniffed. “What’s that you two are smoking?”
“Marac leaves,” Clarey said. “A native product. Care to try one?” He extended his pouch to Spano.
“Don’t mind if I do,” the general said, taking a roll. “Which part do you light? And why don’t you offer one to Secretary Vollard?”
“Oh, sorry; I didn’t think of it. The women here don’t use it. Care to try one, Secretary?” As she took a roll, she looked at him searchingly. She was still beautiful in an Amazonian way, but he preferred Embelsira’s way. He could never imagine Han Vollard warm and tender.
“Well, Clarey,” Spano said, “you seem to be doing a splendid job. I’ve been absolutely enthralled by your reports.” He settled himself behind Blynn’s desk. “Pity the information’s top secret. It could make a fortune on the tri-dis.”
Clarey bowed.
“And those musictapes you sent back created quite a stir. We’ve brought along some superior equipment. The rig here is good enough for routine work, but we need better fidelity for this. And it would be appreciated if the colonel didn’t beat time with his foot while you played—no offense, Blynn.”
He turned back to Clarey. “Do you think you can pick up some of those what-do-you-call-’ems—ulerins—for us, too, or is there a tabu of some kind?”
“Not ulerins,” Clarey corrected, “uleran. And you can walk up to any marketplace and get as many as you like—providing you have the cash, of course.”
“I told you the job had musical overtones. I’ll bet that makes up for some of the discomforts and privations.”
“It’s not too uncomfortable.”
“There speaks a true patriot!” Spano approved.
Han measured Clarey with her eyes. “You’re quiet, Secretary,” he said nervously. “You used to talk a lot more.”
Blynn stared at him. She smiled. “You’re the one who has things to tell now, Clarey.”
“And show,” the general said, almost licking his lips. “Every one of your tapes made my mouth fairly water. I trust you brought an ample and varied supply of those delicacies.”
Clarey’s smile was unforced this time. “I got your message and I brought along a large hamperful, but it’ll be hard to make the people back home keep thinking my aunt’s an invalid if she eats like a team of hax. My wife baked some pastries, which I especially recommend to your attention.”
“I think we ought to get business over before we start on refreshments,” Han suggested.
“Yes,” Spano agreed reluctantly. “I suppose you had better be deep-probed first, Clarey.... Not even one taste beforehand, Han?... Well, I suppose not.”
Clarey tensed. “You’ve got a probe on the ship?” he asked, as if the possibility had never occurred to him.
“That’s right,” Han Vollard said. “It’s an up-to-date model. The whole thing’ll take you less than an hour, and we’ll have the information collated by morning.”
“I—I would prefer not to be deep-probed. You never can tell: it might upset all the conditioning I’ve received here; it—”
“Let us worry about that, Clarey,” she said.
He didn’t sleep that night. He sat looking out of the window, knowing there was nothing he could do. Embelsira was in danger—her people were in danger—and he couldn’t lift a finger to save them.
When
