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"Did you people know," Lyad said, "that the trouble on the way between Maccadon and Evalee was caused by a catassin killing?" There was a touch of mischief in the question, Trigger thought. There were assorted startled responses. The Ermetyne went briefly over some of the details Quillan had told; essentially it was the same story. "And do you know, Belchik, what the creature was trying to do?
You certainly didn't hesitate an instant to take full advantage of the situation!" "True," Quillan admitted. "I'd dropped the bat. There you were. Who'd hesitate? I'm not out of my mind." She did two dance steps of pure rage and spun to face him. She put her hands on her hips. Quillan stopped warily. "Your mind!" she said. "I'd hate to have one like it. What do you think I am?
Why, he would have been like Ovid among the Goths, my Nelchen!" "But he could have worn such splendid uniforms!" said Nelchen. "And diamonds!" "You mercenary wretch!" said he. Louis Quillan then did what seemed advisable; and presently he added, "In any event, the horrified man ran away." "That was silly of him," said Nelchen Thorn. "But where did he run to?" Louis Quillan considered.
But he and that unpleasant Belchik Pluly had engaged in some jovial back-slapping and rib-punching when he and Trigger went over to join Lyad's party at her request; and Quillan cried out merrily that he and Belchik had long had one great interest in common ha-ha-ha!
"I've resigned from Precol. Got a couple of checks from the Federation. One to cover my expenses on that plasmoid business that was the Dawn City fare mainly and the other for the five weeks special duty they figured I was on for them. So I'm up to five thousand crowns again, and I thought I'd just loaf around and sort of think things over till Quillan gets back from his current assignment."
The price was kind of interesting." "What was it?" "Flat half million credits." Mihul whistled. "Poor Trigger!" "Well, nobody's very likely to earn the money." "I hope not. She's a good kid. All right, Major. Signing off now." "Hold on a minute," said Quillan. "You asked a while ago if the girl had gone ta-ta." "So I did," Mihul said, surprised. "You didn't say. I figured it was against security."
Next came an angry roar, some thumping sounds, a sudden crack. "Oops!" the deep voice said happily. "A little too hard, I'm afraid!" Why, of course, Trigger thought. She opened her eyes and twisted her head around. "Still awake, Trigger?" Quillan asked from the door of the room. He looked pleasantly surprised. There was a very large bellmouthed gun in his hand.
Trigger looked at Pluly again. "Ugh!" she said faintly. Quillan laughed. "The Pluly salaries are correspondingly high. Viewer's dropping the group now, so there's just one more I'd like you to notice. The tall girl with black hair, in orange." Trigger nodded. "Yes. I see her. She's beautiful." "So she is. She's also Space Scout Intelligence. Gaya.
But how did you know where I was?" "No problem there. We knew Lyad had strings on Pluly. Quillan knew about that sealed level on Pluly's yacht and got Pluly to invite him over to admire the harem right after the Dawn City arrived. While he was admiring, he was also recording floor patterns for a subtub jump.
It suited her appearance perfectly. "Only to the frivolous ones," Quillan said. His thick black brows went up. His face took on a dedicated look. "I'm headed for Manon on duty." She nodded. "Still with the Subspace Engineers?" "And with the rank of major by now," Quillan said. "Congratulations! But I'd already observed that your fabulous good fortune hasn't deserted you in the least."
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