"Bren-ji?"

A deep and resonant voice. A familiar voice.

"Banichi?"

"One is impressed with all your actions, Bren-ji. If you have the gun in hand, kindly put it back in the drawer."

He had no doubt then it was Banichi. And the other would be Jago.

"Have you been well, nadi?"

"My life has been dull and commonplace." He said it as a joke, while his heart resumed a normal rate. He thought in the next breath it was true. He was firmly convinced that the day's events in the peninsula and Banichi's return weren't without relationship. And here they were, back with him, and just in shooting the bolt back to let them in he found his hands trembling.

He wanted so much to throw his arms around both of them.

But that would appall Banichi and Jago would be puzzled, and the most wonderful sight in the world to him was as he looked up - considerably - at two atevi in the silver-studded black of the aiji's personal security.

"One hadn't meant to alarm the house," Jago said earnestly.

"Although it would have been better for you to call out an alarm," Banichi added, "since you were behind the wall - not, one trusts, against the paneled door, paidhi-ji."

Light had come on in the hall. Servants arrived in nightclothes and robes from the rear halls, along with Algini and a couple of the junior security staff from the other direction in far calmer, knew-about-it att.i.tude. Tano arrived from the same direction as the recently sleeping servants, in a bath towel and carrying his pistol: Tano hadn't hadn't known. known.

Jase's door opened. Jase appeared in his robe, behind the line of servants, looking rumpled and confused.

"It's quite all right," Tano said to everyone. "It's quite all right. No alarm, Jasi-ji. Banichi and Jago are back."

"Have you had supper, nadiin-ji," Bren asked, instead of hugging both of them, "or should the staff make up something?"

"We ate on the plane, nadi," Jago said.

"But being off-duty now," Banichi said, "and being in the place where we will sleep tonight, one might might sit and talk for a bit over a gla.s.s of shibei if the paidhi were so inclined." sit and talk for a bit over a gla.s.s of shibei if the paidhi were so inclined."

CHAPTER 7.

JASE HAD GONE back to bed and, one hoped, to sleep. Tano and Algini said they had business to attend to.

Business, at this hour, Bren asked himself; and couldn't decide whether they were occupied with his request for the message trail on Jase's business, heating up the phone lines to the earth station at Mogari-nai, or whether it was some new duty Banichi had handed them as he came in, but whatever the case, Tano and Algini kept to the duty station.

That left him Banichi and Jago alone for company, and oh, he was glad to see them. Banichi made him feel safe; and Jago - Jago, so proper and so formal - she was the one who would would talk to him with utter disregard of protocols, the one who'd try anything at least once, including intimacy with a human. It hadn't happened: the time had never been right; but it talk to him with utter disregard of protocols, the one who'd try anything at least once, including intimacy with a human. It hadn't happened: the time had never been right; but it could could have happened, that was what he didn't forget. have happened, that was what he didn't forget.

Tonight was like picking back up as if they'd never left - and yet he had to realize, truthfully, for all the difference they'd made in his life, they'd been with him just that few weeks of the crisis preceding Jase's landing. Then they'd been gone again, a rea.s.signment, he'd been told, a fact which had saddened him immensely, and put him in a very hard place with Tano and Algini, who were wonderful people - but who weren't the two he most - Loved.

Too valuable to the aiji, he'd said to himself: he'd no right to a.s.sume he could keep them in his service. He was d.a.m.ned lucky to have Tano and Algini, whom he also - Liked very well.

Maybe it was just a visit, maybe just a temporary protection to him during the latest crisis. Maybe they wouldn't stay. He was halfway afraid to ask them. He wanted to, as he wanted to ask Tabini whether he could have them with him permanently, but he felt as if he would be asking for something the worth of a province, and to which Tabini would have to give a state answer, and think the paidhi had gotten just a little forward in recent months.

They sat, they shared a nightcap in the sitting-room - that, and the warm stove with the window open wide to the spring breezes - the extravagance of the rich and powerful, a waste of fuel with which Bren had never reconciled himself morally, and which in prior and simpler days, he would have reported and protested to the aiji.

But there was so much he had never reconciled with himself - morally.

"Dare I ask," he began with them, "where you've been?"

"One might ask, but we can't say," Jago said. "Regretfully, nand' paidhi."

He'd come very, very close to going to bed with Jago - well, technically, they'd been in in it, sort of - a fact that had crossed his mind no few times in the last half year, in the lonely small hours of the winter nights. She'd it, sort of - a fact that had crossed his mind no few times in the last half year, in the lonely small hours of the winter nights. She'd been been there, in his imagination, at least. there, in his imagination, at least.

She'd either be offended - or she'd laugh. He thought she'd laugh, and dared a direct look.

He got nothing back. Atevi reserve, he said to himself. Guild discipline, and just - that she was atevi.

Forget that that for a starting point and, G.o.d, couldn't one get in a great deal of trouble? for a starting point and, G.o.d, couldn't one get in a great deal of trouble?

She probably wasn't even interested any longer. Probably had a new hobby.

"One hears," Banichi said, "that Jase-paidhi has had unhappy news given him by improper channels."

"True," he said. Banichi had a very incisive way of summing things up. And, summoning up the fragments of his wits at this hour, dismissing the question of Jago's reactions, and meanwhile trying to be as concise: "I'm concerned for three things, one, his human feelings, two, his isolation, three, the way atevi minds might expect him to act. I asked Tano and Algini what was ordinary reaction for an ateva, and it didn't seem far off the way humans react." He let that echo in the back of his mind two seconds, added, recollected, revised, definitely under the influence of the shibei, and said: "Four, sometimes when the difference between ship-humans and Mospheira isn't that apparent, it surprises me. And, felicitous five, complicating things, Jase is trying to restrain his reactions in front of atevi."

"How is his fluency lately?" Banichi asked.

"Improved just enough that he can get out of the children's language and into serious trouble. He's learned the words that pertain to this apartment and to the s.p.a.ce program and engineering. His vocabulary is quite good for 'where is?', 'bring me food' and 'open the window,' and for 'machining tolerance' and 'autoclave.' Still not much beyond that - but acquiring felicitous nuance."

"One would be hard pressed to join these items in conversation," Banichi said dryly. "Even with nuance."

"One would." He was amused, and felt the unwinding of something from about his heart. Tano didn't tend to catch him up on the daily illogics of his trade, but Banichi would jab him, mercilessly. So would Jago. He had to revise the rules of his life and go on his guard all the time, or be the b.u.t.t of their humor. And he enjoyed it. He fired back. "So what did did befall lord Saigimi?" befall lord Saigimi?"

"One hears," Banichi said, "someone simply and uncreatively shot him."

"So. Doubtless, though, it was professional."

"Doubtless," Jago said. "Though late."

So Tabini didn't trouble to make it look accidental, was his private thought: more dramatic effect, more fear on the part of those who should be afraid.

"Is it quiet in the south?"

"The south. Oh, much more so. But quiet often goes between storm fronts."

A warning. A definite warning, from Jago. "Is there anything you wish to tell me, nadiin-ji?"

"Much that I would wish wish to inform you," Banichi said, with the contrary-to-fact to inform you," Banichi said, with the contrary-to-fact wish wish, "but essentially, and until we know the outcome of yesterday's events, please take no unnecessary chances. The situation is quite volatile. Lord Saigimi of the Hagrani had acquired allies, more timorous or more prudent than he, but should any of those those lords fall within their houses, and some more radical members within those same houses rise - -times might become interesting. In most instances, understand, the replacements for any of those persons would not lead with Saigimi's force of will; but one of the lot is worth watching, Saigimi's daughter Cosadi - a bit of a fool, and an a.s.sociate of Direiso - lords fall within their houses, and some more radical members within those same houses rise - -times might become interesting. In most instances, understand, the replacements for any of those persons would not lead with Saigimi's force of will; but one of the lot is worth watching, Saigimi's daughter Cosadi - a bit of a fool, and an a.s.sociate of Direiso - female female conspiracy, entirely impenetrable." conspiracy, entirely impenetrable."

Jago made a face and shot her senior partner a look. And knowing these two, Bren recognized a tossed topic when it sailed by him. "A woman may be more in Direiso's confidence. Naturally."

"I don't think the junior member of the Hagrani clan is on Direiso's intellectual level," Banichi muttered. "And she will see herself eaten without salt."

Quickly, that idiom meant. The two had fallen to discussion in front of him, but played it out for for him, quite knowledgeably so. him, quite knowledgeably so.

"But considers herself to be Direiso's intellectual heir-apparent," Jago said.

"Oh, small chance."

"An earnest student - capable of flattery."

"I thought discerning women saw through such frivolity."

Clearly it was a jibe. Bren failed to know where. But Jago wasn't daunted.

"They receive that that kind of flattery so rarely, nadi." kind of flattery so rarely, nadi."

Banichi's brow lifted. "What, praise? Admiration? I pay it when due."

Banichi evidently scored. Or came out even.

Jago shot him a sidelong look, and was otherwise expressionless.

"Jago believes she saved my life," Banichi said. "And will not not decently forget it." decently forget it."

"Is that that it?" Bren asked. "I at least am grateful, Jago-ji, that you saved his life. I would have been very sad if you hadn't." it?" Bren asked. "I at least am grateful, Jago-ji, that you saved his life. I would have been very sad if you hadn't."

"I did raise that point," Jago said, still straight-faced. "He of course was in no danger."

"None," Banichi said with an airy wave.

"Guild etiquette does not permit me to state he is a fool, Bren-ji, but he risked himself attempting to preempt me me in a position of better vantage. - And I did in a position of better vantage. - And I did not not require help, nandi!" require help, nandi!"

A wise human sat very still. And ducked his head and bit his lip, because he knew it was a performance for his benefit.

He was appalled to think, then, like a lightning-stroke, that he was hearing details from this morning, regarding a death for which, dammit, yes, these two were directly responsible.

So who had fired? At whom?

Jago? To save Banichi? Jago had killed someone?

Lord Saigimi?

Or his security? That would lack finesse. Banichi would never joke about such an event as that. And did Tabini want such matters communicated to him?

Banichi took a casual pose, legs extended, and had a sip of the liqueur.

"Bren-ji, just take care."

"I am very glad you're both safe."

"So are we," Banichi said, and gave a quiet smile. "We only said to ourselves, 'What does it lack now?' And Jago said, 'Our lives are too quiet. Let's find nadi Bren.' So we climbed back over the wall and took the first plane to Shejidan."

Not from the Marid airport, Bren was willing to bet.

"One is very glad," Bren said, "to have you both back. One hopes you'll stay a while."

"One hopes." Banichi kicked a footstool into reach and propped his feet toward the fire, then leaned back, gla.s.s in hand.

"They won't - come after you here, will they?"

A totally innocent look, from golden atevi eyes. "Who?"

"The -" One was being stupid, even to ask. "The owners of the wall."

"Ah, that."

"No," Jago said primly. "One cannot file Intent on the Guild, Bren-ji. Certain privileges the Guild reserves for itself."

"Needless to say, however," Banichi added, "if one is is one of those points of stability on which other stability rests, it's always well to take precautions." one of those points of stability on which other stability rests, it's always well to take precautions."

Him, Banichi meant. Or Tabini.

"The project." He could only think of those remote, scattered facilities. "Has one accounted the safety of that? Even my eyes see possible vulnerabilities in the small plants."

"Oh, yes," Banichi said. "Carefully. Constantly. Although it hasn't been our our direct concern." direct concern."

"But it is at risk." He had cold chills even thinking of a flaw - deliberately induced. "Nadiin-ji, we have so very much at risk in that project. I don't know - I don't know if I can explain enough to the Guild how small a problem can be fatal. I'm the translator. And some things I know by being from the island and having the history humans have - but it's so important. It's so so important, nadiin-ji, and I haven't succeeded in making enough people understand. All the lives of all the paid-hiin before me come down to two things: the peace, and this project. This is what we were always aiming at, in everything we did, in all the advice we gave to atevi - the peace, and this project, was all to give us all the capacity that we lost in the War and in the failure of the station up there. And one act of sabotage, one well-concealed piece of bad work - and the ship we build is gone, lost, perhaps not to be built again. The humans aloft - they can't build your future, nadiin-ji. They important, nadiin-ji, and I haven't succeeded in making enough people understand. All the lives of all the paid-hiin before me come down to two things: the peace, and this project. This is what we were always aiming at, in everything we did, in all the advice we gave to atevi - the peace, and this project, was all to give us all the capacity that we lost in the War and in the failure of the station up there. And one act of sabotage, one well-concealed piece of bad work - and the ship we build is gone, lost, perhaps not to be built again. The humans aloft - they can't build your future, nadiin-ji. They won't won't. Atevi could lose everything."

There was something a little less relaxed in Banichi's pose. In Jago's.

"At least," Banichi said, "one perceives distress. Why Why, nand' paidhi? Why are you concerned? Is it a specific threat? Is it a general one?"

"Because if this s.p.a.ceship fails, Banichi, I can't call that chance back again. There's so much at stake. Your governance over your own future is at risk. This is why I stayed and why I wouldn't go back to Mospheira when my government wished me recalled. I won't go even for my family's sake." He realized he'd reprised at least the feeling of his speech to the workers - that fear was working at the back of his brain, and it had been there since before he'd heard of the a.s.sa.s.sination of lord Saigimi. Perhaps - perhaps it had been there since he'd seen the ship lying in pieces at his feet, and seen all that devoted effort in those upturned faces.

There was so much good will, and so much desire in so many people; and it was so vulnerable to the vicissitudes of fortune - and a few ill-wishers.

Baji-naji. Chance and Fortune, the interlocked design in the carpet carpet outside the dining room, the demon and the force that overwhelmed the best of numbers and improved the worst. outside the dining room, the demon and the force that overwhelmed the best of numbers and improved the worst.

"Have you some specific reason to fear?" Jago asked: Jago, who would fling her body between any of her charges and harm; but who was trained to do things far more lethally useful for those within her man'chi.

"Just - nadiin-ji, a single act of sabotage, undetected, might set the program so far behind Mospheira we'd never catch up. And I saw so many plants where people from the towns came in without security checks, where lords' families had access. And shouldn't. Not that I want to be rude to these honest people - things are going so well. I think it makes me irrationally fearful."

"Not irrationally." Banichi let go an easier breath. "We are are aware of the hazards - trust me in this. This is an immensely complex project, with many exposures. But without being specific, let me rea.s.sure the paidhi, we are not off our guard." aware of the hazards - trust me in this. This is an immensely complex project, with many exposures. But without being specific, let me rea.s.sure the paidhi, we are not off our guard."

L.

Banichi would not not say Guild. This was, again, the man who hadn't known the sun was a star - nor cared. But what he did care about, he knew about in greater detail and with more forethought than most men could keep up with. say Guild. This was, again, the man who hadn't known the sun was a star - nor cared. But what he did care about, he knew about in greater detail and with more forethought than most men could keep up with.