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extent of the problem facing the Empire and so the request caught many
unprepared. Trade can be thelifeblood of an outer system, and what is a small
imbalance to the Empire reflects more heavily for us.
Do you think some of the other systems are waiting to see what happens?
Trade affects us all, and Accord understands such effects, as do you and
others in your Ministry. One thing does lead onward to another. That is known.
Most important will be these talks to those affected. The pattern continued.
Can't tell you how pleased we are to have a chance to chat before the talks
get underway ...
Is your Legation here much different from the people back home, really?
Understand Accord hasn't changed too much lately ...
Is the Ecolitan Institute anall-around university now? Nathaniel responded
in kind. Pleased am I to have such opportunities ...
People they are people, and much help can be anyone.
The changes, they happen. Everywhere are changes, but on Accord we take the
best of the old, we hope, and the best of the new...
Ah, the Institute...not exactly what you would call a university...nor even
a training school...more an experience, a way of combining a look at the past
and the knowledge of today.
The atmosphere changed ever so slightly, and while Nathaniel couldn't
pinpoint it, the tete-a-tete was over. Regret we couldn't talk all day.Lord
Whaler. You've given us a most fascinating insight, but there's far too much
waiting for both me and Marcella at our consoles.
The guards stiffened as the two Commerce officials rose from their chairs.
Nathaniel followed.
So kind have you been in your courtesy, and much too much of your time have
I taken today.
Our pleasure.Lord Whaler. Our pleasure. While the guards were alert as the
three drifted to the drop shaft, their hands poised near their stunners, the
Ecolitan almost found himself shaking his head at the sight. If he'd really
wanted to dispose of the pair, holding their hands near their weapons wouldn't
have done them a bit of good.
Hope to see you soon, finished off the Deputy Minister as Whaler climbed
back into theelectrocougar. And I you.
Ignoring the frescoes in the tunnel and the driver, an older woman who seemed
to want to ignore him, Nathaniel leaned back in the cushions and tried to
think.
Why had the two Commerce officials wanted to meet him?
He shook his head and waited until the limousine came to a stop in the
private concourse. Rather than using the front entrance of the Legation, he
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took the back side exit from the lift shaft which led to his private quarters.
The corridor was nearly deserted. He passed a woman and two men on the way to
his private door. The belt detector showed the snoops on the portal were still
operational.
Fromthe entry, he walked to the study wherehis datacase had been left. As he
half expected, someone had been through the material, despite the privacy
seals on the suite locks and on the datacase itself. .
What surprised him most was that only a rudimentary effort had been made to
replace the case and the material within in the same positions where he had
left them.
On the one hand, great technical sophistication had been involved in
analyzing the palm-print codes to open the doors and the datacase without
destroying the locks or triggering any alarms. Yet the material had been
replaced carelessly.
Byangling his belt light at the smooth surfaces of the cases, he could tell
that fingerprints remained, without any evidence that the intruders had
attempted to wipe them off.
That confirmed the general identity of the intruders as government operatives
of some sort or another. He shrugged. At the moment, there was little enough
he could do.
...XIII...
Nathaniel set his mental alarms for 0700. The switch toTerran standards
hadn't affected his own internal timing. He was awake at 0659.
Once in his office, he tapped several studs on the massive desk console. He
hadn't figured out all the possible button combinations yet, but with the aid
of the local directory he'd called up into the console memory, he was managing
to make direct calls without havingMydra or someone else place them. Sergel,
come on over, would you?
Envoy Whaler, with the other Accord staff gone, matters are somewhat
involved...
Nathaniel knew he was lying. The entire Legation staff was grossly
underworked.
I can understand that. This won't take long. I'll be expecting you in
fifteen minutes.
Sergel Weintre arrived on time. Nathaniel couldn't miss' the dampness on his
forehead.
He pointed the younger Information Specialist at one of the deep chairs.
Perching on the edge of the desk, the Ecolitan stared down at the mana nd
began in the Old American of Accord. First, the situation stinks. I know it
stinks. You know it stinks. Second, I don't have time to play games with you.
Third, everything we say isbeing monitored by at least two different groups.
Fourth, it doesn't matter. Is all that clear?
Weintrescrewed up his face into a puzzled look. No, Envoy Whaler. I'm afraid
I don't understand. Nathaniel ignored him.
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I realize the position you're in, but that's between you and them. I have
severalquestions I expect you to answer. Weintre shifted his weight,
expression blank. Who stirred up the question of revision of Accord's trade
terms with the Empire?
It was the Emperor's decision.
As I recall, my official presentation of credentials to the Emperor was
largely ceremonial. And somehow I doubt that the Emperor could be greatly
concerned about the terms of trade with a small third-rate system, even a
former colony.
The Ecolitan smiled pleasantly at Weintre. So...someone had to push. Who?
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