Flinx Transcendent Part 3

Flinx tensed slightly, readying himself for whatever might come. "Truly, it is always constructive when one comes to a decision."

Both optical membranes were withdrawn as the youth looked over at him. "My decission iss-that I am not afraid of you any longer."

Flinx relaxed. "That's a good decision to come to." Extending an arm, he indicated the landscaped surroundings where he had spent the past week in comparative safety and comfort. "For my part, I have to point out that as agreeable as our meetings and conversations have been, we both know they can't continue forever. I've already spent more time here than I intended-and that has been because of you. I'm not complaining, mind-knowledge has been pa.s.sed in both directions. But now ..." Using both hands he executed a first-degree gesture of urgency. "Now I am truly compelled to move onward because of matters that lie beyond my control. It's time for me to leave."

Kiijeem eyed his guest speculatively. "You are expected ssomewhere elsse? You do not sstrike me as the type of individual who fretss over a missed appointment."

"The appointment I have to keep," Flinx replied solemnly, "involves the future of your kind as well as mine. As well as everyone's." How to describe his situation to this youthful representative of another species? How to convey even a hint of the seriousness, the weight, the overwhelming burden that life and circ.u.mstance had placed on his shoulders? Should he even try? If he tried, would his explanation make any sense? And if it did, what were the chances of it being believed? Better to keep his reasoning nonspecific and ill-defined.

"All I can tell you, Kiijeem, is that for the sake of the Commonwealth and and the Empire, I the Empire, I must must be allowed to return to my s.h.i.+p." be allowed to return to my s.h.i.+p."

His host considered. His response, when it was finally forthcoming, was not encouraging. "I have been able to keep you ssafe here becausse my family iss highly resspected, elevated in sstatuss, and dwellss on property that iss professionally ssecured." A clawed hand gestured toward the distant, night-shadowed fence line. "But once you are beyond the family boundariess you will once again rissk attracting the notice of Imperial Ssecurity and find yoursself ssubject to public ssearching."

Flinx gestured over at his now thoroughly aired-out simsuit. "I pa.s.sed secretly and safely among you for a full teverravak. I can do so again. I only need to keep my ident.i.ty a secret long enough to get out of the city. I've prearranged a location with my s.h.i.+p. It's situated well outside the city, in a locality infrequently visited by locals. A place where a fast-moving shuttle can touch down just long enough to make an unauthorized pickup. By the time its vector has been detected and a.n.a.lyzed by Planetary Security, I'll be back on board my vessel and safely on my way outsystem."

"A heartening sscenario," Kiijeem conceded, "but one I mysself conssider unlikely. While one of my age knowss but little of how Planetary Ssecurity workss, I do do know that likenessess of your ssimulated sself have been widely dissperssed and viewed on all formss of general media for the pa.s.st sseveral dayss." He indicated the rock crevice where Flinx had been storing the carefully folded simsuit. "The appearance of your AAnn perssona at any time would quickly trigger an active ressponsse." Using a clawed hand to trace a diagram in the air, the youth made a sign indicative of supplementary third-degree mirth. know that likenessess of your ssimulated sself have been widely dissperssed and viewed on all formss of general media for the pa.s.st sseveral dayss." He indicated the rock crevice where Flinx had been storing the carefully folded simsuit. "The appearance of your AAnn perssona at any time would quickly trigger an active ressponsse." Using a clawed hand to trace a diagram in the air, the youth made a sign indicative of supplementary third-degree mirth.

"The narration accompanying thesse portrayalss of your dissguissed sself ha.s.s often verged on the pretentiouss. The continued inability of the authoritiess to trace the origin of 'the myssteriouss forger and accomplisshed currency thief,' as you have been desscribed, ha.s.s provided a perssisstent albeit minor sstory line for the sseriouss media." Kiijeem expelled a series of rising hisses that const.i.tuted laughter among his kind. "I cannot imagine the hyssterical reaction that would enssue if they had any idea what you really are."

Flinx mulled his young friend's observations. "I think I still might be able to slip out of the city, especially if I travel at night. But I can't argue the fundamentals of this with you, Kiijeem. If my AAnn image has indeed been disseminated widely among the general public, any movement on my part is going to entail a real risk." He studied the young nye thoughtfully. "You could smuggle me out in a vehicle."

"I would have to produce a ssuitable explanation as to why I would need the private usse of a family transsport." The youth did not immediately reject the idea. "The vehicle'ss progress would be tracked. If your dessired landing location iss as remote as you ssuggesst, quesstionss would be raissed as to what I wa.s.s doing there." Vertical violet pupils met Flinx's steady gaze. "Given ssuch aid you might indeed make your esscape, ssoftsskin. But I would be left behind to deal with the awkward queriess that would inevitably follow. If your true ident.i.ty wa.s.s ssubssequently learned, ssuch a revelation could mean not only the end of my prosspectss but of my life. And worsse sstill, immensse loss of sstatuss to my family." He hesitated. "But if you believe it iss the only way ..."

"No," Flinx told him bluntly. "I won't chance it on that basis, Kiijeem. I've spent much of the past couple of years trying to decide if my own kind is worth the sacrifice of my own future and happiness. If I were to ask you to risk yours, I could never justify preserving my own." He punctuated his decision with a first-degree gesture signifying concordance.

"Sstrange." His age notwithstanding, Kiijeem turned unexpectedly philosophical. "I offer to take ssuch a rissk for you, and your ressponsse iss to refusse it becausse it would imperil me. If thiss were to be known, you would gain sstatuss among my kind."

Flinx muttered a reply. "I already suffer from more status than I'd like to have, thanks."

Kiijeem was not sure he understood this response. He felt he was incapable of grasping the proper context. In any case, he did not push for a more extensive explanation. It was enough to realize that the softskin would not put him at risk even in order to advance his own ends. It confirmed what Kiijeem had come to believe: this was not the human of his studies. No matter how hostile or threatening the others of his species might be, it was clear that there was sufficient individual variance to allow for one whose thoughts and actions were, in their slightly twisted way, almost nyelike.

"I'll have to try and get back to the pickup point the same way I left it," Flinx was telling him. "By making use of public transportation." Looking to his left, he eyed the folded simsuit where it lay waiting in its crevice. "I can't modify the face-the suit material was formed in a single piece. But maybe I can disguise it somehow. At least enough to prevent immediate identification by roving automatics." A small smile played at the corners of his mouth. "A pity your kind doesn't wear hats."

Kiijeem patiently indicated fourth-degree ignorance. "What iss a 'hat'?"

Flinx pa.s.sed a hand over his red hair. "An item of clothing designed to cover the head."

"Why would one want to cover one's head?"

"Well, for one thing, to keep the sun off."

"Why would you want to keep the ssun off your head?" Instead of being enlightened, Kiijeem found himself more confused than ever.

Flinx sighed as Pip glided down to land softly in his lap. Absently, he stroked the back of her head and upper body as she curled up against him. "My kind can suffer if the head is exposed to too much sun."

"What a sstrange concept." Every time the softskin said something, Kiijeem learned something new about this alien species. "We welcome the ssun on our headss."

"It's really not the sun I need to block, but my bogus reptilian visage." From a distance Flinx continued to study the folds of his disguise. "What I need need is the AAnn equivalent of a chameleon suit. Even if you could get hold of one for me, I probably couldn't make it fit right." He chewed worriedly on his lower lip. "There has to be is the AAnn equivalent of a chameleon suit. Even if you could get hold of one for me, I probably couldn't make it fit right." He chewed worriedly on his lower lip. "There has to be some some way to hide my face." way to hide my face."

Kiijeem had a thought. "Perhapss if your face wa.s.s bandaged up, as if you had been in a sseriouss accident."

Flinx considered the notion for several moments before finally shaking his head. Kiijeem had come to learn that among softskins, this odd side-to-side motion was a simplistic indication of negativity.

"Good thought," Flinx told his young friend. "Your kind are sufficiently private so that no one would be likely to pry about the cause of the bandaging. But what about one of your publicans, those who are employed by the state to aid citizens in distress? I can't have a solicitous health professional inquiring about my 'condition,' no matter how caring their intentions. All it would take is for one specialist to have a close look at my simsuit and my subterfuge would be exposed."

"That iss sso." Kiijeem slumped. "I had not thought of that."

"We'll think of something," Flinx a.s.sured his young friend. "What we have to do is come up with a list of possibilities and winnow them down to the least inauspicious."

As an a.s.sessment of available options intended to save his life, it was a conclusion decidedly lacking in optimism.

Vunkiil BNCCRSQ did not very much like her job. For one thing, the work was too easy, too repet.i.tive. Without challenge there was little room in which to acquire status and therefore few opportunities for advancement. She longed for a crisis that would allow her to demonstrate her exceptional competency. One serious enough to allow her to reap the formal name of BNCCRS. Alas, it seemed that the "Qucent" of her family name was likely to be attached to her until her scales dulled in hue and her claws grew blunt and old.

What attracted her attention that afternoon did not exactly qualify as a crisis, but it was at least curious enough to entice her away from her tiresome regular duties.

In her position in the station as one of a dozen monitors of traffic in orbit above Blasusarr's largest continent, it was her task to keep track of a certain number of vessels both coming and going that had been a.s.signed to her watch. Over the past several days one had drawn just a little more notice than most. Not because it had done anything unusual, not because its visual or electronic signature was in any way out of the ordinary, but simply because it had done precisely that-nothing. Not merely nothing unusual, but nothing at all. That was in and of itself-unusual.

Vessels did not arrive in orbit around the homeworld for no reason. Interstellar travel was always difficult, dangerous, and expensive. It was not undertaken for a lark. As with any action taken by the AAnn and their allies, reason and purpose underlay every activity. Yet in all the time it had been in quiet, standard orbit around Blasusarr since arriving from outsystem, this particular minor commercial vessel had distinguished itself by doing nothing. While doing nothing did not exactly const.i.tute a hazard, the complete lack of action and response was sufficiently out of the ordinary to finally invite her attention.

She might well be making a fool of herself for following up on the observation, she knew. There could be any number of perfectly rational explanations for the vessel's continued inaction. She debated with herself for one more day before deciding that the prudent course of action would be to find a colleague to concur with her opinion. The reason she delayed was that if additional action was taken on her recommendation she would be the one to garner all the blame, but if anything positive resulted, she would have to share the credit with her defender. After wrestling with the conundrum for part of yet another morning, she finally decided there was no way she could plausibly proceed without at least one corroborator. She found herself turning to Arubaat DJJKWWE, the monitor who was stationed next to her.

"I have a requesst: run a sstock ssafeguard on the vessel occupying thesse coordinatess." Without waiting for a response she reallocated the relevant information to his station. Tail tip barely flicking the floor behind his seat, he complied without looking over at her.

"A cla.s.s twenty-four cargo craft, with minimal if any pa.s.senger-carrying capability," he reported with becoming swiftness. "Onboard life ssupport appearss to be active. When queried, it resspondss appropriately."

"But alwayss electronically." She leaned slightly though not provocatively in his direction. She wanted confirmation, not a fight. "I have been querying the craft for sseveral dayss now and have yet to receive a ssingle vissual of any member of the crew."

Her colleague's dismissal was unapologetically sarcastic. "Perhaps the crew iss sshy. They need only resspond appropriately to formal queriess. Nothing requiress that they sshow themsselvess." The third-degree gesture of apathy he flipped in her direction matched his tone. "For thiss you interrupt my own sscanning?"

"In the time that I have been monitoring them," she replied frostily, "they have done nothing but acknowledge presscribed ssignalss. They have initiated no application for landing, forwarded no requesst for cusstomss clearance, ressponded uninteresstedly to repeated offerss to clear cargo. Do you not find thiss odd? Or possibly you think they have come all thiss way ssolely to drift in orbit around the homeworld and admire itss landsscape?"

Reluctantly, Arubaat found himself somewhat drawn to his colleague's disquiet. "They have not yet requessted permission to ssend down a sshuttle, or to validate their bussiness here?"

"Nothing," she told him firmly. "All codess and queriess are ansswered with a promptness that iss only undersscored by their lack of detail."

"Not likely a ssecretive thranx warss.h.i.+p, then. What elsse can it be?" Returning his attention to his own station, the now intrigued Arubaat sent skyward a series of electronic requests. They were answered without delay-and without a hint of elaboration. His carefully formatted queries had generated the minimum response required to satisfy regulations. The automated files were completely satisfied.

He, however, was not. At least, not entirely. Much as he hated to admit it, his coworker and natural work-rival might be on to something. How could he make the most of her apparent insight to benefit himself? Much depended on what she wanted to do next, on how she wanted to proceed. So he asked her. After first formally registering his own interest in the matter, of course.

Distastefully but not unexpectedly, she recorded his official acknowledgment of support before elaborating. "The ss.h.i.+p'ss crew musst have ssome agenda in mind, whether commercial or otherwisse. It iss inc.u.mbent upon uss"-and she took care to emphasize the "uss"-"as Imperial monitorss to find out what it iss. There alsso exisstss the possibility that thosse aboard have ssuffered a collective injury either to themsselvess or to their communicationss facilitiess. Or they may be ssuffering under adversse circ.u.msstances we cannot envission-becausse they can do nothing more than resspond automatically and electronically to our inquiriess."

Arubaat withheld comment until the female had concluded her review of the situation. "What do you proposse?"

Taking the necessary risk, Vunkiil plunged ahead. "A formal invesstigation. I would conssider mysself remiss in my dutiess were I to ssuggesst anything less. A crewed orbital monitor needss to approach the vessel in quesstion and examine it with more than jusst insstrumentss."

Her colleague made a second-degree gesture of concurrence. "I will ssecond your recommendation-ba.s.sed ssolely, of coursse, on your a.s.sessment of the ssituation."

"Of coursse," she responded flatly. It would have been unrealistic to expect anything less from a fellow and equally ambitious nye. Arubaat was taking steps to cover his tail in the event the time-consuming and costly inspection revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

Too late for second thoughts, she told herself. The bones had been thrown. While she still felt confident she had made the right decision in requesting the detailed check, her convictions would have been greatly reinforced if only she could have come up with a better rationale for the continuing silence of the mysterious craft's peculiarly nonresponsive crew.

One reason that never occurred to her was that the vessel in question might not have a crew.

Kiijeem had hardly retired for the remainder of the night, slipping quietly back to his quarters in the main residence, when the integrated communit inside the hood of Flinx's simsuit sang softly for attention. Inconspicuous as it was, the sound was so unexpected that a startled Flinx looked around in momentary shock before settling on the source.

It was the Teacher Teacher calling. It had to be. There was nothing and no one else within a hundred pa.r.s.ecs that had access to that special frequency or the means to address him. The call itself told him immediately that something was wrong. While on the surface of another world calling. It had to be. There was nothing and no one else within a hundred pa.r.s.ecs that had access to that special frequency or the means to address him. The call itself told him immediately that something was wrong. While on the surface of another world he he contacted the contacted the s.h.i.+p s.h.i.+p. It did not, would not, try to contact him unless something had gone amiss.

Hurrying over to the suit, he picked it up and positioned it so that the internal receptor was close to the side of his head. Though the Teacher Teacher could bend frequencies as efficiently as a child could snap elastic bands, it was still important to keep all such clandestine communications as brief as possible to avoid any chance they might be traced and tracked. could bend frequencies as efficiently as a child could snap elastic bands, it was still important to keep all such clandestine communications as brief as possible to avoid any chance they might be traced and tracked.

"I'm here," he declared simply.

"I wish you were here," the Teacher Teacher replied. "I am currently undergoing examination by a small orbital patrol vessel of the type favored by the AAnn. I am certain that this is because both my programmed and extemporaneous responses to all ground-based inquiries as to purpose and intent have been purely abstract." replied. "I am currently undergoing examination by a small orbital patrol vessel of the type favored by the AAnn. I am certain that this is because both my programmed and extemporaneous responses to all ground-based inquiries as to purpose and intent have been purely abstract."

"Can you be certain of this?" a suddenly tense Flinx asked.

"I am being asked to present a member of my 'crew' to respond to these queries in person. I have managed to gain a delay by claiming that a general illness is present among the 'crew' and that a suitable presentation will be made available to the immigration and transit authorities within a two-day They have accepted this explanation but are persistent with their uncomfortably close observations. While my present facade was fas.h.i.+oned to its usual meticulous standards, there are details that will not stand up to any actual attempt at boarding."

This was bad, Flinx knew. Very bad. If the Teacher's Teacher's exterior was discovered to be false, his s.h.i.+p would draw an immediate response that was likely to be as overwhelming as it was unwelcome. If the exterior was discovered to be false, his s.h.i.+p would draw an immediate response that was likely to be as overwhelming as it was unwelcome. If the Teacher Teacher was determined to be of Commonwealth origin, not even its advanced design, technology, and capabilities would be sufficient to allow it to escape safely outsystem. Even if it did manage to flee successfully, in the process it would be forced to leave at least one important component of itself behind. was determined to be of Commonwealth origin, not even its advanced design, technology, and capabilities would be sufficient to allow it to escape safely outsystem. Even if it did manage to flee successfully, in the process it would be forced to leave at least one important component of itself behind.

Him.

"I'm a.s.suming you've evaluated potential lines of response to this probe," he murmured toward the pickup.

"I have." The Teacher's Teacher's prompt response was encouraging. "I could easily destroy the inspecting vessel. However, the reaction this would provoke would likely prove disadvantageous to your presence here." prompt response was encouraging. "I could easily destroy the inspecting vessel. However, the reaction this would provoke would likely prove disadvantageous to your presence here."

Same old Teacher Teacher, Flinx told himself. As thoroughgoing a master of understatement as an artificial intelligence could possibly be.

"Let's a.s.sume we discard that option as unworkable," he replied dryly. "What else have you got?"

"I will generate a lengthy and detailed rationale for having to hastily depart outsystem. One that conforms to and is suitable for all the pertinent AAnn procedures in my database. My calculation is that this will engender some minor irritation at the lowest levels of the relevant bureaucracies. It should quickly be forgotten. After a short but suitable interval spent undetectably in s.p.a.ce-plus during which time I will completely revamp and rechameleonize my external appearance, I will return. For several days at least, a newly arrived, completely different s.h.i.+p occupying a completely different orbit should not arouse similar discomfiting suspicions among those still searching for my previous incarnation. Several days const.i.tute ample time in which to pin-plunge a shuttle, recover you from the surface, and disappear safely back into s.p.a.ce-plus."

Flinx considered. The s.h.i.+p's suggestion was typically comprehensive and well thought out. There was only one flaw he could find in the proposal.

"That means I'll be stuck here. Until you can reconfigure and return."

"Until I can reconfigure and return, yes." There was a pause, then, "To attempt anything more forward and direct while I am under such close observation would be to put both of us unnecessarily at serious risk."

The Teacher Teacher was not arguing on its own behalf, Flinx knew. It would do exactly as it was instructed. If he ordered it to make an attempt to pick him up on the grounds of the Imperial Palace itself, it would comply. And in all likelihood be vaporized in the process. was not arguing on its own behalf, Flinx knew. It would do exactly as it was instructed. If he ordered it to make an attempt to pick him up on the grounds of the Imperial Palace itself, it would comply. And in all likelihood be vaporized in the process.

"How much time will you need?" he murmured. "To depart out-system, enter s.p.a.ce-plus, jump back, reconfigure, and return?"

"Certain components of the course of action you state are not immediately quantifiable. Given the variability of the conditions involved I would rather not venture specifics. Say, no less than a few days, no more than a couple of local teverravaks."

A single teverravak was sixteen Blasusarrian days, Flinx knew. Even with Kiijeem's help, could he continue to avoid the attention of the authorities for that long? Or even continue to avoid coming to the notice of members of the young AAnn's extended family? Only the day before he had nearly been discovered by a pair of distant relations who had been walking the family property. Fortunately they had been more interested in finding a place to complete a secluded mating than in searching the crannies and crevices of the landscaped pool where he was hiding.

He really had no choice, he realized. The mounting risk to the Teacher Teacher had to be addressed immediately. He took a deep breath as a concerned Pip stirred to wakefulness nearby. had to be addressed immediately. He took a deep breath as a concerned Pip stirred to wakefulness nearby.

"Initiate the program described at your preferred speed," he whispered into the pickup. "Carry out the necessary measures as fast as you can-without compromise. I understand that we risk disaster if you make an attempt to return before modification is properly completed. The new camouflage has to be at least as effective as your present disguise."

"I concur absolutely." Did the s.h.i.+p sound relieved? Flinx wondered. "I will exert maximum effort, Flinx, and resume contact as soon as is safe. Until then, you must preserve yourself and all your functions without recourse to my facilities."

"You can count on that," he muttered fervently. There was no need to say good-bye, farewell, or anything else. All that needed to be said had been said.

Setting the simsuit aside, he lay down on the cool sandstone. His gaze wandered upward to focus on the unfamiliar stars. Somewhere up there the Teacher Teacher would be formulating excuses to satisfy increasingly inquisitive AAnn administrators of both the organic and electronic variety. Shortly thereafter his s.h.i.+p would head outsystem, whereupon it would make the jump to the safety and anonymity of s.p.a.ce-plus as soon as was feasible. would be formulating excuses to satisfy increasingly inquisitive AAnn administrators of both the organic and electronic variety. Shortly thereafter his s.h.i.+p would head outsystem, whereupon it would make the jump to the safety and anonymity of s.p.a.ce-plus as soon as was feasible.

At which point, he reflected, he would be well and truly alone on an alien and hostile world.

Not entirely alone, he reminded himself as an attentive Pip pushed up against him. And not entirely hostile, either. Overhead, something native that sported a long tail and membranous wings pa.s.sed between him and a waning moon. Young Kiijeem was not hostile. Aggressively curious, perhaps, but not hostile. Still, he was a nye, he was AAnn, and the youth of any sentient species could be fickle in its own idiosyncratic way. What if one afternoon his host decided that he had learned as much as he could from his secretive human visitor? What if fear of discovery made him decide to turn Flinx over to the authorities? Would he not gain considerable status from doing so? How far, and for how long, could Flinx continue to trust him?

Among his own species there were those comparable in age to Kiijeem who would happily turn him in for monetary reward. Flinx had recently met several examples of them on Visaria. Could he reasonably expect the youthful representative of an entirely different species, an antagonistic one at that, to exhibit a greater degree of altruism?

There was no avoiding the reality: his present situation was terribly fragile. So be it: he would have to find a way to strengthen it. If the one young nye with whom he had established a relations.h.i.+p was tentative, then he must somehow find a way to engage with others made of sterner stuff. But how to make contact with other AAnn, preferably adults, who would not reflexively turn him over to Krra.s.sin Security? How could he tell whom to trust? Even a.s.suming that his Talent remained functional, reading their emotions could only reveal how a sentient was feeling at a particular moment. He had no way of predicting how a prospective friend might feel about him the next day, or even the next hour.

He had filled the eager Kiijeem with knowledge, and the young nye had appeared to thrive on the flow of information. Dare he entrust similar knowledge and his true ident.i.ty to some adult? The Teacher Teacher could not help him now. He needed local allies. AAnn with access to greater resources than Kiijeem could command. To acquire such while simultaneously avoiding incarceration and accompanying unpleasant interrogation presented him with by far the most difficult undertaking he had contemplated since setting down on Blasusarr. could not help him now. He needed local allies. AAnn with access to greater resources than Kiijeem could command. To acquire such while simultaneously avoiding incarceration and accompanying unpleasant interrogation presented him with by far the most difficult undertaking he had contemplated since setting down on Blasusarr.

Among the several constants that transcended species there was one he knew from his study of and time spent among the AAnn that he could count on. Power invariably attracts additional power. To acquire the kind of freedom of movement he sought, he needed clout of a kind the admirably candid Kiijeem self-admittedly could not muster.

Perhaps, Flinx told himself, his young friend knew someone who could.

It had rained earlier in the evening. For an industrialized capital city the air of Krra.s.sin was unusually clean. No doubt extra effort was made to ensure that the atmosphere of the Imperial capital reflected its importance. Even so, a certain amount of pollution was unavoidable. The rain had cleared that away, so that the alien atmosphere smelled fresh and clean.

Sucking down positive ions, Flinx felt physically buoyant but mentally hesitant. The food Kiijeem had smuggled out that afternoon for his guest's late-night meal was not only edible but delicious, further adding to Flinx's sense of well-being. As carnivorous at heart as the AAnn, Pip had gorged herself on one particular sausage-like victual. Now her usually aerodynamic shape flaunted an unmistakable bulge in the region of her lower-middle, just behind her last wing-rib.

The attentive Kiijeem had settled into his customary listening crouch nearby. He always chose the same spot between Flinx and the distant residence so that if anyone approached unexpectedly from the buildings the young AAnn would block their view of the softskin.

"Tell me ssomething exciting tonight, Flinx-friend. Enlighten me with ssomething new."

Kiijeem made virtually the same request every evening, and Flinx had been happy to respond accordingly. He would do so again on this night-though on this occasion to a degree his youthful host could not possibly imagine. But first...

"I have to ask you a question, Kiijeem AVMd." At Flinx's uncommon use of the AAnn's full family name, Kiijeem tensed slightly. Ceasing its usual flicking back and forth, his tail stiffened into a balancing rod held straight out behind him. Both nictating membranes retracted, allowing the single moon overhead to s.h.i.+ne more brightly than ever in his reptilian eyes.

"Ssomething iss wrong?" The young AAnn's tone reflected his uncertainty.

"The question first." Flinx exhaled slowly as he stared hard at the scaly biped. "Have you given any thought to terminating our contact and turning me over to the authorities in expectation of the status it would gain you?"

Kiijeem paused. His four-fingered right hand swayed slowly back and forth, a clear indication of distress. Confused, he could not decide on the proper gesture to employ to express his feelings. He did not need to. Flinx perceived them as clearly as if the youth was writing them down. Taken by surprise and feeling cornered by Flinx's unexpected question, the youngster was struggling to formulate a suitable reply. Finally he looked over at the silent, waiting human.

"Of coursse I have. But I have, demonsstrably, not acted on it."

An honest answer. It was what Flinx had hoped for. For Kiijeem to have declared that he had never experienced such thoughts would have been for him to deny his very self. The a.s.sertion of one lie would have led Flinx to suspect the existence of others. If not completely rea.s.sured, he felt that he could at least proceed with a certain degree of confidence that he was hearing the truth. He continued the penetrating line of questioning.

"Have you thought of killing me?"

"Truly." Kiijeem's tone remained muted, but his emotions were boiling. "How could I not wonder what you would ta.s.ste like?"