“Right.”
“Wait outside a minute, James,” interjected Sasha. “I’ll walk along with you.”
The boy hesitated, then nodded and left.
“We’ll have to have dinner together, Hayama. Sometime soon?”
Sasha’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. Hosato ignored the warning bells going off in the back of his mind.
“Sure, Sasha,” he said, forcing a smile. “Any particular reason?”
“Nothing special. You’re the newest person on the staff, and I know the least about you. I thought it might give us a chance to get to know each other better.”
“I thought those application forms I filled out were pretty complete.”
Sasha smiled as if at some secret joke. “Forms seldom tell the whole story.”
“Well, how about tonight, then?”
“There’s no hurry. No one leaves the complex without my approval.”
She turned and followed James before Hosato could reply, which was fortunate, because he couldn’t think of one. He stared about the twosome for a few moments, then thoughtfully began to collect his remote cameras.
“Suspicious bitch!” said Suzi.
Involuntarily Hosato shot a darting glance around the room. “Someone might be listening, you know,” he said.
“Sensors detect no human or electronic surveillance,” the robot retorted.
Hosato grimaced. He should know by now the futility of arguing with his partner.
“Come on, Suzi. Give me a hand with these cameras.”
The robot floated over to him, but would not be distracted from her observations.
“They’re both suspicious, you know. The security chief and the boy.”
“I know, Suzi.”
“Don’t underestimate the security chief just because she’s a female.”
“If anything, I’m tracking her doubly close because she’s a female, Suzi.”
“I thought so!” The robot sniffed haughtily.
Hosato secured the last camera in the storage compartment and began unfastening his tunic. As he did, the door of the compartment slid shut, then reopened, exposing an entirely different storage area.
“I wish you’d use the normal doors when we’re on assignment,” Hosato commented. “It’s supposed to be a secret that you can rearrange your internals.”
“It is a secret,” the robot retorted. “I told you, no one’s watching.”
Hosato ignored the rebuff. His attention was devoted instead to the two swords displayed in this compartment. The dueling epees. No matter how often he saw them, whether as a student or after the maestro had presented them to him, they always gave him a vague chill.
The swords had been used over the centuries for sixty-three bloodings and thirty-one kills. A total of ninety-four duels—no, make that ninety-five. He had forgotten to include the latest duel, the one that immediately preceded this contract…
It had all started on Mitchum’s planet There were four of them waiting by the designated rock. Even though they were still in sight of the spaceport, no crowd gathered to watch. Apparently duels such as this were not uncommon.
Hosato studied the group as he approached them. Suzi floated silently at his side, her disapproval displayed by the absence of her traditional comments and observations.
Three of the men were obviously the Scale brothers. Their flashy, stylish clothes disguised neither the family resemblance nor the arrogant slouch of habitual bar toughs. They were long-limbed and broad-shouldered; their build and manner set them apart from the fourth man, even more than their obvious difference in color.
The fourth man stood slightly apart from the others. He was bald and Negroid, his ramrod-stiff posture marking him as military. His face was impassive, but his well-muscled, compact body and poised readiness were enough to cause anyone to give him wide berth. It was obvious to the most casual observer that the worn holster of his blaster had not been purchased used, but had aged the hard way.
The bald man moved forward to meet Hosato. “Mr. Mathers?” he asked.
“I am Hayama,” said Hosato. “I have been retained by Mr. Mathers to settle this affair.”
The bald man swept him with a speculative glance before replying. “I am Moabe, Mr. Hayama. I have been asked to serve as umpire.”
Hosato inclined his head slightly in formal acknowledgment.
“Hey. Are you one of Mathers’ seconds?”
Hosato turned to face the speaker. “Might I ask whom I am addressing?” he queried.
“I’m Harry Scale, the challenger. These are my brothers, Casey and Tom.”
Hosato inclined his head to them. “I am Hayama.”
One of the brothers, Tom, snorted derisively. The other studied Hosato carefully.
“You didn’t answer Brother Harry’s question,” he commented quietly.
“I have been retained by Mr. Mathers to settle this affair,” Hosato replied. “He sends his regrets over last night’s incident and states he is ready to make public apology under any condition you might set forth.”
Tom grinned and began making clucking noises like a chicken.
Harry was more to the point. “No deal, Hayama. He’s not getting off the hook that easy. I challenged him and he accepted, so he’s going to have to fight. You just go back and tell him we’ll wait here one more hour. If he isn’t here by then, we’ll come and get him.”
Hosato smiled. “That will not be necessary. As I said, I have been instructed by Mr. Mathers to settle the affair. If possible, this was to be done with an apology. If not…” He shrugged and let the sentence hang in the air.
“What do you mean—?” Harry began.
“He’s taking Mathers’ place,” interrupted Casey.
“What?” exploded Tom, finally coming to life. “He can’t do that. Mathers was challenged, and he’s got to be the one to fight.”