"Let her go. She's not one to stay on the Rim."
"Perhaps we should have her picked up," Gar said.
Broey stared at him, then:
"I've gained the distinct impression that you've some private plan in mind. Are you prepared to share it?"
"I've no idea what you . . ."
"Enough!" Broey shouted. His ventricles wheezed as he inhaled.
Gar held himself very quiet.
Broey leaned toward him, noting that this exchange amused Tria.
"It's too soon to make decisions we cannot change! This is a time for ambiguity."
Irritated by his own display of anger, Broey arose and hurried into his adjoining office, where he locked the door. It was obvious that those two had no more idea than he where Jedrik had gone to ground. But it was still his game. She couldn't hide forever. Seated once more in his office, he called Security.
"Has Bahrank returned?"
A senior Gowachin officer hurried into the screen's view, looked up.
"Not yet."
"What precautions to learn where he delivers his cargo?"
"We know his entry gate. It'll be simple to track him."
"I don't want Gar's people to know what you're doing."
"Understood."
"That other matter?"
"Pcharky may have been the last one. He could be dead, too. The killers were thorough."
"Keep searching."
Broey put down a sense of disquiet. Some very unDosadi things were happening in Chu . . . and on the Rim. He felt that things occurred which his spies could not uncover. Presently, he returned to the more pressing matter.
"Bahrank is not to be interfered with until afterward."
"Understood."
"Pick him up well clear of his delivery point and bring him to your section. I will interview him personally."
"Sir, his addiction to . . ."
"I know the hold she has on him. I'm counting on It."
"We've not yet secured any of that substance, sir, although we're still trying."
"I want success, not excuses. Who's in charge of that?"
"Kidge, sir. He's very efficient in this . . ."
"Is Kidge available?"
"One moment, sir. I'll put him on."
Kidge had a phlegmatic Gowachin face and rumbling voice.
"Do you want a status report, sir?"
"Yes."
"My Rim contacts believe the addictive substance is derived from a plant called 'tibac.' We have no prior record of such a plant, but the outer Rabble has been cultivating it lately. According to my contacts, it's extremely addictive to Humans, even more so to us."
"No record? What's its origin? Do they say?"
"I talked personally to a Human who'd recently returned from upriver where the outer Rabble reportedly has extensive plantations of this 'tibac.' I promised my informant a place in the Warrens if he provides me with a complete report on the stuff and a kilo packet of it. This informant says the cultivators believe tibac has religious significance. I didn't see any point in exploring that."
"When do you expect him to deliver?"
"By nightfall at the latest."
Broey held his silence for a moment. Religious significance. More than likely the plant came from beyond the God Wall then, as Kidge implied. But why? What were they doing?
"Do you have new instructions?" Kidge asked.
"Get that substance up to me as soon as you can."
Kidge fidgeted. He obviously had another question, but was unwilling to ask it. Broey glared at him.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Don't you want the substance tested first?"
It was a baffling question. Had Kidge withheld vital information about the dangers of this tibac? One never knew from what quarter an attack might come. But Kidge was held in his own special bondage. He knew what could happen to him if he failed Broey. And Jedrik had handled this stuff. But why had Kidge asked this question? Faced with such unknowns, Broey tended to withdraw into himself, eyes veiled by the nictating membrane while he weighed the possibilities. Presently, he stirred, looked at Kidge in the screen.
"If there's enough of it, feed some to volunteers - both Human and Gowachin. Get the rest of it up to me immediately, even while you're testing, but in a sealed container."
"Sir, there are rumors about this stuff. It'll be difficult getting real volunteers."
"You'll think of something."