“The Major will be looking for a way to use the Dragon’s embarrassment to his own advantage. If Drake is involved with Wilson and Haesslich and the big boys of United Oil know nothing about that, I think the Major may get what he’s hoping for. If Haesslich’s private operatives mess up a United Oil operation by compromising a lucrative acquisition like Wilson, the Dragon will not earn points with United Oil executives. With Haesslich’s stock going down, Fuhito’s goes up. We, working to expose Drake’s operation, will do some of the Major’s work for him, making it easier for him to take Haesslich’s job. No, Mister Fuhito will be very quiet about his night visitors.

“At least now we know that we can hunt down Drake without worrying about getting on the wrong side of United Oil.” Sam looked around. “Now, how do we get out here?”

“Null perspiration, paleface. Just follow me.”

43

Hart stood by the cockatrice pen. The animals seemed sluggish, but it was still early and the day overcast. She felt a bit sluggish herself and would have liked to go back to bed. It was a good day for sleeping. Business rarely allowed one to indulge slothful habits, and today business by the name of Haesslich had called her and Tessien to check security at the dockyard. He hadn’t said why exactly, but he wanted things locked up. She suspected some sort of special shipment coming or going within the next few days.

Tessien arrived in its usual flurry of dust. It radiated its own irritability in response to her greeting. Yes, indeed, she thought, a wonderful morning.

Tessien was too large to enter the security building, so they’d hold the meeting out here. She wondered how long Major Fuhito’s struggle to balance Japanese politeness, company honor, and personal annoyance at outsiders would keep them waiting. The dockyard was still gearing up for the day and there was not much activity. She watched the cockatrices scratch about at the ground in the enclosure.

“They are drugged.”

“What?”

“The (unintelligible sense) have had their senses artificially dulled.” Tessien broadcast its annoyance at Hart. The serpent didn’t like explaining itself.

There was no reason she could think of for United Oil to drug its entire flock of guard beasts. Something had happened, and Haesslich would want to know what. If she could solve the problem before bringing it to the Dragon, she might earn a bonus. At the very least, it might put their working relationship back on a better course. She wouldn’t expect real gratitude from the beast, but he might learn to appreciate her professionalism a bit more.

And it was time to be professional. Major Fuhito and a trio of security personnel were coming down the front steps. In contrast to his crisply uniformed aides, Fuhito’s clothes looked slept in. He was heavy-eyed and his movement slow. As they approached her and the serpent, she noted that the major’s gait was unusual. In the tight burst of speech that passed for a whisper among dracoforms, Tessien confirmed what she had concluded.

“He has been drugged, also.”

After the formal greeting, she took Fuhito by the arm and led him around Tessien, putting the bulk of the dracoform between them and his aides. Tessien’s tail warded off their attempts to follow.

“Well, Major,” she said with a smile, “would you like to tell me about it or do you want to talk to Haesslich directly?”

Fuhito blinked like an Eyekiller suddenly dragged into the light. “What are you talking about?”

“Last night’s penetration, of course.”

Fuhito’s face froze. “How did you know about that?”

“It’s my job to know about such things,” she said sweetly and watched him calculate his answer. Had he not been so muzzy from whatever the intruders had used on him, he would have hidden it better.

“I have done nothing to compromise United Oil.” he said.

“I haven’t accused you of anything, Major. What did they want?”

His slowness in answering warned her that he was about to tell her either a lie or a half-truth.

“They were looking for Jarlath Drake.”

Drake. But the Major was holding something back. A sudden awful suspicion flared. “And just who were they?”

“Two men. An Indian, enhanced, and a Caucasian with datajack. There was also a decker whom they called Dodger.”

Dodger, too. She felt her own suspicion echoed from Tessien.

“Was this Caucasian a blond with hazel eyes? Average height and build, datajack on his right temple, four small scars on his right hand, and a corporate’s spare tire?”

“Yes to all but the weight. He was slim.” Fuhito’s voice was less slurred now and his eyes sparkled with calculation. “Your suspect has a beard?”

Not when she had last seen him. But the description and details were close enough. Too close. The trials he had been through could easily have cost him weight, and he’d had enough time to grow a natural beard. There might be other men who matched the description, but how many would come here looking for Drake? The intruder had to be Verner. This was a most unfortunate turn of events, but she had only herself to blame for not checking the dracoform’s kill in person.

Verner had enjoyed two too many escapes from death. That had to be something more than good luck. Somehow Verner had gulled her. He was slicker than she had thought.

Or had Tessien lied to her? There didn’t seem to be any reason for it to do so. Their four years of partnership had been more than satisfactory to both. Or so she thought. She was certain Tessien hadn’t betrayed her back in the Tir, but perhaps it had lied then as well. If their partnership was no longer important to it, the serpent might be using this opportunity to get rid of her. The lack of further attempts was not a good indicator that she could still trust her back to it. Perhaps it was only waiting for a good opportunity. Though Tessian had never betrayed her before, she decided, with regret, that she could never trust the serpent’s word again.

“He must not find out,” Tessian announced as soon as it had worked out the implications.

The serpent’s thought was twin to her own. Whatever her problems with Tessien, they both had a problem named Samuel Verner. Even if he wasn’t as slick as she was beginning to suspect, Verner was a loose end that could get her and Tessien aced. Loose ends had to be tied off, finally, permanently. This time she wouldn’t underestimate him.

Knowing that Fuhito had observed her silence, she hid her concerns and smiled at him. “Major,” she said, keeping her tone light, “we don’t have to work at cross-purposes here. I won’t tell Haesslich about last night if you tell me all you know about your visitors. Your embarrassing little secret will be safe.”