While he was creating his masterpiece, Arlai asked quietly, "Have you thought what you're going to do after you get him out? You certainly aren't going to take him to the Emperor, are you? I expect he's hardly able to walk by now."

She in fact hadn't thought. She'd had some vague idea of hiding him in her apartment. But if they were cracking Arlai, they could easily crack Fiella's privacy program.

Arlai added. "Since we're breaking a few laws, I could send my shuttle down for you. There's enough space on that lawn to land and take off without hurting anyone. I'm that good with my shuttles."

With Jindigar aboard to issue the orders, Arlai could take them anywhere.

"Yes. I think that would be best."

She took her lightcase—it looked like the sort of thing a busy executive would carry—and thoughtfully but sadly turned Imp loose on the lawn. She couldn't carry him into a hospital, and she couldn't leave him trapped in the car she was abandoning. He could probably grow up happily fishing in the lakes and cadging nibbles from the groundskeepers. Then she set off, head high, marching with a confident swagger, psyching herself into the mindset of an official responsible directly to the Emperor.

The front-office entry was a sheer transparent wall overlooking a lake surrounded by tall trees. Inside, trees from other planetary habitats scraped the vaulted ceiling. Interview stations were set among groves where seating blended into the forested motif. She chose the centermost station and presented herself briskly, adding, "This is urgent. The Emperor will brook no delays."

Before long, a robed Camidan, twice her height and covered with rustling scalelike excrescences, presented himself. "My Lady, I am Director Ithrenth. I would serve my Emperor. Will you step into my office?"

His voice was high but somehow sonorous, too. Like a reed orchestra. Krinata had never dealt personally with a Camidan before, and hoped what she'd read and gathered from fiction would serve her.

His office was sumptuous, decorated for a human or Lehiroh. The view of the stars through the transparent ceiling was awesome. Somewhere up there, Krinata knew, Arlai lay vulnerable in orbit, trying to follow her movements.

Ithrenth took up a stance beside a large wallscreen. "I'm sure you realize this is hardly routine. We have direct imperial orders regarding the patient you wish to remove."

"And so do I," brazened Krinata, hoping the Camidan couldn't read the quaver in her voice. "Observe." She pointed her leptolizer, prayed Arlai's handiwork would stand the inspection of the bigger, newer, ground-based Sentient in charge of the hospital, and projected the Emperor's figure onto the deep violet carpet between herself and the director.

"Director Ithrenth," said the Emperor briskly, "this is to countermand my previous orders. Release the prisoner, Jindigar, into Lady Krinata Zavaronne's hands immediately. This is of utmost urgency to the Crown's investigations, and complete security procedures must be followed. I'm sure you understand. The Empire is depending on you."

Ithrenth touched a control and the screen lit to show a Treptian neuter simulacrum who said, "The Lady's orders are authenticated, Director. Instant compliance is indicated."

Ithrenth seemed disappointed, but he said staunchly, "Of course. Skindel, issue the appropriate orders. Have the Dushau Jindigar brought to North Tower Gate immediately."

"But take care," interrupted Krinata, "not to damage him in any way." / can't believe it's going to be this easy.

Graciously, the director gestured her toward another exit from his office. "Stroll with me, my Lady, and we'll meet them at the gate where your car is parked."

"Thank you, Director. Your loyalty will please the Emperor." She almost choked on the words.

"It is a pity, though," said the director as they ambled down a long pillared corridor. "In another few hours, we'd surely have had the confession the Emperor wanted."

"Unfortunately, the Emperor couldn't wait." Her heart was pounding, and she wondered momentarily where she'd got the sheer audacity to attempt this. I'm not scared. There's nothing to be scared of because I've nothing to lose now. Nevertheless, she was terrified. Her mouth was dry, her palms damp. Surely, it showed.

"Do you have any idea why the haste? Just personal curiosity, you understand."

"The Emperor doesn't confide in such as myself. No doubt an emergency threatens the Empire. But Emperor Rantan is wise; he'll handle it with minimum fuss."

"Yes. It's a shame all the disruption these Dushau have caused. But we're fortunate to have such a leader. The Allegiancy will no doubt be the first Galactic civilization to survive its trimiilennial."

She'd heard Clorinda Dover and the clique she'd gathered about herself reinforcing each other with such statements. She drew on one of their favorite aphorisms. "The strength of the Allegiancy is the Throne; the wisdom of the Allegiancy is the Emperor. Never have we faced such an insidious threat, never have we had such decisive leadership."

"Dushau sedition is not even the worst of it," said the Camidan. "Have you heard they've begun to mass an armada around Dushaun?"

Good for them! They may need it. Aloud she said, "I hadn't heard that. I've been busy with imperial duties, and in the capital, idle gossip is discouraged."

"So it is idle gossip? We haven't much time for such here, either. I'll see that rumor isn't spread further." He gestured, "My Lady, we've arrived. And here they come."

Doors swung wide and a floating gurney festooned with equipment, i.v. lines and chuckling servos issued forth followed by a small army of technicians. Krinata was dismayed. Surely only a Sentient-controlled servo or two would be necessary. Then she understood that the staff was eager to impress the Emperor with their zealousness. But how are we going to get away in an illegally landed arbiter?

The gurney and attendants trooped across the wide rance-stone foyer and joined the director and Krinata at the force-field wall opening on the grassy field. The outside lighting revealed the deserted, quiet area, and her car. One of the attendants glanced at the gurney in consternation and said, "I'm sorry, Director, I expected an imperial limo."

Krinata was transfixed by Jindigar's haggard, indigo countenance surrounded by pale green sheets. One wrist emerged from the side of the sheet where tubes and sensors were connected. "Can you wake him without harming him?"

"He's apt to become violent, Lady," answered the director. "Surely the Emperor told you that?"

Krinata felt sweat break out on her face. "Well, of course," she started, with no idea what to say next.

Just then Arlai broke in, projecting via Krinata's leptolizer, an image of a Cassrian simulacrum. She knew it was Arlai because he said, in a perfect Cassrian voice, "My Lady Zavaronne, the orbiter you requested has been dispatched and will arrive at your location in ten minutes."

It gave her time to catch her breath, sternly suppressing her knowledge that a Sentient couldn't change its projected identity at will. She wasn't used to thinking on her feet like this, but she improvised, 'Ten minutes should allow sufficient time for you to revive the Dushau. The Emperor will brook no delays. I cannot afford to present Him with an unconscious Dushau."

Reluctantly, the director motioned to a Holot attendant who made some adjustments on the gurney. Gradually, tension lines deepened in Jindigar's face. His breathing became ragged, his eyes rolling in their sockets under closed lids. His mouth opened, revealing dreadfully pale teeth. "He's not in danger of convulsions, is he?"

The director queried the Holot with a silent glance, and the attendant answered, "We don't believe so. But we have almost cracked his mind. No telling what might happen."