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"Everyone was so happy that night& "
"Yes, of course. It was hard for Hrel, harder than for most. Now we know why.
He wasn't totally committed." Thoughtfully, he ran the tip of a tentacle over
each fingernail. "He may have overheard our argument that night. He may have
reported what he heard. They may have gotten Feleho killed& "
"You mean it might have beenmy fault."
"No, Hugh. Any blame must be affixed only to the one who wielded the knife."
Valleroy took a sip of his tea. It was the hot, savory brew favored by the
Simes, but it did have a soothing effect on the Gen stomach. "Do you know what
Feleho called me& even before I knew his name or mission?"
"No. I arrived& too late."
"Naztehr.He called me 'Natzehr.' You know howthat made me feel ?"
"How?"
"As if I owed him something.Revenge, maybe. He died because he found Aisha
for me. He died because I said something where Hrel could hear. So Zeor loses
both Hrel and Feleho and no longer hasneed of me& a spare Gen."
"No Gens are ever 'spare.' Other Simes will come, and we'll be balanced
again."
Valleroy sighed. "So what are you going to do with Hrel? If he learns you
know about him, he'll be dangerous."
"Not dangerous,no . I'm more worried about the danger to him if word gets
around what he's done."
"You're worried about what people might do tohim ! Klyd, if they did to him
the same as he did to Feleho, it would be too good for him!"
Klyd frowned at Valleroy. "Sometimes I wonder if Andle isn't right. Gens are
a disgustingly vicious people, sometimes."
Valleroy bounced to his feet, outraged. "Killinga Gen a month isn't vicious?"
Klyd laughed, a single burst of sound, hardly more than a bark. "Yes, I guess
from your viewpoint it is."
"From your viewpoint, it isn't? If Hrel's a killer, and Zeor stands against
the kill, then Hrel's an outsider.Why should you care what happens to him?"
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Klyd leaned back in his chair looking up into Valleroy's eyes. "He's
disjunct, Hugh. He's ours. Usually we discover spies before they get that far.
This time we didn't, so now we've got a real problem. If I turn Hrel out,
he'll be killing your people again. If
I keep him, maybe the experience will induce him to change allegiances, and
then we'll have really won that round over Andle!"
"Is it worth the risk?"
"I don't know. I just don't know." Putting aside his tea, Klyd changed the
subject. "What have you got here in the folio?"
"Oh, I almost forgot. I was on my way to show you this when I heard Feleho
knocking. What do you think?"
Valleroy extracted the design for inspection.The channel's eyes widened in
appreciation. "This& is& beautiful !"
"Do you think your weavers could achieve that depth effect?"
"Possibly.They're very ingenious when they decide something is worth
doing.This is for Arensti." It was a statement of a fact so obvious it
scarcely needed statement.
"Thank you, Sectuib."
Klyd froze in mid-motion to stare calculatingly at Valleroy. "Am Iyour
Sectuib?"
"What does that mean?"
"Would you donate to me?"
The flatness of Klyd's tone underlined the intensity in the channel's eyes.
Valleroy sat down hard in his chair. "I don't know. The last time a Sime
touched me& like that& it was horrible. If I could ever trust any Sime, I
doubt if it wouldbe that one."
"Would you donate to Zeor through one of the other channels?"
Valleroy met Klyd's gaze, trying to avoid the sight of those restless
tentacles. "I want to, but I don't know if I'll be able to bring myself to do
it. I get shaky just thinking about it."
"Do you have any idea how shaky a Sime gets in disjunction?"
"Yeah.I've seen a couple.Worse than morphine withdrawal."
"Much worse.If they're willing to go throughthat in order to avoid killing
your people, how much are you willing to endure in order to make their
sacrifices meaningful."
"I see what you mean. I can't do less, can I?"
"Many do."
"But they live out there." Valleroy swept a hand toward Gen Territory. "And
they don't even know about disjunction."
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"Does your knowing make a difference?"
"Yes, Sectuib, I think it does."
"Do you know what will happen to me if it is ever known that I injured you?"
"Execution?"
"Of a kind that makes Feleho's death look easy and pleasant."
"I didn't think there was anything worse."
"Death by attrition is& far worse. You can't imagine."
"I'd rather not try." Attrition, thought Valleroy, would be a very slow death
as the Sime body used irreplaceable reserves of selyn. Valleroy shuddered,
almost nauseous.
"Exactly," said Klyd. "It is customary for the Head of Householding to take
first donations. Such Heads are usually the most skilled channels in the
Householding, able to withstand the onslaught of the normal Gen fears. How
could it be explained that you fear me more than any other channel?"
"I see. But it's not a decision that must be made right now."
"Yes, it must, and it must be made with all sincerity. This," he said,
indicating the folio with a graceful tentacle, "gives me an idea."
"What is it?"
"It won't work unless you adopt a certain attitude toward me. But it must be
a true adoption& one that won't slip out of character under stress."
"I haven't blown the cover yet."
"Yes you did, during Hrel's party. You forget, Simes read emotions as clearly
as words."
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