Mal grinned back. “Don’t let it bother you. Seeing that damned thing play arm-jewel on your shoulder makes up for it, plus some.” He gestured at the deadly reptile.

They arrived by a building so well camouflaged it seemed a part of the hillside. Not the largest of the complex, it was clearly designed even from the outside as a place for living rather than for business.

The guide pressed a palm to one side of the green-brown wall. A wide double panel separated with a slight hiss, offering entrance. A long alcove was revealed within. It was completely walled with bronze-inlay mirrors and carpeted in synthetic furs. They entered.

The corridor made several sharp, twisting turns, and they descended at least one, possibly two, levels. Several doorways and electronic portals were met and passed. Some appeared without warning in the mirrored sides. If the setup had been designed to confuse, it succeeded.

After several minutes of casual if complicated strolling, they came to a moderate-sized room. It was furnished magnificently in antique Terran. The furnishings looked like the real thing, not reproductions or fakes. But then, old Rose was probably doing well these days and wanted to show it. Mal’s eye was quickly drawn to an elegant old television set. It had to be non-functional. Just the chassis was worth a small fortune. Ancient precursor of the tridee, it sat alone on its own pedestal.

At the same time that he was estimating the thing’s worth in antique shops on half a dozen planets, he wondered crazily if maybe it could still be functional. A familiar young voice interrupted his musings.

“You’re to wait here, sir. His Lordship will join you shortly.”

Mal shook hands with the likable youngster as the other turned to depart.

“Pleasure meeting you, friend. If you’ve ever a mind to learn spacing, my ship, the Umbra, is listed in all the registries.”

“It’s always been a wish of mine, sir.” For a moment the youngster’s face acquired the shadow of someone—oddly—much older. It passed and he looked down at the Captain. “But now that I might make use of such an offer, I’m too busy with other things. Still, one never knows. Perhaps some day, when I’ve settled one or two personal things . . .” He smiled easily and left Mal alone in the room.

After contemplating the portal by which the youth had departed, Mal turned and walked over to the incredibly archaic video set. He began examining it in some detail, wishing at the same time that he was more familiar with such profitable trade items as luxury antiques and similar oddities. He was in the process of trying to open the hinged back to see how much of the innards were original when Rose entered via another of the ubiquitous paneled doorways.

“Good day, good day to you, Captain Hammurabi! I’ve heard tell of you in shipping circles. They speak well of you there.” The old man extended a hand.