“You will be released, as stated, when my operative cannot be touched by the weaponry of the City. At that point he will be here before you can reach safety and/or notify patrol craft to try and intercept him. My word on this. I’ve never broken it where business is concerned. You may think me a nasty fellow, but I’m an honest nasty fellow. I won’t shoot you in the back—for at least a day. Then I will do my level best to see you exterminated.”

“How kind you are,” Mal muttered. He stood. “You’re really going to let the girl and her friend go? I can’t guarantee her silence.”

“About that, now. Just keep her from contacting her superiors for, oh, three days local time. Then I’ll consider that part of the agreement fulfilled. At that point she can babble her pretty head off. The Church will understand. No court would prosecute you. You see, I will have relocated myself by that time. The mere fact that an operative of her age was able to penetrate this far indicates that my business position here has become untenable. Apparently the local intelligence—damn that bug!—knew quite a lot, but weren’t sure what lot was what.”

“If you’ll supply me with a caster, Rose, I’ll notify my Mate and inform him of procedure. He’ll listen.”

“How will he know you’re not saying anything under the muzzle of a blaster?” Rose asked, curious.

Mal stared down at the aged drugger. “Because he knows I wouldn’t be in that situation, mister. Either the blaster-pointer or I would be dead, so it couldn’t arise. I don’t trust people with guns. They’re apt to act rashly. I’m glad you didn’t opt to employ one. I want to see that girl as soon as possible.”

“Oh, she’s all right. Kingsley’s young, but talented. He’d barely begun. I’ll see that you and she are put in the same room. In fact, I insist on it. You may find this arrangement more to your profit in the end. I would. Although I don’t believe the pretty-pretty will be in the mood for idle conversation for a while. Or anything else.” He gestured at the video. “As I said, my young friend is talented. Still, he hasn’t yet acquired the delicacy of touch long practice brings.”

Mal held up a massive fist, held it out where Rose could get a good look at it. “Let’s skip the morbid dialogue, shall we? In the interests of logic. Otherwise you may push me to the point of breaking your scrawny neck. That might throw a crimp on the whole elaborate deal, mightn’t it?” He took a step towards the drugger.

Instinctively, Rose stepped back. “Um, yes, it could complicate things if I were to prematurely pass on. This way, if you will.”

Mal sat in a chair in the single room to which they’d all been confined. Dressed now, the tall girl lay sleeping on the couch across from him. She’d been treated and given a mild sedative. He didn’t look at her. Porsupah, the Tolian, was busy at a single cabinet. He was mixing something liquid that had a faint aroma of sage. He walked over to the girl and gently shook her. Instead of talking he handed her the glass. Taking it without a question, she sipped, glanced up at the smiling Tolian, and downed the rest in a series of long swallows.