“How awkward all around,” Rose replied evenly. He had given no evidence of upset, evinced no loss of control. He was too old for that now. “Is it known how this was done?”

“Two men stationed near the confining suite were found dead in a service alcove. A check of the central recorder indicates that a portion of the immediate island restricted perimeter, specifically the gates protecting the water intake and sewage outlet channels, were powered down for some thirty minutes earlier this morning. A subsequent check of personnel revealed that two men, an apprentice sanitation engineer and a senior biotech, were missing. The body of the latter was discovered jamming open the gate guarding the sewage outflow channel. Also, one of the first two fatalities displayed clear evidence of both acid attack and nerve poison. The engineer was known to keep a poisonous reptile with him at all times.”

“Quite ingenious,” Rose murmured. He turned and depressed one of many switches set inconspicuously in the arm of a luxuriously upholstered couch. The ceiling of the exquisitely wrought bird cage began to move gently downwards.

Rose spoke without turning. “Any indication of how long ago the craft left the harbor?”

“Computing from the time of the power lapse and that of the pier guard’s last report, Lord, it is estimated they have been gone now for about an hour.”

“Far too long for any of our exterior defenses to be in range. Hmmm.” The space inside the cage had been reduced by about half. The faint hum of a small electric motor could be heard. The song of the blue bird had grown uneven.

“This has been checked, of course?”

“Immediately, your Lordship. They are nowhere within the perimeter.”

There was barely enough room now in the cage for the birds to stand upright. The mottled yellow was bouncing frantically between the unmoving floor and the descending roof. The blue’s song had risen to a series of hysterical chirps and squeaks.

“I will be forced to run off-planet.”

“An attempt to slip you into the Port could be best made now, Lord. Or arrangements might be made for a daring shuttle pilot to try and pick you up from one of the larger uninhabited islands.”

Rose shook his head sadly.

“As soon as Major Orvenalix receives the report of those two agents, the first thing he will do is relay a full order to the customs’ frigate. If he hasn’t done so already. They’ll relay his request to the nearest Navy port for a cruiser and a flock of stingships. Shuttles that don’t land at Repler Port or Masonville are rare to nonexistent under any conditions. With the word out on myself, anything large enough to produce detectable atmospheric friction, down to a smallish meteorite, will be tracked to point of landing from point of tangency with every scope available.”

A singularly penetrating chirp emanated from somewhere between the two layers of cage. They came together. A few barely discernable popping sounds resulted. From between the two metal plates oozed a tiny trickle of red. Two drops of crimson fell to the shining carpet, staining it.