Her brows went up, though her frown still bent down; but she waved a wrinkled hand, and the whole mob filed in and pulled up seats around her.  Raven-sensei first introduced Consul Vorlynkin, who, indeed, had been running in and out of her facility for the past several days, as she likely knew perfectly well.  Jin cast her a nod, trying to say, This one's all right.  Tenbury half sat on the wide windowsill, frowning and pulling on his beard.

Raven-sensei repeated his introductions: "Madame Suzuki, may I present my employer, Lord Mark Vorkosigan—he's also Lord Auditor Miles Vorkosigan's younger brother—and his partner, Miss Kareen Koudelka.  Lord Mark is a co-owner of the Durona Group, my clinic on Escobar."

"Who's the other co-owner?" Suze-san asked, staring hard at Lord Mark.

Lord Mark bowed slightly and said, "Dr. Lily Durona.  Who is also founder and clone-progenitor of the original Durona Group of Jackson's Whole.  I acquired my interest a decade ago when I helped expedite the group's removal from the ownership of Baron Fell, there, and emigration to Escobar."

"You a doctor, too?  Researcher?"

Lord Mark shook his head.  "Entrepreneur.  My primary interest in the Durona research is to support development of an alternative to the clone-brain transplant method of life extension that will knock it out of business."

"That technique's illegal!" said Medtech Tanaka.

"Not on Jackson's Whole.  Unfortunately."

Jin tugged Vorlynkin's sleeve and whispered, "What are they talking about?"

He whispered back, "Some bad rich people try to get young again by having their brains transplanted into the bodies of clones, purpose-grown to match them.  Very dangerous operation, and the clone's brain always dies."

"Eew!"

"I agree."  His brows drew down as he frowned anew at Lord Mark.  He made a hand-down motion to Jin, Be quiet and listen, and set the example.

Lord Mark tapped his spread fingers together in a gesture very like one of his brother's, and said, "The Durona Group is considering expanding its cryorevival services to Kibou-daini."

Suze-san's lip curled.  "That would be a waste of—oh, wait.  Cryorevival, you say?  Not cryo-storage?"

"Cryo-storage seems to be a fully mature industry here, with no room for startups.  I think there could be far more opportunity in an arena the current cryocorps are neglecting.  Raven tells me you have over two thousand unlicensed, illegal cryo-patrons stored in your lower levels.  A liability that has rendered this facility unsalable by its present owner-of-record, one Theodore Fuwa."

"Yah, when the idiot bought the place for development he didn't know we were here.  He tried to get rid of his dilemma by arson, once," said Suze-san. "Anyway, it's closer to three thousand, by now."

"Even better."

"And what would you do to get rid of 'em?"

"Why, revive them, and let them walk out on their own."

Suze-san snorted.  "Only if you've found a cure for old age."

A weird little smile turned Lord Mark's lips, showing his teeth.  "Just so."