“You see,” said William, “the point I’m laboring to bring home to you. You happen not only to be venal, but a fool.”

“Sir!” the word shot from Donal’s lips. William waved a disinterested hand.

“Save your Dorsai rages for someone who’ll be impressed by them. I know as well as you do, you’ve no intention of attacking me. Possibly, if you were a different sort of Dorsai— but you’re not. You are as I say, both venal and a fool. Accept these statements for the obvious facts they are; and we can get down to business.”

He looked at Donal. Donal said nothing.

“Very well, then,” went on William. “You came to me, hoping I could find you of some use. As it happens, I can. Anea is, of course, just a foolish young girl—but for her benefit, as well as my own, being her employer, we’ll have to see she doesn’t get into serious trouble. Now, she has confided in you once. She may again. If she does so—by no means discourage her. And to keep you available for such confidences,” William smiled again, quite good humoredly, this time, “I believe I can find you a commission as Force-Leader, under Commandant Hugh Killien, when we touch down on Harmony. There is no reason why a military career shouldn’t go hand in hand with whatever other uses I can find for you.”

“Thank you, sir,” said Donal.

“Not at all—” A chime sounded from some hidden wall speaker. “Ab—phase shift in five minutes.” William picked up a small silver box from a table near his feet, and sprung it open. “Have you taken your medication, yet? Help yourself.”

He extended to Donal.

“Thank you, sir,” said Donal carefully. “I have.”

“Then,” said William, helping himself to a white tablet, and replacing the box. “I believe that is all.”

“I believe so, sir,” said Donal.

Donal inclined his head and went out. Stopping outside the stateroom door only long enough to take one of his own phase shift sedatives, he headed back toward his own stateroom. On the way, he stopped by the ship’s library to check out an information spool on the First Dissident Church, of Harmony; and this delayed him sufficiently so that he was passing down one of the long sectional corridors when the phase shift occurred.