"I'll inform the President, but you're aware we have our own major difficulties now. This conference. . . it could determine the whole course of the Axis City. And there's been considerable unrest and speculation among the Naderites—especially the Korzenowski faction. If they learn of this. . .” The picted nest of serpent-like creatures glowed a furious orange-red. "Seclude this woman and keep your information to your immediate superiors."

"She is secluded, and of course, I perform my duties as instructed," Olmy said. "She will have to have an advocate assigned to her, however."

"If we can avoid that, we should." Toller regarded him with obvious suspicion and unease.

"It is law. All noncitizens in the city, without defined legal status, must be assigned an advocate immediately."

"There's no need for you to quote city law to me," Toller said. "I'll find an advocate and assign—"

"I've already assigned one," Olmy interrupted.

Toller's expression changed to deep distaste. "Who?"

"Ser Suli Ram Kikura."

"I'm not acquainted with her." By the time he had finished the statement, Toller had a complete file on Kikura on hand, ready to be picted and interpreted. He scanned the file rapidly, shifting to implant logic, and found nothing he could criticize. "She seems acceptable. She will be sworn to keep Hexamon secrets."

"She has that clearance already."

"We're sitting on political chaos as it is," Toller said. "What you've done is bring back a lit fuse for Axis City's bomb. All, of course, in the name of duty."

"You will inform the President immediately?" Olmy asked, picting a sidebar request for permission to return to his work.

"As soon as possible," Toller replied. "You'll prepare a full report for us, of course."

"It is prepared," Olmy said. "I can transfer it now."

Toller nodded, and Olmy touched his torque. High-speed transfer of the report was accomplished in less than three seconds. Toller touched his own torque in acknowledgment of receipt.

Suli Ram Kikura lived in the outer layers of Central City, in one of three million tightly packed units reserved for single young corporeals of middle social and job standing. Her rooms were smaller than they appeared; the reality of spaciousness was far less important to her than it seemed to be to Olmy, who kept more primitive and larger quarters in Axis Nader. But part of what attracted her to Olmy was his age and differing attitudes, and his habit of, every now and then, giving her something truly interesting to work on.

"This is the biggest challenge I've ever faced," Suli Ram Kikura picted at Olmy.

"I couldn't think of anyone more capable," he replied. They floated facing each other in the subdued light of her quarters' central space, surrounded by picted spheres on which were projected various interesting and relaxing textures. They had just made love, as they almost always made love, without enhancement and using nothing more complicated than the quarters' traction fields.

Olmy gestured at the spheres and made a face.