“Glad to hear it, myself. I made it my duty to be as obscure as possible without downloading into city memory and going rogue.” He picted an image of himself as a free-spirited rogue, crudely sketched, suggesting he might not be terribly successful. They both laughed, although Olmy’s humor was more forced.

“I hoped you didn’t learn too much about me.” Olmy countered.

“No. Your career was obscure, as well. But parts have become history. And I’ve learned, perhaps impolitely, of your current interest.”

“Oh?”

“You seem to believe we’ll be confronting non-humans again soon. Perhaps even Jarts.”

Olmy said nothing, his lips pressed into a wry smile. His private researches had been surprisingly public, it seemed; at least for those who thought it worthwhile to know. Mar Kellen’s obscurity became more understandable; this man had not downloaded, but he was a rare phenomenon—a corporeal rogue. Olmy picted a yellow half-circle indicating interest and full attention.

“I’ve come across something you might find useful. A holdover from centuries past. Rather like the Engineer’s record.”

“Here?” Olmy asked.

The old soldier nodded solemnly. “Do we have an arrangement, should you be interested? I assure you, you will be.”

“I’m not a wealthy man. Not even a particulary powerful man.”

“I understand, Ser Olmy, but you still have the support of the Hexamon. You could provide me with all I require in the way of access and privileges, since I’m hardly a fool for Earth’s gold.”

Olmy examined the man and closely analyzed his picting style. Mar Kellen was sincere, not bluffing, as far as Olmy could tell.

“I’m retired,” Olmy said. “My influence isn’t nearly as great as it used to be. Within the limits of my present status…”

“Sufficient status to procure my needs.”

“If you truly have something I can use, agreed.”

Mar Kellen’s abrupt broad smile was wicked. “Agreed. Come with me.” He handed Olmy an umbrella and showed him how to spread it wide. “This belonged to my Beni. You’ll need it. Shields our tired old bones.”

Olmy held the umbrella over his head and followed Mar Kellen on a narrow trail away from the station. The trail had been cut into a slope of rock and wound through a gorge above a steady red rush of water. Here, tubelight barely filtered through clouds and rain. The landscape was lost in a shadow almost as deep as Earth night. Mar Kellen brought out a light and showed Olmy the way up an incline. The beam caught a hole in the rock. “It’s warm and bright beyond that doorway. Come. Just a few more minutes.” They had been hiking for half an hour.