They were drifting out of view. Kendy switched to the fisheye lens. He and Jeffer watched the Captain-Guardian take his wings off and tether them to lines on his chest, shin-sticks uppermost. The two lower-rank Navy men pulled up an edge of the termite nest. The "dwarf" squirmed in. Sudden yellow light flashed through the hole.

Jeffer asked, "Does that light come from the pressure suit?"

"I'll show you how to work the helmet light. Later."

The "dwarf" popped out of the hole. "There's a respectable store of metal here. We'll have to wait for the Council to convene before we make an offer per kilton delivered. Unless you're prepared to accept an immediate offer of, say, two times ten-to-fifth chits for the whole chunk?"

"I can get two or three times that on the Market."

"Perhaps. If we come to an agreement I can give you payment within ten days."

"No, thank you, Captain-Guardian. I'll wait. Maybe I can earn some money Dark diving. Can I offer you tea?"

"You wouldn't want to have to sell your new house. Two and a half."

"No. I should point out that you've been seen coming here. There's a happyfeet jungle in dock, and they might guess what that means. Also I'll be expected to hire an exterminator. I can't hide the metal much longer."

The Captain-Guardian snorted and waved to his escort. They departed.

Booce waited until they were well away. Then he moved face-on to the camera. "Jeffer?"

"Here."

"That was Captain-Guardian Wayne Mickl. Officer by birth, but his effective rank is Guardian. Keeping him happy is a good idea."

"He didn't look happy."

"If he's too happy, we got robbed. Jeffer, how sure are you that spinning a tree will make burl?"

Jeffer laughed. "I never tried it myself."

"Yeah. Are you all right?"

"It isn't too bad. Something like being young again, just old enough to hunt alone. I've got the cassettes when I get bored. I miss Lawri."

"Well, I'm going to move the silver suit. We can't leave it here." "Where, then?" "My house. I'll set it up so you can see the commons room. We can talk any time, and when I have guests you'll see them too." "That's good," said Jeffer. VERY GOOD. LOSING CONTACT.

Chapter Seventeen Serjent House

from the Citizens Tree cassettes, year 6 SM: SHARON LEVOY SPEAKS OF THE ARCHETYPAL REBELLIOUS COMPUTER, HAL 9000, FROM GILLESPIE'S OPERA 2001. CAROL BURNES CLAIMS FRANKENSTEIN AND FAUST TO BE OLDER AND MORE APPROPRIATE IMAGES. ONE-UPMANSHIP IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE SMOKE RING. ONE AND ALL, THEY EXPECT ME TO TELL THEM HOW IT HAPPENED. FOR THE RECORD: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH KENDY. -CAPABILITY JASPER GRAY CYBERNETICIST, DISCIPLINE DEBBY WAS IN A HURRY THE NEXT MORNING. IT SEEMED she'd arranged something at Half Hand's: she was to meet Grag Maglicco for flying lessons.