Kendy finished putting details on his own plans. The speed of his thoughts was one powerful advantage to being a computer. It helped win arguments too. He said, "That's good, but it's not enough. Not if this Wayne Mickl wants you so badly. We need to get you out of the Clump entirely. Mmm . . . Rather, I think I may have something. Booce was planning to take the helmet with him so that Jeffer and I can see the Dark. Still true? Carlot?"

"Stet. Dad wants it out of the house."

"Good. Take the whole suit. Take Rather too. Go into the Dark. Rather, the suit's fully fueled. When you're out of sight of the Market ..."

They heard him out, looking at each other. The silence that followed lasted only five or six seconds, but Kendy found it excruciating. Then Jeffer asked, "How long have you been planning this?"

"About thirty seconds . . . twelve to fifteen breaths. I think faster than you do, Jeffer."

Carlot's voice held doubt, not anger. "It's mutiny-"

"We steal nothing," Kendy said. "We won't harm the Admiralty at all. The information doesn't disappear, but I can read it, and then it becomes available to Jeffer the Scientist. Rather, Debby, don't you see? We came to learn. Clave and Jeffer won't leave until they know what to tell Citizens Tree about the Admiralty. This way we'll learn everything we want in half a day."

Rather said slowly, "You say you can tell me how to do this."

"I've taken neudar readings. I can see the gross structure of Headquarters. It's most of a CARM surrounded by a concrete shell." The neudar shadow of the CARM was splayed around its aft end, and the back third was missing. The explosion must have pulped any passengers. It had ripped away the outer door of the airlock too. "The Library must be the control room. I'll guide you. We'll time it so I'm in contact the whole time. Even if someone sees something funny, it'll be too funny. He won't believe it. Afterward you take Logbearer home."

Carlot looked at Rather. "I don't owe you this."

"Losing contact," Kendy said. There might have been time for three words more, but what would they have been? He'd simply have to wait.

The redhead found Booce as he was returning from Market. She looked funny, flying. Her legs chugged faster than a normal woman's and made shorter strokes. She wouldn't have caught up if Booce hadn't been pushing baggage.

She wasn't breathing hard, though. She had a charming smile. "Booce Serjent, do you remember me?"

"Bosun Sectry Murphy. We met when Gyrfalcon came to collect customs. How do you do. Bosun?"

"I do okay. Rather's been accepted for training. I'd like to tell him."

Rather wouldn't like that. "He'll be at the house."

"I'll come. Shall I help with those?"