A wave of relatively cold air told McKie that Furuneo had arrived. McKie turned, saw the planetary agent sprawled beside him and just beginning to sit up.

“For the love of reason!” Furuneo shouted. “What’re you doing to me?”

“I needed the fresh air,” McKie said.

Furuneo peered at him. “What?”

“Glad to see you,” McKie said.

“Yeah?” Furuneo brought himself to a squatting position beside McKie. “You have any idea what’s just happened to me?”

“You’ve been to Landy-B,” McKie said.

“How’d you know? Was that your doing?”

“Slight misunderstanding,” McKie said. “Landy-B’s your home.”

“It is not!”

“I’ll leave you to argue that with Fanny Mae,” McKie said. “Have you started the search on Cordiality?”

“I barely got it going before you . . .”

“Yes, but you’ve started it?”

“I’ve started it.”

“Good. Fanny Mae will keep you posted on various things and bring your people here for reports and such as you need them. Won’t you, Fanny Mae?”

“Connectives remain available. Contract permits.”

“Good girl.”

“I’d almost forgotten how hot it was in here,” Furuneo said, mopping his forehead. “So I can summon people. What else?”

“You watch for Abnethe.”

“And?”

“The instant she and one of her Palenki floggers make an appearance, you get a holoscan record of everything that happens. You do have your toolkit?”

“Of course.”

“Fine. While you’re scanning, get your instruments as close to the jumpdoor as you can.”

“She’ll probably close the door as soon as she sees what I’m doing.”

“Don’t count on it. Oh, one thing.”

“Yes?”

“You’re my teaching assistant.”

“Your what?”

McKie explained about the Caleban’s agreement.

“So she can’t get rid of us without violating the terms of her contract with Fanny Mae,” Furuneo said. “Cute.” He pursed his lips. “That all?”

“No. I want you and Fanny Mae to discuss connectives.”

“Connectives?”

“Connectives. I want you to try finding out what in ten billion devils a Caleban means by connectives.”

“Connectives,” Furuneo said. “Is there any way to turn down the furnace in here?”

“You might take that as another subject: Try to discover the reason for all this heat.”

“If I don’t melt first. Where’ll you be?”

“Hunting—provided Fanny Mae and I can agree on the connectives.”

“You’re not making sense.”

“Right. But I’ll try to make tracks—if Fanny Mae’ll send me where the game is.”

“Ahhh,” Furuneo said. “You could walk into a trap.”

“Maybe. Fanny Mae, have you been listening?”

“Explain listening.”

“Never mind!”

“But mind possesses ever!”

McKie closed his eyes, swallowed, then, “Fanny Mae, are you aware of the information exchange just concluded between my friend and myself here?”

“Explain conclu . . .”

“Are you aware?” McKie bellowed.

“Amplification contributes little to communication,” the Caleban said. “I possess desired awareness—presumably.”

“Presumably,” McKie muttered, then, “Can you send me to a place near Abnethe where she will not be aware of me, but where I can be aware of her?”

“Negative.”

“Why not?”

“Specific injunction of contract.”