Allies by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

the last
meeting, brought her coat and held it for her. The man with the odd
mustache stood with two drinks in hand, as if he'd brought her one
and been overlooked. Another zamir made an offer of escort, but she
declined.
    "No, it is kind of you, zamir, but I will
meet my brother only a step down the walk. Stay, and continue this
excellent conversation! Next meeting, I will want to hear how you
have come to terms with this conundrum!"
    She moved firmly toward the door, and the
group stood aside to make way for her. Kem grabbed Hakan's arm and
pulled him with her, heading for the door the long way, around the
edge of the crowd.
    "What–?" he managed, as they reached the
vestibule, coats flapping open in their haste.
    "Let's try to overtake her on the walk," Kem
said. "It will be a perfect chance to ask her about Cory!"
    *
    Someone, Val Con was certain, was watching
him–and had been for some time. There was no overt evidence to
support this certainty, which only meant that whoever it was, they
were very good. He didn't believe it was Agent pel'Nara, though it
certainly could be one of her team, assigned as back-up.
    He considered wandering away, to see whether
the watcher would follow, but that would mean leaving Hakan and Kem
in the Agent's orbit without back-up. Though what he might do if
the three of them emerged arm-in-arm from the–
    The door to the Explorers Club opened and
Agent pel'Nara stepped out, alone, pulling on her gloves as she
descended the tricky stairs. Apparently his friends had no need of
his protection this evening. It galled him to let Agent pel'Nara
go, but he judged that prudence would counsel him to walk away in a
moment or two, and lose his watcher in the narrow streets to the
west of the campus. He could always find the Agent again,
tomorrow.
    Agent pel'Nara was almost to the walkway.
The door to the Explorers Club opened again, spilling Hakan and Kem
into the night.
    Val Con froze.
    Agent pel'Nara, apparently oblivious, strode
steadily down the walkway toward his position. Kem clattered down
the last few steps and hit the walk very nearly at a run, Hakan
lagging behind.
    "Zhena Pelnara!" she called.
    The Agent checked, then turned, head cocked
to one side.
    "Zhena?" she said politely, as Kem came,
breathlessly, to her side. "I am not aware of your name, I
think?"
    "Kem Darnill. I was at the meeting. I'm
sorry to chase you down like this, but it was impossible to get
near you at the reception."
    "Ah," Agent pel'Nara said indulgently. "You
have an idea, perhaps? A theory? But you must return and share it
with the others. It is with sadness that I must leave early, but–I
have an appointment, zhena. Good-night."
    She turned, and Val Con dared to hope that
the encounter was over. Kem, however, was not to be put off.
    "I don't have an idea," she said, "but a
question. It will only take a moment, zhena."
    Agent pel'Nara was seen to sigh. She turned
back. "Very well," she said, her voice a little impatient now. "But
quickly if you please, Zhena Darnill."
    Kem smiled as Hakan came up next to her.
"This is my zamir, Hakan," she said to the Agent. "We both noticed
you in the meeting. You look very much like a friend of ours . . .
from . . . away."
    The Agent's stance changed;
she was no longer poised to walk away. She was, Val Con saw, interested in this. As
well she might be.
    "I am intrigued, zhena," she said; "there
are very few of my–of us in Laxaco City. What is your friend's
name?"
    "Corvill Robersun," Kem said.
    Val Con closed his eyes, briefly.
    "Corvill Robersun," the Agent repeated,
caressingly. "Now, Zhena Darnill, I must tell you that I do not
know Zamir Robersun, myself. His work, though–that I know well. Do
you say that he is in Laxaco? I will ask you for an
introduction."
    "Cory and his zhena went back home," Kem
said seriously. "We'd hoped that you might have word. Also–"
    "Do you happen to know–" that was Hakan,
speaking quickly, his words all but stumbling over each other.