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considerably heightened at the moment because no one was sure of the
significance of the events for which Telzey and her group were responsible.
Ellorad and Sartes, the other two agents, controlled a number of minds in
Boragost's command. Through them, the feeling spread among both Boragost's
supporters and opponents that since
Stiltik had walked the Lion Way in allowing the captured Alatta his chance in
ritual combat, Boragost could do no less. He must give personal challenge to
the three trapped in the sealed areas which in turn would draw Stiltik back
into the matter.
"You want to fight those monsters?" Telzey had said, somewhat incredulously.
"I'd sooner not have to face either of them," said Kolki Ming. "Stiltik, in
particular. But that won't be my part here. With Sartes and Ellorad openly
committed, it will seem we've accepted defeat and are seeking combat death in
preference to capture. That should draw the attention of the Elaigar
temporarily off me and give me a chance to get to the control center
unnoticed."
She added, "The fighting will be less uneven than you think. Tscharen had no
special combat skills, but we others were trained to be collectors of the
Elaigar and are as practiced in the weapon types allowed under their codes as
any of them. Boragost might prefer to hunt us down with a sufficient force of
Elaigar and Tolants, but his prestige is at stake. He's issued his challenge
by sending his dagens in against ours, and that part is now concluded, with
neither side retaining an advantage. We'll accept the challenge shortly by
showing ourselves. Boragost is bound then by the codes."
She'd cut an opening in the heel of one of Telzey's shoes and was assembling a
miniature pack of portal keys to fit into it. Each of the Alattas carried such
a concealed set, and, in case of accidents, a more obvious but less complete
pack of standard size such as the one taken from Tscharen. That was what had
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enabled them to withdraw so quickly from Stiltik's initial attack.
Telzey said, "It was the Alattas who were watching me on Orado, wasn't it?"
"I was," said Kolki Ming.
"Why? After you switched me into the circuit, you said there were people who
wanted to see me."
"There are. We haven't as much information as we want about the type of psis
currently in the
Federation. We've avoided contact with them here, and even the Elaigar have
had the sense to keep away from the institutions of the Psychology Service.
But some now believe that the power of the Psychology
Service is based chiefly on its use of psi machines rather than on its
members' ability as psis in fact, that psis of the original human strain
simply don't develop a degree of ability that can compare with our
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- Chapter 22
own. And that can become dangerous thinking. We have our fools, as you do.
Some of them might begin to assume that the Federation could be challenged
with impunity."
"You don't think so then?" Telzey said.
"I happen to know better. But we wanted to be able to establish the fact
beyond question. I learned on
Orado that a Sattaram handler had set his dagen on a prying human psi and that
the dagen then had inexplicably disappeared. That psi seemed worth further
study, particularly after I'd identified you and discovered you hadn't yet
attained your physical maturity. There also seemed to be a connection between
you and the Psychology Service. It was decided to pick you up for analysis by
experts, if it could be done safely. Then the Tinokti matter came up and you
transferred here. That gave me the opportunity to bring you into the circuit.
We expected to conclude our operation quickly, and take you along."
She added, "A lifetime of exile among us wasn't planned for you. You'd have
remained unconscious throughout most of the analysis and presently have found
yourself on Orado again, with nothing of significance concerning us to relate.
I don't know what the arrangement will be now, assuming we survive the next
hour or two."
Ellorad and Sartes arrived soon afterwards. They'd been checking on
developments through their mind contacts. Boragost had expressed doubts
publicly that the Alatta agents would choose combat. However, if they did,
he'd be pleased to meet them in the Hall of Challenge and add their heads to
his minor trophies. Stiltik wouldn't involve herself until Boragost had fought
at least once.
"Boragost will have a witness?" Kolki Ming asked.
"Yes. Lishon, the Adjutant, as usual," said Sartes. "Stiltik, also as usual,
will fight without witness a hunt in the Kaht Chasm."
Ellorad added, "Sartes will face Boragost. I'll be his witness there. We don't
want to bring Stiltik into it too quickly." He glanced at Telzey. "When we
show ourselves, she may learn for the first time that she's lost her human
captive and grow hungry for action. But a Chasm hunt can be extended, and I'll
make it thoroughly extensive. You should have the time to do what's
necessary." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]