If anything, my earlier hunch about his status had fallen short of the mark.
Instead of the usual unadorned gray worn in public by most Patth, his robe wasinstead gray with dark burnt-orange slash marks set into the sleeves and edgeof the hood. This was one of the Patth elite diplomatic corps, possibly even thePalmary ambassador himself. "I'm impressed," I said. "May I ask whom I havethe honor of addressing?"
He regarded me another moment before answering. "You may call me Nask, Mr.
McKell. You have been a most troubling person, indeed."
"Thank you," I said, inclining my head slightly, ignoring the fresh swell ofpain the motion induced. "You seem to think the game is over."
"What makes you say that?" he asked calmly. "It is, of course, but what makesyou phrase it that way?"
"Your so-called name," I said. " 'Nask' is one of the Patth words for'victor'."
"Interesting," he said. "We were right about you. You're not just a simplemerchant pilot."
"That's right, I'm not," I told him. "I'm an employee of a very powerful anddangerous man. A figure who, I dare say, could cause immense trouble for eventhe Patth economic empire."
"Let us guess whom you refer to," the other Patth, Enig, put in. He had movedthrough the circle of glowering Iykams to a spot behind Nask, where he nowstood at respectful attention. He didn't sound particularly smarmy at the moment, probably rather miffed that my bluff with the plasmic had made him look sillyin front of his superior.
And now, in the better light in here, I could also see the telltale glitter ofstarship-pilot implants around his eyes. His deference was more proof, if I'dneeded it, that Nask was a very high-ranking Patth indeed. "Would thispowerfuland dangerous man by any chance be Johnston Scotto Ryland?" Enig went on.
"You are well informed," I said, trying to hide the sudden sinking sensationin my stomach. If they knew about my connection with Brother John, and weren'tworried about it, they must know something I didn't. "I imagine you also knowwhat crossing a man like that means."
"We do," Nask said. "But you're sadly mistaken if you think there is anycrossing involved. Once your connection with Mr. Ryland became known, wecontacted his organization. Would you care to hear his response, delivered tothe Patthaaunutth Director General approximately six hours ago?"
The sinking sensation sank a little deeper. "Sure, go ahead."
Nask reached forward and keyed one of the displays. "Quote: 'Jordan McKell notknown to this organization.' Unquote. Succinctly put, wouldn't you say?"
"Very," I agreed with a sigh. The heat had been turned up, and Brother Johnhad responded by throwing me to the wolves. Typical. "So where does that leaveus?"
"It leaves us in position to bargain," Nask said. "And without any externalentanglements."
I frowned. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me correctly," he assured me. "You have the Icarus. I want it. It'sthat simple."
"Really," I said, trying in vain to read that half-shadowed face. Coming froma human, such an implied offer would carry the strong implication that the bargainer was offering to cut his superior completely out of the picture. ButNask was a Patth. Surely that couldn't be what he meant. Could it? "Would youcare to elaborate as to what specific entanglements you hope to avoid?"
He waved a hand. "The usual ones. Legal questions, the Commonwealth UniformCode, human governmental interference. All the various stumbling blocks thatimpede the progress and prosperity of reasonable beings."
"And does that list include other governmental interference?" I asked.
"It includes all governments that impede progress," he said. "Naturally, governments that instead enhance progress would be welcome."
"Ah," I said, nodding. In other words, he was proposing the three of us make adeal, which Nask and Enig would then turn around and sell to the Patthgovernment for, no doubt, a tidy profit. I could presumably make a morepersonalized deal with Nask than I could with the Patth Director General, Naskand Enig would both move a few rungs up the ladder for their efforts, and thePatth as a whole would get the Icarus.
I looked around at the Iykams. And, of course, if Nask's generosity didn'tprovesufficiently tempting, his hatchetbeings could take me apart piece by piecewithout any official Patth governmental involvement, should it ever come tothat. "Let's hear your offer," I said, looking back at Nask.
He shrugged, a gesture the Patth had picked up from us. Somehow, it made himlook less human than the other way around. "Let's hear your request," hecountered. "We're prepared to be quite generous."
"Suppose my price includes more than just cash?" I asked, wishing desperatelyI had some idea how long I'd been unconscious. At some point, I knew, Ixil wouldconclude I'd been taken and would find a way to get the Icarus off Palmarywithout me. If I could stall that long, at least the others would be safe.
"What if it includes the lives and freedom of my crew as well?"
"Their lives can certainly be included in any deal," Nask said. "Theirfreedom... well, that may be a bit more difficult to arrange."
"How much more difficult?"
He shrugged again. "They would need to remain guests of the PatthaaunutthDirector General for a time. In quite pleasant surroundings, I assure you.
Eventually, they would certainly be released."
"I'm sure they would be counting the days," I said. "And how long would youanticipate this luxury vacation would last?"
His eyes seemed to probe mine. "Until such time as the alien device you carrycould be made operational or else proved nonfunctional. Your assistance, orlack of it, could certainly affect the length of that study."
"Only if I knew anything about it," I said, wondering how much he knew aboutthe artifact. Or rather, how much he thought he knew about it. "It's completelysealed up."
"The unsealing will be the least of our difficulties," Nask said dryly. "So: the lives and eventual freedom of your traveling companions. What else?"
"Well, there'd have to be money, of course," I said. "Lots of it." I lifted myeyebrows to him. "Unfortunately, money's not much use if you aren't able tospend it. And I'll hardly be able to spend it if I'm locked away, will I?"
He made an unfamiliar gesture with his fingertips. "If you're worried aboutretribution from your companions, we can arrange that you be housedseparately."
"You misunderstand," I said. "I'm saying that I walk. Immediately. You canlock up the others from now till doomsday as far as I'm concerned. But I get mymoneyand walk."
He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I'm certain the Director General wouldnever agree to that. We can't allow even a hint of this find to leak out to the restof the Spiral."
"What about Cameron himself?" I countered. "He knows about the Icarus, andlast I heard he was still at large."
"Your information is out-of-date," Enig spoke up. "Arno Cameron wasapprehendedon Meima two days ago. He is being held at our compound there."
"Ah," I said. So much for Brother John's support; now, so much for Patthhonesty, too. Big surprise on both counts.
"Still, I can assure you that during the time you're detained you'll haveaccommodations and treatment suitable for Steye'tylian royalty," Nask went on, his voice low and earnest and utterly trustworthy. Even the normal smarminesslevel had been muted for the occasion. "And afterward, you will be a friend tothe Patthaaunutth for the rest of your life."
"Something to strive for, all right," I said with only a trace of sarcasm. Theglow on his face, I noticed, had changed subtly. Had one of the displaysfacinghim altered? "But suppose the device turns out to be useless? How much of afriend will I be then?"