And yet, it seemed, soon he would have no choice.

"Commissioner?" Usan Labria had entered his office and plumped herself down without invitation. Old, raddled, the gems on her fingers accentuating the sere and withered flesh. Paint made her face a grotesque mask in which her eyes, cold, shrewd, gleamed like splintered glass.

"My lady, this is an honor."

"An inconvenience, Commissioner. For once be honest."

Once, perhaps, he would have accepted the invitation, now he was not so foolish. "The visit of an Owner could never be that, my lady. You have a problem?"

"We all have a problem. This bull of Harada's-when are you going to find who killed it?"

"Your interest?"

"Don't be a fool, man." Her voice, like her face, was a distortion of what a woman's should be. Harsh, rough, strained as if with pain. "Harada suspects an Owner is responsible. Unless the culprits are found he will be tempted to take action and the last thing we want is an internecine war. The last time it happened a third of the breeding stock was destroyed and two Owners assassinated. That was before your time, but I remember it. I don't want it to happen again."

"It won't, my lady."

"Which means that you've discovered something." Her eyes narrowed a trifle. "Why haven't you made an arrest? How much longer will you keep us all in suspense? I insist you take action, Commissioner, and fast. If not, another will take your place."

Another threat to add to the rest, but he could understand her concern. Her lands were arid, her herd small, a war could wipe her out and end her power. For such a woman that was unthinkable.

He said quietly, "To take action isn't enough. There is the question of proof."

"Surely that can be found?" She edged closer to the desk, her voice lowered. "Who was it? Eldaret? Jelkin? Repana? Who?"

Owners all, and her suspicions were proof of how they regarded each other. The bull, used, would have put them all at a disadvantage.

She frowned at his answer. "Not an Owner! Man, do you realize what you are saying? It would have taken a rifle to kill that beast, a laser even. Men would have needed a raft and lights to spot the target. Who but an Owner could have arranged it?"

"Think of the facts, my lady."

"I know them." She was curt. "A beast killed and butchered-obviously done to avoid suspicion. The fence cut and the animal removed so as to hide the real objective. Have you questioned the guards?"

"I know my business, my lady."

She ignored the reproof. "They must have been bribed. Question them again and this time be less gentle. It is something you should have done before."

"And will the ravings and accusations of a man in torment provide satisfactory evidence?" With an effort he mastered himself. Never could he afford the luxury of betraying his true feelings. "The problem must be solved to the satisfaction of Tien Harada. Unless it is, his suspicions will remain as will the possibility of reprisal. I-" He broke off as his phone hummed its signal. To the face on the screen he snapped, "What is it?"

"A report from Officer Harm, sir. A man was reported for trying to sell meat."

"Sun-dried?"

"Yes."

"And?" Avorot's voice reflected his impatience. "Speak up, man."

"He was suspicious and tried to run. Officer Harm had to shoot. The man is now in hospital."

"Dead?"

"Wounded, but critical. I thought it best-"

The screen died as Avorot broke the connection. To the woman he said, "My apologies, my lady, but this is urgent. I must speak to that man before he dies."

* * *

He lay on a cot in a room painted green and brown, the colors of earth and growth, but one hue was missing, the scarlet of blood. Avorot looked at the thin face, then at the doctor hovering close.

"Can he talk?"

"He is in terminal coma."

"That isn't answering my question. Can you give him drugs in order to make him speak?"

"He's dying, Commissioner. Your officer aimed too well, the bullet severed the spine and lacerated the lungs. The loss of blood was intense and that, coupled with shock-"

"I am not interested in your diagnosis," snapped Avorot. "Nor in your implied criticism of my officer. The man is a criminal who refused to obey an order. He holds information I must have. It is your responsibility to see that I get it. Call me when the man can speak."

Outside the room Officer Harm was waiting. A big, beefy man with little imagination who stared unflinchingly at his superior.

"What happened?" demanded Avorot. "Go into detail."

"I was on patrol close to the field, as you'd instructed, Commissioner. The news that a ship is expected had got around and there was the usual crowd waiting for it to land. Scum, mostly, those with nothing else to do. You know how it is."

"Go on."

"Gilus Scheem sent me word by a man working for him. Someone was trying to sell him unlicensed meat. He was gone when I arrived but I had his description and managed to spot him. I yelled at him to halt but he just kept going. So I shot him."

And the fool had aimed to kill. A bullet in the air would have been enough, or a chase to run the man down, but Harm wouldn't have thought of that.

"And the meat?"

"Here, sir. I thought you'd want to see it."

In that at least, he'd shown sense. Avorot took the package and ripped it open to reveal the strips of tissue inside. He rubbed his fingers over a piece and held them to his nostrils. No scent of smoke, but that was expected. The sun itself would have been good enough for a man who knew what he was doing. His tongue told him more; no spice, nothing but the flesh itself. No commercial house would have turned out such a product.

"Let me taste that." Usan Labria had insisted on accompanying him. She grunted as she handed back the package. "Not stolen from a warehouse, that's for sure, nor from a shop. And no processing plant would turn out such rubbish. What is it, Commissioner?"

"Owner Harada's bull."

"What?" She was incredulous. "Are you telling me that animal was slaughtered simply for its meat? That men came in the storm and killed it and-no!" Firmly she shook her head. "It's impossible. It couldn't be done."

For answer he held out the package.

"Meat," she admitted. "Unlicensed and poorly cured, but still not proof that it came from Harada's bull."

"From where, then? The slaughterhouses?" Avorot shook his head. "Every ounce is accounted for. I'll admit that there could be some leakage from culled beasts and at times the sporting hunters grow careless. But this is the wrong time of year for that. This meat has been recently cured. It is proof which could clear the Owners from blame."

And lead him to those responsible if the dying man could talk. Back in the room Avorot stared down at him, at the pale face, blank now like a waxen mask, the eyes closed, only the slight lifting of his chest telling that he was still alive.

"I've given him what I can," said the doctor quietly. "I guarantee nothing, but there could be a moment before he dies when he might regain consciousness. You can talk to him then, but you will have to be quick."

"Any history?"

"None. My guess he is a stranded traveler-we have a lot of those living in the Warren. His hands are abraded and his clothes were rags. I'd say he's been living in the wilderness for days at least." The doctor reached out and touched the flaccid throat. "A fool," he said dispassionately. "He should have eaten the meat, not tried to sell it."

A medical judgment, but the man had wanted more than a full stomach. The meat would have fetched money, had the dealer been less scrupulous-not much but enough for a stake at a gaming table and the chance to build it into enough for a Low passage. A journey which would have killed him, but a desperate man would have been willing to take the chance.