It was indeed nature's logic and politics but Suth was smug in it, suffused with a feeling of power and tightness after his long suffering. There would be a new order on this ship, his ship. And for Horag to succeed in an operation where great Alagn had failed miserably.… Ambitions occurred to him, incredible in scope.

"It is not necessary," he said, "that humans know we exist.”

"No," Nagn agreed, "but until they realize we have an elder on this ship, they will be continuing on their own course of action. They will do what pleases them without consulting us.”

"If all witnesses die," said Suth, " there is no event”

"Eldestr

"We are far from human bases; we can do what pleases us.”

"Strike at elders?”

"Secure ourselves.”

Nagn considered this, her nostrils flaring and shutting in agitation. Finally they remained open. "With their rider ship and their probe as well, they have mobility we do not”

"Mri could even the balance.”

"Even mri have some memory, eldest They will not hire to us."

"On that world, Nagn Akgn-ni, there is power. It struck back at our ship; we experienced it and we know the sites of it. If both mri and human witnesses perish then regul worlds are freed of an inestimable danger; and humans can ask questions but regul need give no answers.”

Nagn grinned, a slow relaxation of her jaws and a narrowing of her eyes.