Abruptly she went from being a professor to being a sergeant or whatever. "And that," she said, "is it. End of lecture. On your feet! Sergeant Burlingham will take you to the training section."

Burlingham was another bot. As the company followed him down a corridor, Jael had a nervous stomach.

Messages

Encrypted pulse OSPCO

Bloemfontein to all AMS program labs

Subject(s): venom studies

We have what appears to be the appropriate insertion loci to work from, to increase broad-spectrum venom virulence in AMS. Exploratory work is under way. Suggestions?

– Marijka V.

(Issa, can you send me 12 of your best clone for some exploratory work? MV)

Encrypted pulse OSPCO

Lusaka to Bloemfontein AMS; copy all AMS program labs

Subject(s): venom studies

Suggest Selenarctos thibetanus as a test species. They are reportedly less venom-sensitive than any other Ursidae, even the honey bear. Availability of test material may be a problem. Check with Institute of Biosystem Research @ Dehra Dun. If they can't advise you, no one can.

– Jabari H.

Encrypted pulse OSPCO

Bangui to all AMS program labs

Subject(s): 1. reproductive enhancement (fecundity of queens); 2. security break.

1. We have an enhanced clone whose queens, under Hesselink B conditions, averaged 3,873 viable inseminated eggs per day over 14 days. A busy lady! See attachment.

2. Minutes ago, university received E threats from "Peace Front" re program, so the cat is out of the bag. You will be hearing from the Bureau soonest, if you haven't already.

– Issa L.

(Marijka, 12 princesses are on their way to you. IL)

Encrypted pulse OSPCO

OSP to AMS Nairobi; copy all AMS program labs

Subject(s): Foulbrood project

Kanika, given the update by Marijka on the venom project (shudder), and by Issa on the fecundity project (shiver), I certainly hope you folks are making good progress.

– Benny

Encrypted pulse OSPCO

OSP to all AMS program labs

Subject(s): NSS 12

At 03:05G this date, NSS 12 reported passing the halfway point (eccentricity 1.06) to Tagus. Looks good so far, but don't depend on it.

– Debbie C.

"Excuse me," said Major General Pyong Pak Singh, and took the call on his privacy receiver. "Pak," he said.

"Sir, this is WO-3 Kiefer." Yolanda Kiefer sounded very young, something he hadn't gotten used to. She was older than he was. "Dierdre just brought a message from War House," she went on. "About two minutes' worth. I can read it to you if you'd like."

A savanted message. "Just a moment, Kiefer," he said, and turned to his visitor, Mayor Ritala of nearby North Fork. "This will take perhaps two minutes."

The Luneburgian nodded.

"Read it to me," Pak said. "I'm ready."

"From Lieutenant General Titu Cioculescu, deputy chief of staff, Commonwealth Army." Cioculescu, Pak thought, impressed. Lefty Sarruf's right hand. "To Major General Pyong Pak Singh, commander, New Jerusalem Liberation Corps. Greeting. When you have reached New Jerusalem, you will provide War House with three Wyzhnyny prisoners alive and unwounded. Do not rely on serendipity. Develop a plan, and train teams accordingly. You will be informed later on how the prisoners are to be processed. Personnel will be provided to handle and transport them. You will be further informed as appropriate.

"(signed) Cioculescu."

Frowning, Pak pursed thin lips. "Thank you, Kiefer. Is that it?"

"Yes, General."

"I'll answer him when I've seen it in writing."

Reaching, the general disconnected, wondering what War House wanted with prisoners. It seemed highly improbable they had a translation program for whatever language the Wyzhnyny spoke, or whistled, or gestured, or however they did it. It didn't occur to him that the questions might have originated from an agency he'd never heard of: the Office of Special Projects. And that the answers would come not from questioning, but from chromatographs and other tests.

He turned to his visitor. "Mayor Ritala, I appreciate that your merchants would like my troops to come into town more often, and I'm glad their behavior meets with your approval. But we are on Pastor Luneburger's World to train, preparing to fight a very dangerous foe. The present schedule of passes on alternate Sevendays will have to suffice, and at any rate it's about as often as their very modest pay permits." He paused. "Is there anything else?"

The general's voice held a tone of dismissal; his closing question was clearly rhetorical, a courtesy. A thought passed through the mayor's mind: to invite the general to his home for Sevenday dinner. But somehow he didn't. This soldier was too single-minded for that.

It also occurred to him that single-mindedness was desirable in generals, given the circumstances the human species found itself in.

Qonits Answers Questions

Instead of answering, Yukiko Gavaldon got calmly to her feet and faced him. "Qonits," she said, "it is not appropriate that you ask all the questions. Now it is time for us to ask questions, and for you to answer."

David had learned to conceal his surprise at his wife's sometimes off-the-wall responses. "Yes," he said, backing her. "It is disrespectful that we are not given a reasonable chance to question you. It becomes increasingly so as the imbalance grows."

Qonits stood for several long seconds without responding. This was something new from the captives. When at last he replied, it was slowly. "But we are the victors. You are our captives. You are obliged to do as we order."

Yukiko shook her head firmly. "That is incorrect. There are two categories of victors. One is barbarians. The other consists of civilized beings. Barbarians are inferior sophonts who do not care whether they behave properly or not. Civilized beings do care. And you have shown yourself to be civilized."

She stood with arms folded, her features firm.

The two Terrans had learned to read Qonits somewhat. It seemed to David that the chief scholar was unsure of himself now. "There should be balance in all things," he added. His voice was mild, even kind. "Not absolute balance; that is hardly possible. But sufficient to show respect."

Qonits looked at him warily. "What questions would you ask?"

It was Yukiko who began. "Where in the galaxy are you from?"

Qonits' head jerked three times, as if with Tourette's syndrome-a reaction that seemed too extreme for the question. But he answered it. "Shipsmind says this not our galaxy. We jumped here in-no elapsed time."