MacKinnie sat alone on the veranda. The others were off on their various errands, leaving him as the only member of the expedition with nothing to do. He had finished his chickeest, and was wishing mightily for a good cup of coffee when Stark arrived.

“Find any of the Wolves?”

“Yes, sir. We can get our pick of the noncoms. The officers are a little harder to find. But are you sure you want any of the men? Being as how you’re supposed to be dead? They’re good at fighting, but they aren’t so long on keeping that kind of secret. Don’t know how good I’ll be, for that matter.”

“What about those two that Dougal furnished? Any use?”

“MacReedy’s typical, si — uh, Trader. Served a hitch in a trading expedition guard unit on South Continent, another on a sea passage through the west end of the Archipelago. He’ll do. Todd’s another case. Officer cadet, I expect. Seems a good lad, probably make colonel some day, but his speech and manners don’t come from the barracks. Keep him from talking too much and he’ll pass.”

“About what I expected,” MacKinnie said. “No point in complaining. Dougal has his own ideas of how this ought to go, and we won’t be able to change anything until we’re off-planet. Maybe not even then. I’m not completely sure who’s in command.”

“I am,” Stark said.

MacKinnie grinned. “Well, let’s be sure of it.” He thought for a moment. “Hal, get us Dunston and Olby, and pick a couple of available corporals. I have a hunch we may need some steady noncoms, and I’d as soon not have all the fighting men come from Haven. Uh — there’s no need for them to advertise that they’re Wolves.”

Stark grinned knowingly. “Yes, Trader.” The grin faded. “Think we’ll have much fighting?”

MacKinnie shrugged. “I don’t know. Dougal does, or he wouldn’t be sending me. I don’t do a lot else. I’ll find out more when I meet the Imperial Traders Association reps, I suppose.”

“Yes, sir. When do we get rolling?”

“Soon as possible. There’s nothing to wait for. Not enough time for proper training of the troops, and not much idea of what to train them for anyway. There’s one hell of a job waiting for us if we do get back with what we’re after, but that’s Dougal’s problem. His and Solon’s, and the Magnates.” He looked up to see Mary Graham and Academician Longway approaching.

“That was prompt,” he told her. His smile was forced.

Graham gave a thin answering show of teeth and said, “As soon as you approve the cargo list, Trader, I’ll have the goods taken to the Imperial wharf for loading. It’s all in the warehouses. Have you any other instructions?”

“Yes. Get someone who knows how to make body armor and find out what dimensions are needed. I want a full suit of chain mail for each of us, and that includes you, freelady. And have a variety of swords of the best quality obtainable, all types available, brought for our inspection. We’ll want to choose personal weapons. Guard leader Stark will instruct you on how he wants his men equipped.”

“Yes, sir.” She took a notebook from her pouch and wrote with tiny precise motions. “Is that all?”

“No. Join me for lunch.”

“Yes, sir,” she said in the same tone, then turned to follow Stark to his table.

MacKinnie turned to Longway. “Academician, is there any special equipment you will need?”

“I’m afraid not, Trader. There are many items we could use, but they are all technological and forbidden. I would suggest you have breastplates made for yourself and your men. If the Makassarians have developed archery to any extent, you will need them.”

“An excellent suggestion.” MacKinnie lit his pipe. “Of course we don’t expect to fight pitched battles. I hope we’ll only need armor to protect ourselves from thieves and the like. Still, some decent plate might be useful, if it can be made in time. I’ll tell the freelady.”

“As for the rest,” Longway said, “we know so little about Makassar that it is hard to tell what we should take with us. Notebooks and paper, of course. A few drafting instruments for making maps. Some standard reference works would also be useful. Do you think the Navy will allow books? Does Makassar have movable type?”

“No books,” MacKinnie said. “And don’t ask the Navy about them. Take only handwritten material, and don’t ask the Navy about any specific item without my permission.”

Longway nodded thoughtfully. “If you say so, Trader. I still have some of my personal clothing and trading items to assemble. Am I excused?”

MacKinnie nodded dismissal and went to the table where Stark sat with his men. Todd and MacReedy were quietly drinking ale while Stark issued instructions to Mary Graham. She wrote furiously in her book as he spoke.

Hal had a look of concentration and drummed his fingers against the table as he spoke. “I’d like crossbows, freelady. Good spring steel ones. There’s an armory sergeant, Brighton, in the Orleans garrison who knows how to make them — he used to supply them for our special forces teams. Thirty of those, I’d reckon. They ought to have that many in stock somewhere.”

“Crossbows,” Graham said. “And quarrels?”

“Yes. As many as they have.” Stark paused thoughtfully. “For underneath the armor we’ll want suits of woolsh-hide with the hair left on, good thick stuff. If a man’s going to pound on me with a sword, I want some padding under the chain mail. You go order all that, and I’ll have more for you by the time you get back.”

She nodded and left. MacKinnie sat at the table and poured ale for himself. “She seems to get the job done,” he said. “Maybe she’ll be useful.”

“Never had much use for women on campaign, Trader,” Stark said. “But she doesn’t miss much. I’ll make up my mind when I see the gear, but she’s got it all down in that book of hers and seems to know where to find things in a hurry.”

“Why are we in such a hurry, sir?” Todd asked.

“The Imperial Trader ship is leaving soon,” MacKinnie answered. “We have to be on it or wait for another.”

That’s the official reason, MacKinnie thought. But there’s a better one. If those Navy kids start talking about that library again, to the post commandant, or the Traders, or anyone, eventually somebody’s going to connect us and the library. The sooner we get out of here the better.

It’s a fool’s errand, but it’s worth a try, and the quicker we get back the quicker the Magnates can work on that ship. If we can get them anything, and if they can build one at all.

He knew that Dougal had already suggested that some of the University scientists work on life-support technology, using hints from the stolen novel to guide them. Others could investigate hull designs. But first Dougal would have to secure their loyalty; Prince Samual University was located in Haven, but had been independent, its independence guaranteed by treaties, for centuries. Now that Haven had conquered so many neighbors the University’s independence wasn’t likely to last long, but the rector would hardly take direct orders from King David’s secret police …

That would be Dougal’s job.

But none of it would mean a thing until the secrets of the engines and their energy sources were discovered.

And that’s my job, he thought.

Mary Graham returned for her luncheon engagement, her notebook bulging with subsidiary lists and scraps of paper. MacKinnie held her chair, then examined her with frank curiosity.

She’s pretty enough, MacKinnie thought. And she knows how to dress so as not to emphasize her looks. She gave a lot of thought to that outfit, which means she wants to make a good impression. Why does she want to go on a tomfool expedition like this? There’s only one way to find that out. “You look as if you have some sense,” he said. “Why do you want to come on this insane trip?”

“I think it’s my duty, Trader.” It was obvious that she was choosing her words carefully. If that was an act, she was very good at it. “Citizen Dougal says this could be one of the most important missions in Haven’s history, although he wouldn’t say why.”