ng, my Lady."

"Good morning, Captain. You look pleased with yourself." The Count
motioned him back to his seat, while she leaned against her desk.
"What is it?"

Thompson outlined what he and King had discussed, feeling more relaxed
in her presence than he'd have thought possible the previous night.
"So if what Sergeant King read is accurate," he finished, "I can let
one of you feed, enjoy it, and still stay with my team."

"It is accurate enough," the Count said, her expression unreadable to
anyone without a field agent's training. "Perhaps a tenth of those who
are susceptible do not Change into Kins. They do become the best
Donors available, though no Kin will risk feeding even from them more
than once per tenday." She sighed. "I cannot share your relief,
Captain, though I can understand it. I am fully aware of the way most
people out-system will react to us, and being from out-system yourself,
you would have gotten a far more sympathetic reaction than a
Narvonese-born Kin. Your being a Donor will help, even so. Do you have
any preference as to the Kin?"

"One of the really hungry ones," Thompson said. "Otherwise, not
particularly."

"Very well. You seemed quite taken with Chief Kaufman yesterday; she
is Night Duty Officer now, so she is sleeping, but will be in her
office about twenty-two-thirty tonight. Shall I leave word that you
are coming?"

"I felt sorry for her, was all," Thompson said. "The poor kid--Yes,
please let her know."

"All you felt consciously, perhaps," the Count said drily. "I read it
as potentially far more--but that no longer matters. I will rescind my
request for your indefinite assignment here."

"Thank you, my Lady." Thompson rose, and this time his bow was
everything her rank entitled her to.

* * * * *

Thompson entered the System Security office complex and approached the
desk sergeant, ready to introduce himself, but she stood. "Captain
Thompson?"

"Yes."

"Chief Kaufman is waiting for you, sir. To your right, third door on
the left." She smiled. "You made a good choice, Captain. She's the
best I've ever Donated to."

"How did you know I chose her, rather than the other way around?"

"It's always the Donor's choice, sir. The Kin can ask someone, or pass
on a volunteer, but one will never feed on an unwilling Donor." The
desk sergeant grinned. "Besides, her Ladyship said you had."

Thompson chuckled. "Thanks, Sergeant.