sed on both our governments have made it impossible for
our citizens to engage seriously in plasmoid research."

Trigger nodded briefly as the light-amber eyes paused on her for a
moment. Quillan had cautioned her not to show surprise at anything the
Ermetyne might say or do. If Trigger didn't know what to say herself,
she was merely to look inscrutable. "I'll scrut," he explained. "The
others won't. I'll take over then and you just follow my lead. Get it?"

"Balmordan," Lyad said, "I understand you are going to Manon to attend
the seminars and demonstrations on the plasmoid station?"

"That is true, First Lady," said Balmordan.

"Now I," Lyad told the company, "shall be more honest. The information
released in those seminars is of no value whatever. He"--she nodded at
the Devagas scientist--"and I are going to Manon with the same goal in
mind. That is to obtain plasmoids for our government laboratories."

Balmordan smiled amiably.

Trigger asked. "How do you intend to obtain them?"

"By offering very large sums of money, or equivalent inducements, to
people who are in a position to get them for me," said Lyad.

Quillan tut-tutted disapprovingly. "The First Lady's mind," he told
Trigger, "turns readily to illegal methods."

"When necessary," Lyad said undisturbed, "as it is here."

"How about you, sir?" Quillan asked Balmordan. "Are we to understand
that you also would be interested in the purchase of a middling plasmoid
or two?"

"I would be, naturally," Balmordan said. "But not at the risk of causing
trouble for my government."

"Of course not," Quillan said. He thought a moment. "You, Belchy?" he
asked.

Pluly looked alarmed. "No! No! No!" he said hastily. He blinked wildly.
"I'll stick to the shipping business. It's safer."

Quillan patted him fondly on the shoulder. "That's one law-abiding
citizen in this group!" He winked at Trigger. "Trigger's wondering," he
told Lyad, "why she and I are being told these things."

"Well, obviously," Lyad said, "Trigger and you are in an excellent
position--or will be, very soon--to act as middlemen in the matter."

"Wha...." Trigger began, astounded. Then, as all eyes swiveled over to
her, she checked herself. "Did you really think," she asked Lyad, "that
we'd agree to such a thing?"

"Certainly not," said Lyad. "I don't expect anyone to agree to anything
tonight--though it's a safe assumption I'm not the only one here who has
made sure this conversation is no