ed it up with a bow.
Excellent manners these guard boys had!

Trigger gave him a smile.

"Coming," she said.

Junior Scientist Rak and his advisory committee--two other young men and
a young woman--were waiting in the conference room for her. They all
stood up when she came in. This room marked the border of their
territory; they would have violated several League rules by venturing
out into the hall through which Trigger had entered.

And that would have been unthinkable.

Rak did the talking, as on the previous occasions when Trigger had met
with this group. The advisory committee simply sat there and watched
him. As far as Trigger could figure it, they were present at these
sessions only to check Rak if it looked as if he were about to commit
some ghastly indiscretion.

"We were wondering, Miss Farn," Rak said questioningly, "whether you
have the authority to requisition additional University League guards
for the Plasmoid Project?"

Trigger shook her head. "I've got no authority of any kind that I know
of, as far as the League is concerned. No doubt Professor Mantelish
could arrange it for you."

Rak nodded. "Is it possible for you to contact Professor Mantelish?"

"No," Trigger said. She smiled. "Is it possible for you to contact him?"

Rak glanced around his committee as if looking for approval, then said,
"No, it isn't. As a matter of fact, Miss Farn, we've been isolated here
in the most curious fashion for the past few weeks."

"So have I," said Miss Farn.

Rak looked startled. "Oh!" he said. "We were hoping you would be willing
to give us a little information."

"I would," Trigger assured him, "if I had any to give. I don't,
unfortunately." She considered. "Why do you feel additional League
guards are required?"

"We heard," Rak remarked cautiously, "that there were raiders in the
Colonial School area yesterday."

"Grabbers," Trigger said. "They wouldn't bother you. Your section of the
project is supposed to be raidproof anyway."

Rak glanced at his companions again and apparently received some
undetectable sign of consent. "Miss Farn, as you know, our group has
been entrusted with the care of two League plasmoids here. Are you aware
that six of the plasmoids which were distributed to responsible
laboratories throughout the Hub have been lost to unknown raiders?"

She was startled. "No, I didn't know that. I heard there'd been some
unsuccessful attempts to steal distributed plasmoids."