gabby, the Precol blonde was a woman of her word. Trigger had
just started lunch when the office mail-tube receiver tinkled brightly
at her. She reached in, took out a flat plastic carrier, snapped it
open. The paper that unfolded itself in her hand was her retransfer
application.

At the bottom of the form was stamped "Application Denied," followed by
the signature of the Secretary of the Department of Precolonization,
Home Office, Evalee.

Trigger's gaze shifted incredulously from the signature to the two
words, and back. They'd taken the trouble to get that signature
transmitted from Evalee just to make it clear that there were no heads
left to be gone over in the matter. Precol was not transferring her back
to Manon. That was final. Then she realized that there was a second
sheet attached to the application form.

On it in handwriting were a few more words: "In accordance with the
instructions of Commissioner Tate." And a signature, "Rozan." And three
final words: "Destroy this note."

Trigger crumpled up the application in one hand. Her other hand darted
to the ComWeb.

Then she checked herself. To fire an as-of-now resignation back at
Precol had been the immediate impulse. But something, some vague warning
chill, was saying it might be a very poor impulse to follow.

She sat back to think it over.

It was very probable that Undersecretary Rozan disliked Holati Tate
intensely. A lot of the Home Office big shots disliked Holati Tate. He'd
stamped on their toes more than once--very justifiably; but he'd
stamped. The Home Office wouldn't go an inch out of its way to do
something just because Commissioner Tate happened to want it done.

So somebody else was backing up Commissioner Tate's instructions.

Trigger shook her head helplessly.

The only somebody else who _could_ give instructions to the
Precolonization Department was the Council of the Federation!

And how could the Federation possibly care what Trigger Argee was doing?
She made a small, incredulous noise in her throat.

Then she sat there a while, feeling frightened.

The fright didn't really wear off, but it settled down slowly inside
her. Up on the surface she began to think again.

Assume it's so, she instructed herself. It made no sense, but everything
else made even less sense. Just assume it's so. Set it up as a practical
problem. Don't worry about the why....

The problem became very simple then. She wanted to go to Manon. The
Feder