mediate wrath than courting disfavor of an absent authority。
〃Tell me；〃 she asked in a pleasant tone when they had entered a small lift； 〃is food plentiful on Optheria？〃
He cast her a very nervous glance and when she smiled winningly at him； relaxed a little； though he kept as far from her in the carriage as possible。
〃There is plenty of food on Optheria。 Too much。 This year only half the fields may be planted； and I know that early fruit has been left to rot on the vine。〃
〃Then why did I get three mouthfuls at dinner？〃
Something approaching levity touched the young man's face。 〃All the Elders are old： they don't eat much。〃
〃Hmm！ That's one explanation。 But a good brew or a nice dry vintage would have helped！〃
A smile tugged at the young man's lips。 〃Well； Elder Pentrom was present and he is death on any sort of alcoholic beverage。 Says it saps the energy of the young and disrupts thought in the mature。〃
〃And he was my dinner partner！〃 Killashandra's crow of malice resounded in the enclosed space。 〃My timing is； as ever； superb！ Well； I'm not under his jurisdiction and； if Optheria really needs that organ repaired； the Elders will have to placate me； not him。〃 The young man was obviously shocked。 〃Tell me；〃 she said in her kindest； most wheedling voice； 〃you seem to be a knowledgeable fellow； what sort in interesting beverages are produced on this planet？〃
〃Oh； there are brews and vintages；〃 he assured her promptly and with some pride； 〃and some rather potent spirituous drinks manufactured in the mountains and the islands … but that sort of stuff isn't permitted in the Conservatory。〃 The lift's doors slid open； and the Optherian bustled out。
〃More's the pity。〃 Killashandra strode on down the hallway after her guide。 〃What do you drink？ No； abort the question；〃 and she grinned at his startled glance。 〃What is the most popular drink？〃
〃The most popular one on this continent is a brew called Bascum。〃
〃Is Bascum a plant or a person？〃
〃Person。〃 Her guide was warming to his subject。 He indicated they take the left…hand corridor at the junction。 〃One of the Founding Fathers。〃
〃So his brewery is allowed to function in the face of the Medical Supervisor's displeasure？〃 Killashandra grinned as he nodded。 〃I infer from your remarks that there are other popular drinks？ Any wines？〃
〃Oh； yes； the western continent produces some very fine vintages； both white and red； and some doubly distilled liqueurs。 I'm not familiar with the wines at all。〃
〃And those islands you mentioned； they go for the spirituous liquors？〃
〃The polly tree。〃
〃The polly tree？〃
〃Its fermented fruit makes a brandy which； I'm told； is more potent than anything else in the universe。 The polly tree provides foliage for shelter； a fine…grained wood for building； its roots burn for a long time； its bark can be pounded into a fiber which the islanders use for weaving cloth； its pith is extremely nutritious； and its large fruit is delicious as well as nutritious … 〃
〃When it isn't fermented … 〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃And the polly tree only grows on the islands？〃
〃That's right； and here is your apartment。 Guildmember。〃 He opened the door。
〃There's no privacy lock on this？〃 Killashandra had not noticed the lack in her first hurried inspection。
〃There is no need for such in the plex。〃 Her guide appeared surprised at her reaction 。 〃 No one would presume to enter without your express permission。〃
〃There are no thieves on Optheria？〃
〃Not in the Conservatory！〃
She thanked him for his escort and entered her sacrosanct apartment； closing the door behind her with a sigh of relief。 Only then did her eye fall on the table。 She exclaimed aloud at the display of bottles of all sizes and shapes； at the beakers； goblets； wine glasses that waited in pristine array on the white cloth。 A separate tray offered an assortment of tidbits； nuts； and small wafers。 A small chest opened to exhibit chilled bottles and two pottery amphoras。
There was no way the collection could have been assembled and spirited into her apartment in the time elapsed since she stormed out of the dining room。 Then she remembered her remarks on the trip from the spaceport。 Well； Elder Pentrom might be a prissy； dogmatic； abstemious man； but obviously her every whim was someone's mand。
Because her guide had mentioned Bascum； her choice among so many finally settled on the neat brown bottle in the cold chest。 She flipped the top off and let the midbrown brew slowly descend into an appropriate beaker。 The malty scent that rose to her nostrils suggested good things to e。
〃And about time； too；〃 she said； scooping up a random selection of nibbles and sinking into the nearest fortable seat。 〃To absent friends！〃 She lifted her beaker high then took her first sip。
She regarded the brew with respect and delight。 〃Could Bascum possibly have e from Yarra？〃 she asked herself。 〃This might not be so bad an assignment after all！〃
Chapter 6
By the time the quick Optherian sunset had finished its evening display； Killashandra had sampled nine beverages； wishing she had someone with whom to share the largesse； especially since there was a prohibition against it。 Which brought Corish to mind； and that mythical uncle of his。 Unless she could discover how much surveillance she would be having from her discreet quartette … and how easy it would be to outwit it … she didn't want to risk meeting him。 Would they think it odd if she left a message in at the Piper Facility？ Corish had considerably piqued her curiosity and she was somewhat motivated by a desire to show him that two could play the exploitation gambit。
Someone tapped on her apartment door and； when Mirbethan entered on her permission； Killashandra caught the shade of uncertainty in the Optherian's manner。
〃Since you're not acpanied by any priss…mouthed ancients； you are wele。 And if that excuse for a meal is a state dinner here； no wonder you're a lean bunch。〃
Mirbethan flushed。 〃Since Elder Pentrom graciously accepted our invitation； we are obliged to cater to his dietary preferences。 Didn't Elder Ampris mention this to you？〃
〃He failed to put me in the know。 However。 all this；〃 and Killashandra waved expansively at the beverage table's load； 〃makes up for that deficiency； though solid food would assist my investigations。。。〃
〃There was no time to show you the catering facility。〃 Mirbethan glided to one of the discreet wall cabinets。 Its doors opened on a catering unit。 〃Alcoholic beverages are not included。 Students have a distressing aptitude for breaking restricted codes。〃 Killashandra decided that she merely thought she detected a note of tolerant humor in Mirbethan's voice。 〃That is why we have supplied you with a sampling of the available intoxicants。〃
〃In spite of Elder Pentrom。〃
Mirbethan cast her eyes downward。
〃Tell me； Mirbethan； would you happen to know if Bascum the brewmaster originated from the planet Yarra？〃
〃Bascum？〃 Mirbethan looked up； startled； and confused。 When Killashandra waved the long…emptied bottle at her； she blushed。 〃Oh； that Bascum。〃 Now she glided to a second ornate cabinet which opened into a full size terminal； and a panel in the wall slid aside to reveal a large screen。 She typed an entry as Killashandra made a private wager。 〃Why； how under the suns did you know？〃
〃The best brewmasters in the galaxy hail from that planet。 I haven't sampled everything yet；〃 Killashandra went on； 〃but I shall be very well suited indeed if you'll undertake to keep me supplied with Bascum's brew。〃
〃As you require； Guildmember。 But for now； the concert is about to start in the Red Hall。 Only the single manual organ； but the performer was last year's prize winner。〃
Killashandra was tempted； but she was a shade hungrier and drier than she liked to be。 〃The Elders are present？〃 When Mirbethan solemnly nodded； Killashandra sighed deeply。 〃Convey my apologies on the grounds of travel fatigue。。。 and the stress of metabolic readjustment after the assault and the wound。〃 Killashandra ran the silk up her arm； exposing her shoulder where only a thin red line gave evidence of an injury。
Mirbethan's eyes widened significantly and then； with a subtle shift； she incline