Silence descended while Sabre and Dorland regarded each other. Paul knew that Sabre was discovering something new about Dorland. Dorland Avery the man was much different from Dorland Avery the psi-player. As a player, Dorland was a striking, almost intimidating figure. From the stage, the power of his personality flowed out over the audience and merged with the colors and music to hold them fast. But off the stage Dorland was a quiet man— almost exasperatingly so at times. Socially, he was a dud; Paul had long ago given up trying to turn him into the high-lifer and party-goer the public expected of its psi-players and other top entertainers. He had instead opted to make
Dorland a mystery figure, almost a recluse. That suited Dorland fine.
But one characteristic was shared between
Dorland the psi-player and Dorland the introvert: the power of his eyes. Dorland had a steady gaze that often made people feel uncomfortable. Paul even felt it at times when he looked into those dark eyes. There was a great depth in them, and it was easy to believe they could look into your very soul. Sabre felt it, too, and he was the one who cleared his throat and looked down at his clenched hands.
'The man who tried to kill you is from Clarion,' he said. 'We were able to trace the gun's ident number back to the sector ship that went to Clarion two hundred years ago. I want to know why he tried to kill you.'
'There's no need to go through this again,' Paul said. For the second time, he pushed back his chair and got to his feet. He glanced toward the door and noticed that Frakes had not moved away from it. 38
William Greenleaj
He wondered if Sabre was desperate enough to keep him and Dorland here by force. He touched Doriand's shoulder. 'Let's go.'
'We found Bekman's streamer,' Sabre said, barely glancing at Paul. He spoke earnestly to Dorland. 'It's a scoutcraft from that same sector ship. He was after you, Mr. Avery, and I'm sorry, but I just can't believe you don't know why. You're our only lead. You have an obligation to help us.' Dorland pushed back his chair and stood. 'Can we return to our hotel now?'
Sabre stared at him. 'Surely you understand what—'
'Do we have to call our lawyer?' Paul asked.
'There's no need to—'
'Good, then let us go.'
Sabre's face hardened without any noticeable shift in muscles. He sat silently for a moment, staring at Paul. Then he grunted and waved a hand at Frakes. 'Take them back.'
Chapter Four
SILENCE DOMINATED THE FLIGHT BACK TO THE
hotel. Erick Frakes spoke only after the Aire Vega had touched down on the roof.
'Sabre's upset. He's been trying to get a lead on this place Clarion for three years. Now that he has one, he doesn't want to let it get away.' Paul was still angry and didn't try to hide it.
'Sabre's a typical UNSA bureaucrat, and Security bureaucrats are the worst. He's shut up in his dark little world, too paranoid to be honest with people even* when he needs their help. As far as I'm concerned, he can go to hell.'
'Yeah, well.' Frakes rubbed the side of his nose and turned to look out through the front screen.
'It's important. If you hear anything, you ought to tell him. Otherwise things could get rough.' Paul gave him a cold stare. 'Is that a threat?' Frakes shrugged. 'I don't make threats. Not my style.' He pressed something on the roof console, and the Aire Vega's doors swung up. 'But other people don't have that problem.'
Like Lon Bekman, Paul thought as he climbed 39
_____ William Greenleaf 40
out to stand on the roof. He remembered Ogram's words: High Elder Brill has ten more like him. He turned back to Frakes. How much does he
really knowl 'Sabre's got the idea Dorland came from this place Clarion. That's what the questioning was all about.'
