Will checked the time so that he could tell how long Hart was away from the party. It was just something he would like to know. Will collected facts, and did not force them to mean anything prematurely.
His wrist-stinger went off. He made his way through the crowd to the link at the far end of the buffet. As he reached over to activate it, a servant appeared at his elbow. “I can do that for you, sir,” said the man.
“Thank you, I’d prefer to do it myself.”
The servant seemed confused by this response. He hesitated, then retired with a slight bow. Will leaned over the link, lowering his voice so that it sank under the surface conversation of the party, and asked for Diamond Special Security. “This is Sergeant William Stockton of the Opal delegation. You wanted me?”
A distant voice said, “Sergeant. We’re dealing with an emergency on the Transport deck, and we’d appreciate it if you could keep all Opal personnel away from there.”
“What sort of emergency?”
There was a brief hesitation, then the voice said, “We have a report there are three bombs in that area. It may not be true, but it would be awkward for you and me both if any of your people got blown up before we could take care of the matter.”
So it would. “Anything I can do for you?” asked Will.
“Just keep ’em out of our way. And don’t mention the reason if you can avoid it. Not that it’s a secret—we’re evacuating the whole area.”
“All right. Thanks for the warning.” He cut the connection and looked up. Nobody seemed to have overheard anything. Io was still trapped by Lord Muir. Will considered his situation; he knew where all the people he was responsible for were, and none of them was anywhere near Transport. He wasn’t responsible for the Opal Hierophant, but luckily the man was sitting in a comer at this very party, eating deviled eggs and drinking wine. There were a few Opal aristos running about, but Will would not be held accountable for them. Though Hart might know where they were.
Will went back to the other end of the room and glanced down the hallway, considering. Then he walked to the door through which Hart had disappeared. It was a door of light and dark colored inlaid wood, with mosaics of red, white, blue, and green in abstract patterns. A circular portion in the center of the door showed a green and white hillside and stream on old Earth, with a fish leaping and a boy sleeping. The door was hinged, and there was a crystal knob. All this gilt and icing, and there was no com to make oneself known to whomever was inside; Will was often amazed at the lack of privacy aristos lived with. How did you know when it was polite to knock?
He came closer to the door and heard things. Damn. From the sounds of it he had a girl in there, and was showing her a good time. As Will hesitated the gasps and moans increased to an almost desperate pitch—apparently he was showing her an extremely good time. Will balanced courtesy against urgency, and as soon as the first peak was passed he knocked.
“What is it?” Hart’s voice, slightly thick and distracted, came from the room.
“It’s Will. I have to talk to you.”
There was a pause and a very faint sound of footsteps, interrupted by frantic whispering. Then the door was flung open. “You worry too much, sweetheart,” said Hart over his shoulder. “My friend Will has no interest in how the upperdecks of the Diamond spend their spare time.” Will saw Roger Parmias, one of the group of young Diamond aristos he’d seen Hart with before, looking swiftly and in vain for another exit from the room. He very quickly pulled on his clothes, rolling his stockings up into a ball and tucking them in his wallet. Then he pushed past Will with a frightened glance and fled down the hall.
He was embarrassed, and more than embarrassed, and for that Will didn’t blame him. Sodomy was still a death offense—even for aristos, if they weren’t discreet and somebody wanted to press charges. Hart watched Roger Parmias’s back disappear with a look of amusement. “Do come in,” he said to Will. “You have a habit of overlooking private moments, don’t you.”
Will followed him inside. “Sit down,” called Hart, as he began picking up his own clothes from various heaps around the room and pulling them on. The only place to sit was the bed. Will found a spot on the edge and smoothed back the covers, feeling heat in his face. Why should he be embarrassed?
“I just got a report about some bombs,” he said, not looking at Hart.
“Oh?” Hart paused for a second, then pulled a shirt over his head. “Where?”
“Transport deck. Maybe three of them. We’re not supposed to go near that section.”
“I consider myself warned,” said Hart. “And I don’t think anybody else from our bunch is over there. I assume Diamond Security will chuck them out if they are. Was that all you wanted to interrupt me for?”
Will faced him, as he always faced his duty. “Three bombs on the Diamond, Hart. Is this anything I should know about?”
For once Hart actually looked startled. He tucked a silken shirttail into his breeches and said,
