ression of
doubt--uncertainty. Barra frowned impatiently.

It had been much the same when he had ordered this man to load up back
at Tibara. Perhaps it was no wonder Dar Makun had been forced to learn
vocalization if this was the best slave he could find to develop into
his headman.

Carefully, he formed a projection. It showed the carriers gathering in
their unloading circles. He made one of the projections turn and drop
its head over another's back. The wide mouth opened and stubby, peg
teeth gripped the handling loop of a cargo sling. Then the long-neck
swiveled back, to repeat the performance.

Barra watched as the man before him nodded in obedient understanding. He
shot out a sharp, peremptory order.

"Do it, then! Do it as shown."

The man made noises, then turned, shouting at the other drivers.

Barra watched as the stack of cargo grew. At last, the final sling was
positioned and a heavy cloth cover was dropped over the great piles.
Barra looked at the headman.

"Bring your drivers close," he ordered. "I have something for them to
see."

Again, there was the moment of confusion, but this time the man had
gathered the main sense of the command. He turned again, shouting.

The drivers looked at each other questioningly, then moved slowly
forward, to form a tight group before Barra, who watched until they were
in satisfactory position.

He concentrated on the group for a few seconds, starting the formation
of a projection to his left.

As the air glowed and started to show form, the eyes of the drivers
swung toward it. Barra smiled tightly and swung his distorter up. The
crystal flamed as he swept it across the group of slaves.

He kept the power on, sweeping the distorter back and forth until all
that remained was a large pool of slime which thinned, then oozed into
the humus. At last, he tucked the rod back under his arm and examined
the scene.

There was the pile of goods. There were the carrier beasts. But no man
or pseudoman remained of the caravan. His smile broadened.

Once he had sorted this cargo and moved it to the Residence and to
various warehouses about the Estates, all traces of Dar Makun and his
train would be gone.

To be sure, a few villages would find that their herds had increased,
but this was nothing to worry about. He sighed.

It had been a hard day and it would be a hard night's work. He would
have to forget his dignity for the time and do real labor. But this was
necessi