ing you immediately, and hopes you will understand
and forgive her."

"Let's just say I'll withhold judgement until I find out more. Though
. . . I can't deny I'm grateful to Captain Odeon."

"He is a good man, Miss Blackfeather, a priest of both Jeshua and the
Protector. He is also, though he would probably laugh at the term, a
wise man. He is, however, deeply troubled by the Hell-King's touch, so
if he should seem wary of you, please realize it is nothing at all
personal."

"I think I can manage that," Blackfeather said. She went into the
bathroom to take care of her needs, then emerged to dress. When she
was done, Chang led her to the dining room--where she was astonished to
find three young children munching on cookies, and an
apologetic-looking Colonel of Enforcement.

"They were hungry," Cortin said. "I'm afraid I'm not as strict as I
should be--but they did want to see you. Do you mind?"

"Not at all," Blackfeather said. She'd never been all that fond of
children; on the other hand, she did know they were humanity's future,
and fewer than a replacement number, here in the Systems, were being
born. "They aren't yours, I know; more company?"

"Not exactly." Cortin studied the reporter. "If I give you some
background information, will you treat it as confidential until I say
you can publish it? That should be less than a week."

"Of course!"

"I'll brief you while we're eating, then."

* * * * *

When the meal was over, Blackfeather was full, but scarcely aware of
what she'd eaten. Taken as a whole Cortin's revelations, even
delivered in the unemotional tone of what she'd called it, a briefing,
were a shock. Blackfeather had anticipated or guessed at parts, which
along with her training helped her conceal that shock, but didn't
lessen it. Especially since she remembered that Larry had expected and
intended her to become part of the Protector's staff, opposing him.

She didn't want to go into that right now, though. A nice safe neutral
topic would be better . . . if she could think of one, and something
touching her ankle provided the perfect subject when she bent down to
pick up the tiny culprit. "Children, and now a kitten--not at all what
I expected when I got your invitation, Excellency."

"More normal and civilized, right?" Cortin smiled. "I'm not offended,
Miss Blackfeather, so you needn't look defensive. Until recently, I
was careful to conceal such