ed.

"Yes," he said. "They're the ones who've been giving the instructions,
as far as you're concerned."

Trigger was silent a moment. "I've heard," she said, "the eggheads have
terrific pull when they want to use it. You don't hear much about them
otherwise. Let me think just a little."

"Go ahead," said Holati.

A minute ticked away.

"What it boils down to so far," Trigger said then, "is still pretty much
what you told me on Maccadon. The Psychology Service thinks I know
something that might help clean up the plasmoid problem. Or at least
help explain it."

He nodded.

"And the people who've been trying to grab me very probably are doing it
for exactly the same reason."

He nodded again. "That's almost certain."

"Do you think the eggheads might already have figured out what the
connection is?"

The Commissioner shook his head. "If they had, we'd be doing something
about it. The Federation Council is very nervous!"

"Well...." Trigger said. She pursed her lips. "That Lyad...." she said.

"What about her?"

"She tried to hire me," said Trigger. "Major Quillan reported it, I
suppose?"

"Sure."

"And it wouldn't be just to steal some stupid plasmoid. Especially since
you say a number of small ones are already available. Then there're the
ones that raiders picked up in the Hub. She probably has a collection by
now."

He nodded. "Probably."

"She seems to know quite a bit about what's been going on...."

"Very likely she does."

"Let's grab her!" said Trigger. "We can do it quietly. And she's too big
to be mind-blocked. We'd get part of the answer. Perhaps all of it!"

Something flared briefly in the Commissioner's small gray eyes. He
reached over and patted her knee.

"You're a girl after my own heart, Trigger girl," he said. "I'm for it.
But half the Council would have fainted dead away if they'd heard you
make that suggestion!"

"They're as touchy as that?" she asked, disappointed.

"Yes--and you can't quite blame them. Fumbles could be pretty bad. When
it comes to someone around Lyad's level, our own group is restricted to
defensive counteraction. If we get evidence against her, it'll be up to
the diplomats to decide what's to be done about it. Tactfully. We
wouldn't be further involved."

Trigger nodded, watching him. "Go on."

"Well, defensive counteraction can cover a lot of things, of course. If
we actually run into the First Lady while we're engaged in it, we'll
hold her--as lo