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“Afraid you’re going to have to hole up in my suite while you’re with us,” Colonel Blynn apologized when Clarey was safely inside. “The rest of the establishment is crawling with native servants—daytimes, anyway; they sleep out—but they have orders never to come near my quarters.”

He looked interestedly at Clarey. “Amazing how the plastosurgeons got you to look exactly like a native. Those boys really know their stuff. Maybe I will have my nose fixed next time I go Earthside.”

Clarey glared venomously at the tall, handsome, dark young officer.

“Don’t worry,” Blynn soothed him. “I’m sure when you go back they’ll be able to make you look exactly the way you were before.”

He gave Clarey a general briefing and explained to him that the additional allowance he’d be receiving—since he couldn’t be expected to live on a Damorlant salary—would come from an alleged rich aunt in Barshwat.

“Where’ll you get the native currency?” Clarey asked.

“We do some restricted trading with the natives, bring materials that’re in short supply; salt, breakfast cereals, pigments, thread—stuff like that. Nothing strategic, nothing they could possibly use against us ... unless they decide to strangle us with our own string.” He guffawed ear-splittingly.