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“I doubt that,” Irik said. “You have an aunt in Barshwat.”

Clarey allowed himself to look surprised before he said courteously, “I’m glad you find me and my family so interesting. Yes, it so happens I do have an aunt there, but she’s rather advanced in years and doesn’t enjoy hanging around the starship field the way the children do.”

Irik’s face darkened. “What is your aunt’s name?”

This time everyone looked surprised. The question itself was not too out-of-the-way, but his tone decidedly was.

“She’s a great-grandmother,” Clarey said. “She would be too old for you. And I assure you it’s difficult to part her from her money. I’ve tried.”

Everybody laughed. Irik was furious. “I understand that your aunt lives very close to Earth Headquarters!”

Somebody must have followed him on one or more of his trips to Barshwat, Clarey realized. “If the Earthmen chose to establish themselves in the best residential section of Barshwat, then probably my aunt does live near them. She’s not the type to leave a comfortable dome simply because foreigners move into the neighborhood.”