Belle giggled, then burst into laughter. "So I'm in it, too? Wonderful!"
"You have to be. If we make him mad enough, he'll fire you, too."
"Without hiring me first? He couldn't."
"He could, very easily. He doesn't know one-tenth of one percent of his people. If we work it right he'll assume that you're one of us wage-slaves, too. Lola, too, for that matter."
"Careful, Clee. You and I think this is funny, but Lola wouldn't. She'd be shocked to her sweet little core, and she'd louse up the whole deal. So be very sure she doesn't get in on it."
"I guess you're right ... well, shall we go out and insult our touchy young friend Semolo? Ready.... Go!"
"Oh, it's you again. I tell you...." the Lizorian began.
"You will tell me nothing. You will listen. Link your mind to Mitala's," and the linked Tellurian minds enforced the order. "In about two weeks the Primes of many worlds will meet in person on Tellus. Arrange your affairs so that on ten minutes' notice you both can leave Lizoria for Tellus aboard our starship, the Pleiades. That is all."
"He'll come, too," Belle chortled. "He'll writhe and scream, but he'll come."