“No,” he had thought back, “you are seeing a robber behind every rock now. Kio Barra is a tough master, of course. He’s got a big estate here, and he really keeps it up to the mark. He’s a good host and a really good man to deal with—liberal trader. Remember, I know this guy. I’ve been here before.” There had been the impression of a smile.
“Besides, this guy’s harmless,
remember? Sure, he’s a businessman. But if he should try anything violent, I could take care of him without taking time out to think about it.” A final, dismissing thought had come.
“Look, forget about it, will you? If you had to suspect someone of dirty work, pick on some of those northerners. Kio Barra’s too well known for fair dealing. I’ll make a deal with him, then we can go up to the northern swing and really look around to see if we can find any trace of that caravan of your brother’s.”
Naran kicked at the trail. Dar Girdek was a good trader and a successful caravan master. He knew goods and their value, and he was expert in handling beasts and drivers. But he had never been too sensitive. And he’d absolutely refused to wear a probe amplifier.
“Look,” he’d thought disgustedly, “how would you like to do business with some guy that wore a great, big, yellow headlight to tell you he wanted to poke around in your mind?”
Naran put his foot on the lowest rung of the short ladder leading to the lodge door.
Unless he was badly mistaken, he knew now where his brother had gone. And now Dar Girdek had joined him. The details? He shrugged.
They were unimportant. But what was next? What would be the next step in Barra’s plans? And what could be done about this guy? He climbed the ladder and went into the lodge.
[p 42]
Of course, if the Council found out about this, they could deal with the situation. All they’d need would be a little proof and Kio Barra would be well and promptly taken care of. But how would someone get word out?