He gestured her inside.
In the first room off the main corridor, Herb stopped. Several starmen hovered nearby to listen.
"Can I talk to you for just a couple of seconds alone?"
"Why—why, yes, I guess." He looked around for permission.
The Oligarch, towering imperiously on the fringe of the group, said, "Why don't you interview her in my office, Herb?"
"Come along," Herb said.
In contrast to the Spartan plainness of the rest of the ship, the Oligarch's office was richly furnished. Its private corridor led past the messhall and opened upon the main corridor that led forward to the second level: it was strategically located; from its doorway, one could interdict entrance and escape.
It was the first time Herb had been in the room. Automatically his eyes searched the walls.
"Senator Council asked me to talk to you," Norma said. "He wants you to understand about the report. You've heard? It's going to the full Senate tomorrow. We'd like you to...."
"I'm only a technician, Miss."