Joris paced up and down, thinking hard. "I hate to say this but there's only one place I know of where there's no danger of her being found before we're gone. And that's aboard the ship."
The guard said, "There won't be any time to get her off again."
"I know it," said Joris grimly. "So it looks as though we'll have an extra passenger."
Trehearne had finished with the gag. He looked at Shairn. Her eyes burned and her face was white above the cloth.
Joris threw his cloak over her. "Take her down in my private lift," he told the guard. "The sector has already been cleared, so you won't have any trouble there. Get her aboard and make damned sure she's locked in."
The guard nodded. He picked up the cloak-wrapped bundle and put it over his shoulder. The buzzer of the visiphone made a sudden jarring sound. Joris motioned the man to hurry, waited until he was gone before answering. Trehearne pressed himself back against the wall, out of range of the screen.
Kerrel's voice said, "Joris—we're bringing Edri down in exactly fifteen minutes. Is everything ready?"
Joris nodded. "The sector is cleared, the guards are posted and the ship is ready for take-off."
"Good. There's a good bit of feeling about this business and we don't want any trouble."
"I've seen to it," Joris told him.