"Good morning, chief. You have an appointment with Qui Dor at the Targoffian Embassy, eleven hundred hours."
"Morning, Julie. Anything else?"
"You look tired."
He couldn't tell her he'd been sleeping in a hotel. A man gets used to suburban quiet. "One of those nights," he said.
"I'm afraid it's going to be one of those mornings, too, if you don't mind me saying so. Mrs. Delacourt is here."
"From Health and Public Welfare? Oh, no."
"Definitely yes. In your office, chief. And mad. Nick called and wants to see Qui Dor with you."
"Tell him nothing doing. Tell him I'll see him later. Sometimes I think it's all some kind of conspiracy between Nick and Qui Dor."
"You know Nick is only doing his job, chief. As an explorer with portfolio, he finds new planets and begins arranging diplomatic relations with them."
"With all the planets in the galaxy, why did he have to stumble on Targoff?"