"Barbarians!" Jina said.
"Teachers of barbarians!" Cobber said, looking at the men under his command. "They were shown how they might pillage one another in order to bring catalytic to us for trade. Who else would teach them?
"I left explicit orders," he said angrily, walking back and forth among them, "to give only machinery and gas-proof metals in exchange for their catalytics. I said there was to be no interference with the private life of the Kamae. Why was I disobeyed?" he demanded. "Who told you to change the trade agreements that I had prepared?"
When no answer came he looked at his assistant officer.
"You, Jina. Who handled the trade accounts with the Kamae?"
"Wilson, sir."
Cobber swore, brushed past his men and made his way to the private quarters of Fogarth Wilson. Several of the men moved as if to stop him, but none dared. In the event of a quarrel between the man who ran the ship and the man who owned it, it was best to stay neutral.
Wilson was yawning lazily as Cobber walked in.
"Hello, Cobber," he greeted casually. "I was afraid your Kamae friends might have kept you. What did you find out?"