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They led him into a single chamber that occupied the entire top level of the dwelling. Long, narrow windows wound their way through the simulated rock walls like small streams that had been turned on their sides. Outside, night had settled over the city. Peering through a half-meter-high vein of weaving transparency Flinx saw that there was still just enough light to enable him to perceive some of the surrounding neighborhood. Stretching to some hills on the horizon, the replication of empty Blasusarrian desert was astonishing in its authenticity. Only the lights that gleamed from within apparently solid cliffs and crags hinted that they were in fact hollow structures and not natural formations.

A voice rasped from the far end of the room. Rising from the resting stool on which he had been sitting, a solidly built nye rose to confront the arrivals. Formal but undeniably fond greetings were exchanged. At Kiijeem's urging Flinx was then thrust forward. His young friend's emotions had taken a decidedly atypical turn.

He was openly frightened.

Within the simsuit Pip was stirring against her master. She, too, sensed the threat posed by the emotionally forceful individual they were confronting.

Flinx's Talent had already provided the answer to one question: on the basis of his emotional depth alone, here was an AAnn with enough potential muscle to push through and secure the safe passage off Blasusarr that Flinx required. Whether he could be convinced to do so would require more than just portentous words on Flinx's part. He became aware that Eiipul IXc was speaking.

“Flinx, make now an acquaintance with Lord Eiipul IX—our patriarch.”

There was an admirable lack of condescension in the noble AAnn's response as he carried out the familiar formal exchange of throat-grasping with his tall guest. “You are a good friend of Kiijeem AVMd as well as my offsspring, I am told.”

“Truly,” Flinx replied. Despite mentally preparing himself, he was more taken aback than he had expected. Of all the AAnn he had encountered in person over the years, here was by far the most striking personality. The nye's piercing gaze, powerful grip, forceful emotions, and unusually broad physique marked him as physically as well as mentally exceptional among his kind. An individual, Flinx warned himself, not to be played. With this scion of a noble family only honesty would succeed. Which was fine. Honesty was all Flinx had to give.

Lord Eiipul indicated the twins. “I am informed that you have ssomething to reveal to me that I will find of esspecial interesst. I await your pressentation.”

Nothing to be gained by hesitation, Flinx told himself. Without further delay he began to unseal the simsuit.

Lord Eiipul's reaction was instructive. As Flinx began to slip out of the suit and reveal his human self, the AAnn maintained his preternatural poise emotionally as well as physically. He did not call out, did not run, did not reach for a concealed weapon. Just stood and stared, taking in the astonishing disclosure with a coolness that suggested he encountered such radical metamorphoses every day. His otherwise faultless deportment betrayed only the slightest hint of concern. Most humans confronted with a similar revelation would by now have run screaming, or at least exhibited the first signs of shock.

When Flinx eventually stepped out of the last of the suit to stand naked and exposed in all his humanness, Lord Eiipul looked him carefully up and down, thought a moment, and then turned to his female issue.

“Iss thiss the creature'ss true form, or iss there another AAnn insside a human ssuit?”

If not for the deadly seriousness of the situation, Flinx would have felt free to laugh. Not only was this nye mentally strong, the unexpected appearance of an alien softskin in his own dwelling had not cost him his sense of humor.

“I am entirely human.” Flinx took a step toward the master of the residence while taking care to keep out of slashing range of those mature talons and tail. “If you require it, further proof of