the house. There was an entry there which led to the servants’ quarters below ground level. They would use that way to get into the house. There should be only three men in the servants’ quarters tonight—Larien Selk’s second gate guard team. They might be asleep at present. The estate’s normal staff had been transferred to other properties during the past week. In the upper house were Costian, Larien Selk, probably Noal Selk, and two technicians who kept alternate watch on the instruments of the protective system. That was all.
Getting into the house wasn’t likely to be much of a problem now. But the night’s work might have only begun.
4
“I’m getting traces of Larien,” Telzey said.
“And Noal?” Dasinger asked.
“I’m not sure. There was something for a moment—but—” Her voice trailed off unsteadily.
“Take your time.” Dasinger, leaning against a table ten feet away, watching her in the dim glow of a ceiling light, had spoken quietly. They’d turned off the visual distorters; the ghost haze brought few advantages indoors. Wergard had found the three off-duty gate guards asleep, left them sleeping more soundly. He’d gone off again about some other matter. Telzey and Dasinger were to stay on the underground level until she’d made her contacts, established what the situation here was.
She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, sighed. There was silence then. Dasinger didn’t stir. Telzey’s face was pale, intent. After a while, her breathing grew ragged. Her lips twisted slowly. It might have been a laborious mouthing of words heard in her mind. Her fingers plucked fitfully at the material of the coveralls. Then she grew quiet. Wergard returned soundlessly, remained standing outside the door.
Telzey opened her eyes, looked at Dasinger and away from him, straightened up in the chair, and passed her tongue over her lips.
“It’s no use,” she said in a flat, drained voice.
“You couldn’t contact Noal?”
She shook her head. “Perhaps I could. I don’t know. You’ll have to get the psi block shut off, and I’ll try. He’s not in the house.” She began crying suddenly, stopped as
Getting into the house wasn’t likely to be much of a problem now. But the night’s work might have only begun.
4
“I’m getting traces of Larien,” Telzey said.
“And Noal?” Dasinger asked.
“I’m not sure. There was something for a moment—but—” Her voice trailed off unsteadily.
“Take your time.” Dasinger, leaning against a table ten feet away, watching her in the dim glow of a ceiling light, had spoken quietly. They’d turned off the visual distorters; the ghost haze brought few advantages indoors. Wergard had found the three off-duty gate guards asleep, left them sleeping more soundly. He’d gone off again about some other matter. Telzey and Dasinger were to stay on the underground level until she’d made her contacts, established what the situation here was.
She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, sighed. There was silence then. Dasinger didn’t stir. Telzey’s face was pale, intent. After a while, her breathing grew ragged. Her lips twisted slowly. It might have been a laborious mouthing of words heard in her mind. Her fingers plucked fitfully at the material of the coveralls. Then she grew quiet. Wergard returned soundlessly, remained standing outside the door.
Telzey opened her eyes, looked at Dasinger and away from him, straightened up in the chair, and passed her tongue over her lips.
“It’s no use,” she said in a flat, drained voice.
“You couldn’t contact Noal?”
She shook her head. “Perhaps I could. I don’t know. You’ll have to get the psi block shut off, and I’ll try. He’s not in the house.” She began crying suddenly, stopped as