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is a bomb.”
    Samos nodded. He, through my discussions with him, and his work with the Sardar, was familiar with certain technological possibilities. He had himself, however, like most Goreans, never witnessed, first-hand, an explosion.
    “I think it would be like lightning,” he said, picking his words slowly.
    “Priest-Kings might be killed,” I said.
    “Distrust and dissension might be spread then between men and Priest-Kings,” said Samos.
    “And in the meantime, the Kurii would have regained the ring and Shaba would be a rich man.”
    “It seems so,” said Samos.
    “The ship, of course, was bound for Schendi?” I asked.
    “Of course,” he said.
    “Do you think the girl below knows much of this?”
    “No,” said Samos. “I think she was carefully chosen, to do little more than convey the notes and the ring. Probably there are more expert Kur agents in Schendi to receive the ring once it is delivered.”
    “Perhaps even Kurii themselves,” I said.
    “The climate would be cruel upon Kurii,” he said, “but it is not impossible.”
    “Shaba is doubtless in hiding,” I said. “I do not think it likely I could locate him by simply voyaging to Schendi.”
    “Probably he can be reached through Msaliti,” said Samos.
    “It could be a very delicate matter,” I said.
    Samos nodded. “Shaba is a very intelligent man,” he said. “Msaliti probably does not know where he is. If Shaba, whom we may suppose contacts Msaliti, rather than the opposite, suspects anything is amiss, he will presumably not come forth.”
    “The girl is then the key to locating Shaba,” I said. “That is why you did not wish me to question her. That is why she must not even know she has been in your power.”
    “Precisely,” said Samos. “She must remain totally ignorant of the true nature of her current captivity.”
    “It is known, or would soon be known, that her ship was taken by Bejar,” I said. “It is doubtless moored prize at his wharfage even now. She cannot be simply released and sent upon her way. None would believe this. All would suspect she was a decoy of some sort, a lure to draw forth Shaba.”
    “We must attempt to regain the ring,” said Samos, “or, at worst, prevent it from falling into the hands of the Kurii.”
    “Shaba will want the notes for the fortunes,” I said. “Kurii will want the false ring. I think he, or they, or both, will be very interested in striking up an acquaintance with our lovely prisoner below.”
    “My thoughts, too,” said Samos.
    “It is known, or will soon be known, she was taken by Bejar,” I said. “When his other women prisoners are put upon the block, let her be put there with them, only another woman to be sold.”
    “They will be sold as slaves,” said Samos.
    “Of course,” I said, “let her, too, be sold as a slave.”
    “I will have the iron ring removed from her throat,” said Samos, “and have her, tied in a slave sack, sent to Bejar.”
    “I will attend her sale, in disguise,” I said. “I will see who buys her.”
    “It could be anyone,” said Samos. “Perhaps she will be bought by an urt hunter or an oar maker. What then?”
    “Then she is owned by an oar maker or an urt hunter,” I said. “And we shall consider a new plan.”
    Urt hunters swim slave girls, ropes on their necks, beside their boats in the dark, cool water of the canals, as bait for urts, which, as they rise to attack the girl, are speared. Urt hunters help to keep the urt population in the canals manageable.
    “Agreed,” said Samos.
    He handed me the ring on the table and the letters of introduction, and notes.
    “You may need these,” he said, “in case you encounter Shaba. Perhaps you could pose as a Kur agent, for he does not know you, and obtain the true ring for the Kurii notes. The Sardar could then be warned to intercept Shaba with the false ring and deal as they will with him.”
    “Excellent,” I said. “These things will increase our store of