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did. But today, my turn to be desperate, I guessed you might be willing to help us.”
    More than a guess, Kyra reflected, and mainly Guthrie’s idea. Having gotten word of Lee’s connections among these folk—How? The Hamid incident? Would news of that have circulated through the company clear to its master?
    Not directly, she supposed. Still, virtually all that happened could go into hypertext, stored in a secret database that was probably located off Earth. From time to time Guthrie could plug into the main computer.
    During that while, he would
be
it, with all its capacity to store and search and correlate. When something seemed especially interesting, he would put it in his personal memory before he disengaged, and investigate further.
    Having, then, gotten word of Lee’s connections among these folk, Guthrie must have sent an agent or two to go quietly among them and write him a report. When he needed a base in North America, his knowledge of this possible escape route decided him on Lee’s dwelling.
    Yes, a quasi-immortal could think that widely, that far ahead.
    Regardless, he had barely gotten away, and the hunters might well bring him down.
    Kyra realized that a silence had fallen while she sat alone with herself. Tahir stirred. “Let us go to business,” he said. “I do not see how the police can blockade the Blue Theta for long, if at all. Too many people go in and out, often on necessary errands. For example, this community gets most of its food from a nanofac it owns in the Syracuse district. Similarly for others, such as the Crusoes. The gates will be closely watched for some time to come, of course. Disguise—but will you be carrying anything that might betray you to eyes or instruments?”
    “I’m afraid so,” Lee admitted. “A special computer.”
    Tahir nodded. “I thought as much.” He pursued that no further. Instead: “Bueno, perhaps I can arrange for something plausible that will screen it. Meanwhile, you two must plan. We brothers cannot do more than convey you to someplace nearby. Consider what your moves after that shall be.”
    “We will,” Kyra breathed. “Oh, yes.”
    “It is wise that you wait secluded,” Tahir counselled. “I regret that this establishment has but a single guest room, with just one bed. If you wish, Pilot Davis, we can put you in the
harim.”
    Kyra started. He grinned. “That means my wife’s domain,” he said. “My only wife.”
    “But how can we talk then?” She met Lee’s eyes. He half shrugged. “No, gracias, sir, but better we share thatroom.” Recollection stirred. “Uh, if you don’t mind too much.”
    Tahir’s amusement continued. “We are no Wahhabis. It is reasonable that a young couple who have been separated should desire a night’s privacy.”
    He’d better give his household more of a story than that, Kyra thought. Unless he simply told them this was none of their business, and they accepted and kept their mouths shut.
    Lee flushed to the tips of his ears. “I can behave myself, consorte,” he promised her.
    Comic relief. Laughter whooped from Kyra. “I’ll try!” she answered. Did Guthrie guffaw to himself?
    Tahir rose. The fugitives followed suit, Kyra picking up the bag. “A boy will shortly bring you a meal,” the sheikh said. “He will knock and wait until you admit him. If you want anything else, press zero-three on the telephone. That will activate my informant. Otherwise you will be strictly isolated. May I someday be able to offer you better hospitality.”
    “You c-couldn’t better this, sir,” Kyra vowed.
    The room was down a short hall. Tahir stood aside and beckoned his guests in. “
Yerhamak Allah
,” he said low. Kyra guessed that was a blessing. The door shut on him.
    She looked about her. The chamber was of modest size but decently equipped. Behind panels, a minibath adjoined a closet with drawers. A multi stood beside a table which accommodated a basic computer terminal. Two Western-style chairs