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being placed on them. I was thinking of something more secretive   ... and more serious.”
    The two guests shared a significant sidelong glance before putting down their glasses in near unison.
    â€œI think it’s time to come to the point,” said Adivaram. “The Consortium, as you suggest, is more than eager to maintain its hold on Avasa. But it is not the Consortium we come to speak of. We come with a warning, Nathu Rai. You may well be approached by ... a group of people who are willing to do a bit more than whine.”
    After a moment of silence, Jaya prompted him. “Approached?”
    The two older men continued to gaze at him without replying.
    â€œAm I to construe from that an unlawful query as to my opinions, or something else?”
    He glanced from one closed, watchful face to the other, hearing only Kreti Twapar’s raspy breathing, the snap of flame from the hearth and the tell-tale click, click, click of Bel Adivaram’s fingernails against the arm of his chair.
    What in the name of Sanat-Ram were they trying to do, frighten him?
    â€œWhat is it we’re not discussing, uncles?” he asked. “Bribery? Threats?” He gestured around the room. “Bribery hardly seems likely, considering my circumstances. Promises of political promotion are equally ludicrous. Threats, then? Is that this evening’s purport of the word ‘approached?’”
    Bel Adivaram cleared his throat. “I’m not sure how much we dare say.”
    â€œWere you approached?”
    â€œPossibly.” Adivaram glanced sideways at Twapar.
    â€œYou couldn’t tell?”
    â€œWe’re not certain what to do. It was so vague, so nebulous.” Twapar made a fluttering gesture of helplessness and trained sorrowful eyes on his Nathu Rai. “Nothing, you understand, that could be pinned down ... quite. We wondered, Nathu Rai, what you would do in such circumstances.”
    â€œI can’t tell you. I don’t know what the circumstances were. Were you threatened or not?” Jaya felt a tickle of irritation. What did these two think—that he had the Jadu and could read minds?
    â€œNot threatened, precisely,” said Adivaram. “It was suggested that there are advantages to deeming the Avasan position unlawful.”
    â€œUnlawful?” Jaya got up and moved away from the hearth, putting his back to them. “That suggests that the Vrinda Varma should declare the Avasan Guild asat.”
    â€œThat was what I inferred also,” admitted the Vadin. “Apparently, the Consortium is preparing an addendum to their counter petition that demands AGIM be declared a subversive organization and officially disbanded. And, of course, if AGIM is asat, it would keep the issue of their independence from ever being raised again.”
    â€œLeaving all AGIM mining interests open for KNC appropriation,” murmured Jaya. How amazing are the workings of the political mind, he thought, and was grateful he didn’t have one.
    â€œExcuse me, Nathu Rai?”
    â€œNever mind.” He turned back to face them. “Who approached you?”
    â€œThey called themselves WoCoa—the Workers’ Coalition,” said Twapar. “They indicated they felt that any decision favoring AGIM threatened their jobs and incomes. They suggested that supporting the Consortium’s counter petition is the best thing for all concerned. They were quite vehement.”
    â€œVehement, but nebulous, eh?”
    Adivaram scowled. “As I said, we were unsure of how much we should say.”
    â€œWell, what did you say to these suggestions?”
    â€œWe didn’t know what to say to them,” protested Adivaram. “What would you have said?”
    Jaya shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe I would have thrown the suggestion-makers out of my house. Then again, maybe I would’ve asked to hear more.”
    They stared at him and he chuckled.