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cupola below his right ear.
    Perhaps to deter Doug's further jibes, Abe said, "Won't this be your last social event on Meridian, Director? I've heard you're leaving."
    "I leave in less than a week," Steiner replied. "I might just make Tamara's next event. The date of embarkation has been put back, due to unforeseen circumstances—"
    "And what of Tamara," Doug cut in, "will she be going with you?"
    Steiner seemed not to notice, or chose to ignore, Doug's provocations. "I have asked Tamara to accompany me to my new posting."
    "And has she accepted?"
    "That remains to be seen," Steiner replied evenly.
    Abe exchanged a glance with me. I knew that he felt as uneasy a spectator of this verbal duel as I did. He said, "Perhaps you could tell me, Director — is there any truth to the rumour that the Telemass shots to Earth are to be reduced to one a month? I've heard there's been staff cuts at the station."
    I saw Doug glance at the Director, a slight smile on his lips, as if he knew something that we did not and was enjoying seeing Steiner cross-questioned.
    "Earth-Meridian shots, and vice versa, will not be cut to one a month, Mr Cunningham," Steiner said. "Staff has been reduced, that is true. But this will in no way affect the regularity of imports and exports."
    "Is that so?" Doug asked. "Then what's the 'technical adviser' — isn't that how he was introduced? — doing on Meridian if everything's AOK?" He indicated the black-suited, bearded man Steiner had been talking to earlier.
    "Weller's visit here is merely routine," Steiner replied.
    "But you don't deny things are slowing down on Meridian?" Doug went on. "Tourism has taken a tumble over the past year, the mining operations have pulled out..."
    "I suggest," Steiner said testily, "that you interrogate the economists on Main about these purported facts. I run the Telemass station, Inspector, not the planet."
    Doug sipped his drink, smiling to himself.
    Steiner said, "I received your message earlier, Mr Cunningham." He turned to Doug. "I presume you wanted to see me about this matter, Inspector?"
    Doug nodded. "Could you tell me if any of your technicians are missing, Wolfe?" he asked. "The remains found today seem to belong to one of your men."
    Steiner lapsed into a trance. Lines of miniaturised text scrolled down his pupils. He came to and reported to the Inspector, "I have five staff on furlough at the moment. They might be anywhere on Meridian." He paused. "Do you know how the technician died, Mr Cunningham?"
    "Well, not really. It was obvious that a sand lion got to him at some point, but whether the animal was the cause of death..."
    "Also," Doug said, "it's a bit of a mystery how the tech got out that far. There was no vehicle nearby, or vehicle tracks, according to Abe and Bob. And he couldn't have walked so far out."
    "Is it possible that a lion might have attacked him near the coast and carried the remains inland?" Steiner asked.
    Doug glanced at Abe, who shook his head. "They're not known to venture anywhere near the coast. They live and hunt in an area one to two hundred kays into the interior. And they don't carry their victims. They devour them on the spot."
    Doug nodded. "I might need to question you at some time. I'd be obliged if you could make yourselves available."
    There was a flurry of commotion behind us. Tamara Trevellion was making her way through an admiring throng of guests, the pretty girl and her surgeon in tow. Steiner excused himself, joined her and took her hand; he escorted the fish-woman towards our group, answering her questions on the way.
    As I watched them, I wondered how the Director could bring himself to conduct an affair with a woman so alien.
    We accommodated the artist into our circle. "Mr Cunningham, Inspector Foulds." She inclined her head to each in turn.  "Wolfe, my dear, do introduce me..." Her tone was imperious, without warmth. She stared down at me as I was introduced and extended a cold and bloodless hand. Barbels