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instructed."
    * * *
    "Brunner, you guys are life savers!"
    "Please, if you are in a secure location do
not leave it! You are only in the eye!"
    A very slight delay and then:
    "Oh boy, aren't we. This has gotta be the
best weather we've seen on this place. Feels great. Even smells
clean, kinda like ocean!"
    Yes, of course it smelled like ocean.…
    "Redhead, you are not in the center of the
eye--this lull is very glancing. Mere moments. Eat something! And I
must say it is very dangerous for you to move during the storm.
Please do not do it again unless threatened--… You are already. .
."
    But there, he hadn't thought to start a
threaded conversation, and the delay was small, so a thread was not
really required--…
    "Are you crazy? I was hunkered right down
here the whole time. Haven't moved a bit except to empty water out
of my boots!"
    Not moved? But, the instruments were quite
clear, and quite accurate!
    "Say again?"
    A sound: footsteps behind him. He waved for
quiet.
    "I said I haven't moved!" Redhead repeated.
"I felt like I was floating a couple times but there's no water
here that didn't drain off! We're tucked in a grain storage ranch
with everything made out o' crete! But the rest of your info is
right, hey? Been working out for you?"
    Indeed, the rest of the information was
useful--treasure beyond price. And her report of floating; the fact
that the unit reported it had moved by nearly a meter! That
required study.
    "It is excellent," he told her. "You have
done well, and I am very pleased!"
    "Good. I'm gonna grab something to eat! Liz
says a spotter claims to see a wall o' clouds. Out."
    "Out," said Brunner, but she had already
gone. He sighed and turned away from the monitor.
    The Scout stood nearby, smiling.
    "The young Terrans, they are amazing. One
can hear the excitement in their voices--…"
    Brunner frowned. Was it possible that the
Scout did not know? "Terrans?" he murmured.
    "Brunner, for this, yes, Terrans. Jack asked
me--… but no matter. Liz vouches for the child as from Surebleak.
Liz is from Surebleak. Surebleak is Terran."
    Brunner bowed in acknowledgment, allowing
irony to be seen, and turned back to his equipment.
    "Your point, Tech Brunner," the Scout
murmured, perhaps amused. "In the meanwhile, it may be well for you
to produce both local and regional forecasts, as usual."
    "I have been remiss," Brunner said, without
looking around. "In yestermorning's recorded note from our
galandaria was this message, which you have perhaps not heard." He
touched a key.
    Flat silence except for the susuration of
the room's air moving equipment, then Miri Robertson's steady
voice, "Liz ain't too happy about these new landing regs. Says it
sounds iffy as all get out. Wants to know if I can pinbeam a voice
message outta here to Merc Headquarters if things get tight. Dunno
what that might do to the power supply and your info." A slight
hesitation, as if she was listening, then: "Liz says relay to the
Scout that any merc transport should be passed, no questions."
    Brunner looked at the Scout.
    "I have not answered."
    "I hear this." The Scout sighed.
    "Ah. Well, hear also that the girl holds the
master key. When she is bored she reads the manuals."
    The Scout glared--and then laughed, fingers
dancing out an unread phrase.
    "Yes, of course! All honor to you. Were I on
a strange world which is doing its best to rid itself of humankind,
encircled by enemies who are trying to kill me, I would also need
light reading. Liz Lizardi hires quality help. I hear this, too,
Weatherman."
    * * *
    No matter how engrossing the work, a man
must sometimes tend to other necessities. Brunner acknowledged that
he was becoming a danger to the data when he caught himself
reviewing the same data loop for the fifth time.
    Dragging himself to his quarters, he fell
fully dressed into his bunk, plummeting instantly into sleep.
    "Ichliad Brunner! Report to the meteorology
lab!"
    The words reached him in the dreamless
depths, senseless as