Freeze Frames by Katharine Kerr
“Of course.”
The carli hesitates, his ears at half-mast as if he’s wondering whether or not he was too subtle for the chief.
Since Bates isn’t quite sure if he’s understood the implication or not, he decides to try a subtlety of his own.
“Of course there are other sovereign states that are not so admirable.”
“Of course.”
Again Ka Pral hesitates. It’s obvious that there is something that he wants very badly to make clear without ever having to say it aloud.
“When something dishonorable lies in our midst,” Bates says. “It is important that we stay on guard with open eyes.”
Ka Pral sighs in profound relief.
“That is very true, Chief Bates, and very beautifully expressed.”
So, the kid he was doing some junior-level spying on the Lies, was he? That can be dangerous as all hell.
At the door comes the low whistle that conveys the same message to the carlis as a knock does to humans. Ka Pral’s ear flaps tighten and furl in annoyance.
“You will excuse my rudeness and that of my staff, Chief Bates?”
“Of course, Your Excellency. I wipe clean any stain of discourtesy.”
In a rustle of robes the secretary sweeps across the room and throws open the door. So frightened that she’s stammering the young servant female blurts out a message in their speech.
The chief secretary throws both hands out to the side in surprise.
“Chief Bates, we have a new development.” With a flick of one hand he sends the girl away and shuts the door. “One of our staff, a cook named Gri Bronno, has disappeared, and one of our skimmers seems to have gone with him.”
Bates heaves himself out of the soft cushions and hurries over.
“If you’ll just give me a description of the car, your excellency, I’ll get my men right on that.”
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Katharine Kerr, Freeze Frames