Chaining the Lady by Piers Anthony Page A

for every member of each of our spheres to become related to him. A brief calculation will show that if we allow twenty five Sol years for an average generation, there would be forty generations in that period. If each female or equivalent produced two offspring, the descendants would now number approximately one trillion entities. Since the average sphere supports about a hundred billion sapients–”
    Now Llume laughed, in intriguing effect, in its silent vibration. “And I supposed I was so special, possessing those illustrious historical ancestors! The remarkable ones are those who do not share this ancestry!”
    â€œOn the other hand, the nongenetic affinity of aura is quite sufficient,” Melody said. “I have encountered no Mintakan aura as intense as yours, so closely allied to my own.”
    â€œPerhaps we are guided in some fashion,” Llume said. “I do not subscribe readily to coincidence.”
    â€œCoincidence would have it that at certain stages like entities will meet, as well as unlike entities,” Melody said. “This ship represents a deliberate concentration of extremely intense auras, and some will naturally be related.”
    â€For one who subscribes to Tarot, you are very practical,” Llume observed delicately.
    â€œ Tarot is practical,” Melody assured her.
    â€œApologies; no disparagement of religious views intended.”
    Another miscue, but not worth correcting. “Accepted. I believe I can accept you as a genuine Milky Way galaxy entity.”
    â€œOf course. And I accept you. Why–?”
    â€œThere are hostages among us.”
    â€œHostages?”
    â€œInvoluntary hosts, controlled by Andromedan auras. I am here to nullify them.”
    Now Llume's aura veered wildly. “Andromedans! Aboard this ship?”
    â€œYes. Tiala of Oceana is one; it has been verified. She is a / entity of Andromeda. There may be others. I suspect that is the source of this present commotion. Will you work with me?”
    â€œI must ask the Captain first,” Llume said uncertainly. “I never guessed—hostages!”
    â€œBy all means ask the Captain. But not over the ship's phone system.”
    Llume laughed again at Melody's throat. “Of course not! I am not quite that ignorant.” She looked down the hall at the magnet. Melody could tell she was looking by her attitude; her skin changed color and brightness slightly. Large objects were visible to Polarians, and of course this Spican intellect had Polarian-host talents. “But assuming the Captain approved,o how could I help? I don't know how to identify a hostage.”
    â€œI would like to tell some fortunes,” Melody said.
    Again the aura flexed. “I do not comprehend Mintakan humor.”
    â€œOf course not. No Spican would. Or Solarian. Or Polarian or Canopian or Nathian. But especially, no Andromedan.”
    â€œNo Andromedan,” Llume said, catching on. “You can identify an Andromedan through the Tarot?”
    â€œI believe so. With your cooperation. If you can tell a transferee by his home-sphere mannerisms, you should have a good notion who our suspects are. If you can bring them to me without suspicion–”
    â€œNow I understand! This is how you verified that Tiala was a hostage?”
    â€œShe was already known to be a hostage. I used the Tarot merely to distract her, but found it to be a better tool than I had imagined. As long as I'm confined to this ship, this is a worthwhile application of my skill.” For Melody now doubted she would get off this ship as rapidly as had been promised. Not if it was infiltrated by a number of hostages.
    â€œI agree. If there are many more hostages aboard, we must neutralize them promptly.”
    â€œNo. We must identify them, without their knowing it. Otherwise we place ourselves in peril.”
    â€œBut if we let them go–”
    â€œAns enemy known is an enemy neutralized,