Ecolitan Prime (Ecolitan Matter) by L.E. Modesitt Jr. Page B

have all that much to do with them. Call us scholars with the power to remain independent of any government.”
    “Scholars are usually considered peaceful, and somehow I don’t see the Institute as a peaceful force or the selection of an Ecolitan as a peaceful move.”
    “Scholars shouldn’t necessarily be regarded as pacifists. You also have to remember that I was a compromise selection, since neither the Normists nor the Orthodox opposition could agree on one of their own candidates for the position. Besides, any compromise reached by an Ecolitan could not possibly be questioned by even the most fanatical Orthodoxist.”
    Marcella nodded slightly.
    “Put in that light, your position becomes clearer. Only slightly clearer, I might add.”
    “Whereas yours is still totally unclear.”
    “What kind of art is most popular on Accord?”
    Nathaniel accepted the abrupt changes in subject matter as an indication that Marcella had found out what she wanted to know…at least for the moment.
    The only other awkward moment came after dinner.
    “Excellent dinner, Marcella. May I see you to your quarters?”
    “Perhaps it would be better if I did the escorting.”
    “Is that the Terran custom?”
    “Usually,” she noted, “but with diplomats, one can adjust to almost anything.”
    “How about a compromise?”
    “Leave as we came?”
    “Just this time.”
    “All right. But I promise I’ll hold you to your word.”
    “In the meantime,” Nathaniel concluded, as he turned to go, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

XIX
    N ATHANIEL TOOK ANOTHER tunnel cab back to the Diplomatic Tower, alert for another possible attack. Both the trip and the walk back to his private entrance were uneventful.
    The stunner he had taken from the Imperial ready, he touched the lockplate and let the door dilate.
    The silence was an alarm in itself. He had left the music on. Instinctively, he dropped to his knees and fired the stunner around the edge of the door into the blind space he couldn’t see, following the shot with a quick dash from the corridor into the quarters.
    The anteway was empty, as was the living area. So were the cramped kitchen area, the dining area, and the second sleeping quarters. But someone was still in the quarters. An almost imperceptible rustle from beyond the bedroom confirmed his unease.
    He surveyed the dimly lit main sleeping quarters again. If anyone were still in the quarters, he or she was probably in the hygienarium or behind the bed.
    No sense in being any more of a damned fool.
    The Ecolitan sat down noiselessly on the plush flooring, shielded completely by the bedroom door edge, stunner resting on his knee and leveled at the half-open door to the hygienarium. He set it at half charge and went through the drill to sharpen his vision.
    After ten minutes, he heard a shuffle. He didn’t move.
    Close to an hour later, a face peered around the doorway across the room.
    Nathaniel got him with a single shot.
    Something about the falling figure struck him as familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Another stifled gasp announced a second intruder.
    The waiting trick wouldn’t work a second time, and, besides, who knew what the other snooper might try?
    Slowly, he eased the flat pressure foil tube from his belt, nicked the seal, and tossed it gently onto the far side of the bed.
    “Hssssss…”
    A stunner pointed over the top of the bed. The Ecolitan stayed behind the wall as the useless charges struck.
    A few minutes later, he stood and slowly edged around the wall.
    Now two figures were sprawled on the bedroom floor.
    The closer, the one he’d gotten with the stunner, was Sergel Weintre.
    The second was a younger man, black haired, olive skinned and clean shaven, perhaps 160 centimeters from head to toe.
    A quick but thorough search of both revealed nothing. Sergel had carried only the stunner and a few personal items. The stranger had no identification whatsoever, but the standardized singlesuit and new stunner