That notebook and some related material have been appropriated--or perhaps misappropriated--by an internal agency allied with our organization. They've removed it from our facilities and taken it, we believe, in order to take control of several other pieces of property which may be forbidden technology, or which may simply be property of your own which you have yet to be made aware of."
"Property? What kind of property? Why would they take my journal?"
Internally, Jethri grimaced--he hadn't meant to just start in like this. But unless there were secret pages most of what was in that book was silly kid stuff--like his count on the fractins he'd bought at different places, and how many were "good ones, real ones" and where were the best places to look, and like the trade routes he'd outlined with his father for when he would have a ship to fly or trade with, and . . .
The Scout sighed, holding his hands in a gesture Jethri took to mean slow down . . .
"Some of these questions may be best answered by those associated with the removal of the items from a supposedly secure area within a Scout facility. The question of the property itself cannot be answered without the book--it was removed after I wrote a study approach for the experts who were to do the evaluation for me, since there are subtleties which I know of but am not expert at. They performed only the first of these before the material was removed."
"Can't you just tell them to bring it back? They're Liaden, they're your associates--can't your bosses just order them?"
"That would be the case normally, yes. However, my superiors . . ."
Jethri caught an expression on the Scout's face, saw his glance toward Norn ven'Deelin.
He bowed a bow requesting assurance of the Master Trader.
"To reply properly I shall need to discuss information of a confidential nature."
Norn's face had gone bland, and her hands made the little go-ahead common among traders, the left hand palm up and open, a two-fingered fist orbiting beyond the open palm and then sweeping toward the requester . . . that would be "offer the deal."
"The problem I have," he said quickly, then, "is that some of the permissions given to make this happen came from levels well up within my organization. There is a debate going on, a stressing of boundaries, perhaps even a disaffection. Additionally, there is a jurisdictional difficulty. With the action being removed from Scout headquarters and common Liaden space in pursuit of items known or suspected to be in Terran areas, the possibility of jedante --the setting of precedent--becomes a difficulty."
The Scout paused, his face intent as he sought another point.
Jethri's frustration grew and he fell into Terran, interrupting. "So you're saying that the bosses don't care that you promised me I'd have it back and they're going to ignore you and your promise and take what's mine, while they mess around with my notebook--and who knows, maybe using my name!"
With a voice slightly raised now, and eyes seeking to dominate the conversation, the Scout used a bow indicating "I understand your concern." The Scout replied in Terran, not too badly accented.
"The matter allows of multiple interpretations. Let me say this: the division in intent extends both up and down in the organization, yes.
" Some of the bosses are in favor of the action that's been undertaken. Others, such as those closest to my own areas of operation, feel that the melant'i of the Scouts suffers greatly if the word of a field agent may be ignored or disarranged so fully."
He paused, then went on, his face going blander, bringing Jethri's already strained attention up a notch.
"I feel I must insist, with no disrespect meant or offered, that at least one part of your statement is wrong. I promise you that, no , they will not just ignore me and take from you. That would be outside the bounds of proper behavior in several of our shared cultures."
He rose, smoothly unwinding to his modest height, and
"Property? What kind of property? Why would they take my journal?"
Internally, Jethri grimaced--he hadn't meant to just start in like this. But unless there were secret pages most of what was in that book was silly kid stuff--like his count on the fractins he'd bought at different places, and how many were "good ones, real ones" and where were the best places to look, and like the trade routes he'd outlined with his father for when he would have a ship to fly or trade with, and . . .
The Scout sighed, holding his hands in a gesture Jethri took to mean slow down . . .
"Some of these questions may be best answered by those associated with the removal of the items from a supposedly secure area within a Scout facility. The question of the property itself cannot be answered without the book--it was removed after I wrote a study approach for the experts who were to do the evaluation for me, since there are subtleties which I know of but am not expert at. They performed only the first of these before the material was removed."
"Can't you just tell them to bring it back? They're Liaden, they're your associates--can't your bosses just order them?"
"That would be the case normally, yes. However, my superiors . . ."
Jethri caught an expression on the Scout's face, saw his glance toward Norn ven'Deelin.
He bowed a bow requesting assurance of the Master Trader.
"To reply properly I shall need to discuss information of a confidential nature."
Norn's face had gone bland, and her hands made the little go-ahead common among traders, the left hand palm up and open, a two-fingered fist orbiting beyond the open palm and then sweeping toward the requester . . . that would be "offer the deal."
"The problem I have," he said quickly, then, "is that some of the permissions given to make this happen came from levels well up within my organization. There is a debate going on, a stressing of boundaries, perhaps even a disaffection. Additionally, there is a jurisdictional difficulty. With the action being removed from Scout headquarters and common Liaden space in pursuit of items known or suspected to be in Terran areas, the possibility of jedante --the setting of precedent--becomes a difficulty."
The Scout paused, his face intent as he sought another point.
Jethri's frustration grew and he fell into Terran, interrupting. "So you're saying that the bosses don't care that you promised me I'd have it back and they're going to ignore you and your promise and take what's mine, while they mess around with my notebook--and who knows, maybe using my name!"
With a voice slightly raised now, and eyes seeking to dominate the conversation, the Scout used a bow indicating "I understand your concern." The Scout replied in Terran, not too badly accented.
"The matter allows of multiple interpretations. Let me say this: the division in intent extends both up and down in the organization, yes.
" Some of the bosses are in favor of the action that's been undertaken. Others, such as those closest to my own areas of operation, feel that the melant'i of the Scouts suffers greatly if the word of a field agent may be ignored or disarranged so fully."
He paused, then went on, his face going blander, bringing Jethri's already strained attention up a notch.
"I feel I must insist, with no disrespect meant or offered, that at least one part of your statement is wrong. I promise you that, no , they will not just ignore me and take from you. That would be outside the bounds of proper behavior in several of our shared cultures."
He rose, smoothly unwinding to his modest height, and
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