"Some suits, some suits," the sheriff he said,

vintages, he assured her promptly and with some pride, and some rather potent spirituous drinks manufactured in the mountains and the islands but that sort of stuff isnt permitted in the Conservatory. The lifts doors slid open, and the Optherian bustled out. Mores the pity. Killashandra strode on down the hallway after her guide. What do you drink? No, abort the question, and she grinned at his startled glance. What is the most popular drink? The most popular one on this continent is a brew called Bascum. Is Bascum a plant or a person? Person. Her guide was warming to his subject. He indicated they take the left-hand corridor at the junction. One of the Founding Fathers. So his brewery is allowed to function in the face of the Medical Supervisors displeasure? Killashandra grinned as he nodded. I infer from your remarks that there are other popular drinks? Any wines? Oh, yes, the western continent produces some very fine vintages, both white and red, and some doubly distilled liqueurs. Im not familiar with the wines at all. And those islands you mentioned, they go for the spirituous liquors? The polly tree. The polly tree? Its fermented fruit makes a brandy which, Im told, is more potent than anything else in the universe. The polly tree provides foliage for shelter, a fine-grained wood for building, its roots burn for a long time, its bark can be pounded into a fiber which the islanders use for weaving cloth, its pith is extremely nutritious, and its large fruit is delicious as well as nutritious When it isnt fermented Exactly. And the polly tree only grows on the islands? Thats right, and here is your apartment. Guildmember. He opened the door. Theres no privacy lock on this? Killashandra had not noticed the lack in her first hurried inspection. There is no need for such in the Complex. Her guide appeared surprised at her reaction . No one would presume to enter without your express permission. There are no thieves on Optheria? Not in the sony digital camera 20 megapixel Conservatory! She thanked him for his escort and entered her sacrosanct apartment, closing the door behind her with a sigh of relief. Only then did her eye fall on the table. She exclaimed aloud at the display of bottles of all sizes and shapes, at the beakers, goblets, wine glasses that waited in pristine array on the white cloth. A separate tray offered an assortment of tidbits, nuts, and small wafers. A small chest opened to exhibit chilled bottles and two pottery amphoras. There was no way the collection could have been assembled and spirited into her apartment in the time elapsed since she stormed out of the dining room. Then she remembered her remarks on the trip from the spaceport. Well, Elder Pentrom might be a prissy, dogmatic, abstemious man, but obviously her every whim was someones command. Because her guide had mentioned Bascum, her choice among so many finally settled on the neat brown bottle in the cold chest. She flipped the top off and let the midbrown brew slowly descend into an appropriate beaker. The malty scent that rose to her nostrils suggested good things to come. And about time, too, she said, scooping up a random selection of nibbles and sinking into the nearest comfortable seat. To absent friends! She lifted her beaker high then took her first sip. She regarded the brew with respect and delight. Could Bascum possibly have come from Yarra? she asked herself. This might not be so bad an assignment after all! Chapter 6 By the time the quick Optherian sunset had finished its evening display, Killashandra had sampled nine beverages, wishing she had someone with whom to share the largesse, especially since there was a prohibition against it. Which brought Corish to mind, and that mythical uncle of his. Unless she could discover how much surveillance she would be having from her discreet quartette and how easy it would be to outwit it she didnt want to risk meeting him. Would they think it odd if she left a message in at the Piper Facility? Corish had considerably piqued her curiosity and she was somewhat motivated by a desire to show him that two could play the exploitation gambit. Someone tapped on her apartment door and, when Mirbethan entered on her permission, Killashandra caught the shade of uncertainty in the Optherians manner. Since youre not accompanied by any priss-mouthed ancients, you are welcome. And if that excuse for a meal is a state dinner here, no wonder youre a lean bunch.