“Because we want Eric Abbott back. For the time being we are more interested in learning how and why he failed than we are in learning the secrets of the GATE. We feel this is necessary for our own security. You perceive Eric Abbott as a threat to your race. How odd we should feel the same.”

Rasmusson looked dumbfounded. “How can he be a danger to you? You made him.”

“Eric Abbott is human, Commander. As human as we could make him. But he is also full of Syrax ability and information. This melding is unique and unstable. Not a comforting combination.

“I would not reveal this to you except that you should eventually discover it for yourselves, and time is important now to all of us.”

“We know why it’s important to us,” murmured Ponnani. “Why is it important to you?”

“You ask too much. You must be satisfied with the knowledge that he is a danger to Syrax and human alike.”

“What do you have in mind?” Rasmusson asked cautiously.

“We will provide you with the necessary safeguards for your security if you will permit a single one of us to board GATE Station. We have the means for regaining control of Eric Abbott. Once our representative is aboard, you may raise your antiteleportaic screen again. This will enable you to ensure that we do not spirit Abbott and his knowledge away.

“Subsequently, use can be made by all of us of Abbott. You will have possession of him and can prevent us from obtaining any information by wiring him for instant destruction if you feel we are attempting to deceive you. You detected our carrier wave before and can easily do so again. We can study him together.

“Abbott will not be expecting one of us and our operative can appear quite close to him without warning. His friends are guarding against an attack by spacesuited humans.”

“How can you regain control of him?”

“There is a backup control unit implanted in his abdomen. It is very small and must be activated at close range. If this can be accomplished, he will be deactivated.”

“You intend to kill him?”

“No,” said the Syrax. “He will enter-a semicomatose state, at which point he will pose no danger to anyone.”

“What about his friends?”

“Our representative will not be able, once your screen is back in place, to teleport back to our vessel, but will be able to shift self to a place of safety elsewhere within your city. This accomplished, you should meet little resistance in your attempt to regain GATE Station. Cut off the head and the body surrenders quickly.”

“What,” said Rasmusson slowly, “if we agree, and everything goes as planned, except that we refuse to countenance joint study?”

“That would countermand the bargain we strike.”

“Gee, that’d be too bad.”

“Would you go to war to protect the secret of the GATE?”

Some of the commander’s schoolboy sarcasm evaporated. “I understand.”

“It is well that you do.”

“All right. Now we all know what Abbott's worth.”

“You are giving us an opportunity to learn a great deal about the methodology of Syrax bioengineering,” Ponnani said.

“The concession of our part,” whispered the alien.

“I don’t know,” Rasmusson was muttering. “You’re asking us to let a fox in the chicken coop with only the fox’s word as security.”

“The metaphor is clear,” said the Syrax without humor.

“I will contact the necessary authorities,” Ponnani said abruptly, “and pass on your proposal."

“You refer to your mechanical administration?”

“The Colligatarch, yes, and its human operators. It would be encouraging if we could cooperate on something like this.”

“You may construe it as a first step in closer relations, if it will expedite matters.”

“I’m sure it will. We have measured the Syrax teleport range. Stay outside it and we will contact you again as soon as a decision is reached.”

The Syrax executed a strange, fluid motion with its head and arms. Then the opto went black.

“I don’t like it,” Rasmusson said immediately. “Letting a Syrax into GATE Station poses all sorts of dangers.”

“I’m aware of that, but the fact remains that it may be our one chance to regain control of it before Abbott and his people do something unimaginable. I think they’re as scared of him as we are.”

“Nonsense! He’s taken control of his trap, but he’s still trapped.”

“We don’t know that. We don’t know much of anything about Eric Abbott and only a little of what he’s capable of. I don’t like giving the unknown too much time. Fortunately, I don’t have to make the final decision. That’s up to the Colligatarch and the Council Authority.”

“But we can make our recommendations. What are you going to recommend, Dr. Ponnani?”

“I’m not going to recommend a damn thing.”

“You’ll be branded as indecisive.”

She smiled at him as she moved closer to the communications console. “Fortunately, Commander, that is not as much of a vice in my profession as it is in yours.”

They were almost through, in every sense of the word. At the main control console Eric sat steel-steady. He’d gone four days without -sleep, but there was no hint of drowsiness in his gaze and his fingers moved methodically over the instrumentation.

Everyone wishing to transpose to Paradise had done so except for the technical and security personnel, and they were in the process of being shifted. In the interim, Eric was bringing through more than a hundred of the disgruntled who wished neither Eden nor Paradise but to return to Earth. When they were freed to tell their stories of deception to the media, optos would burn out all over the globe. The government would try to silence them, but it’s difficult to silence a hundred angry men, women, and children. Reestablishing only one-way communication with the colonies was going to be a near impossible task for the authorities.

Lisa walked over to stand next to him. She was chewing rations transposed from Eden.

“Hungry, husband?” Madras had made it formal. Kindly old Madras who’d declared Eden her home and had proven unable to resist the challenge posed by a new world. She gave up her Council post gladly. She suffered from chronic bronchitis, and the promise of a warm world eventually proved too much for her. So while waiting for her turn to step through to Paradise, she’d performed the ceremony, beaming at the happy couple from in front of Eric’s station, pronouncing them man and wife in the light of three worlds.

“Not hungry, thanks.”

“You look tired.”

“I suppose I should be, but that’s not it. Something else nagging at me. Going on for almost a whole day now. Digs at me and won’t go away. Ready … step through.”

“You’re sure you’re not sick?” she asked him, concerned.

“I’ve never been sick a day in my life. I always thought I was lucky.” He laughed hollowly. “No luck to it. Just good engineering.” He shrugged. “We’re almost finished anyway.”