"That I noticed." Something occurred to Dowland. "That's why you
couldn't call me on the communicator."
"Yes. I...."
"How long has it been off here?"
"Since this morning."
He looked at her thoughtfully, and a quick flush spread up into her
face. "I know," she said. "It was terribly stupid of me to--to get you
to come down. It just didn't occur to me that...."
"It's all right," Dowland said. "I'm here now." She was very
good-looking, though her face was strained at the moment. Strained and
scared. "You could not know how far the failure area extended." He
glanced over at the buildings. The crash of his landing hadn't brought
anyone into sight. "You're not alone here, are you?"
"No." She hesitated, went on half apologetically, "I'm sure I should
remember you, but I don't."
"Well, you wouldn't," Dowland said. "I'm not a Freeholder."
* * * * *
The flicker of reaction in her eyes brought a prickling to the hairs at
the back of his neck. The thing looked hot, all right. He continued,
"You just may have heard of me by name, though. Frank Dowland, of
Dowland Animal Exports."
"Oh, yes." Apparently she did recognize the name. "I'm Jill Trelawney,
Dowland. I ... there's been an accident. A bad one, I'm afraid."
"Another accident? What kind?"