"Not _your_ weakness, my dear, dear boy," Gordus said in exaggeration.
"The weakness of the Witch-Familiar relationship, the weakness of
Witches as Companions at all. Don't take it personally."
Hammen leaped to his feet. Lad's muzzle gleamed white.
"Not take it personally?" Hammen cried. "How else can I take it? You
are questioning the worthiness of my profession, of my way of life. You
question the honor of many of my friends--my associates. Witchery is an
ancient profession. My grandmother and uncle were Witches before me.
Witches have an unparalleled record of service to Transmatters and to
the human race. How dare you, sir!"
Gordus waved a fat hand in front of him, laughing up and down the
scale. "No, no, no. Peace, please. You have no need to plead so
strongly for the cause of Witches. _You_ don't have to be a Witch,
you know, Hammen. You're good enough to be a regular, full-fledged
Companion. The reason you get so many of your cargo through is that you
in the most literal sense Companion them all. It would be possible for
you to use a fellow Companion on your jumps instead of a Familiar."
* * * * *
Hammen sat down, no longer angry, or energetic. "No. No, it wouldn't be
possible for me to do that. I can take people on an occasional jump,
for high pay. But I couldn't stand the same kind of contact, day in,
day out, with another human being. Pay doesn't come that high."
Gordus gave another laugh, and killed it sharply. "And there you were a
few moments ago bragging about all the service Witches had been to the
human race, and when we get down to it, it turns out you hate the human
race."
Hammen tasted the inside of his dry mouth and longed for a way out. "I
don't _hate_ it; I just can't stand it. There's a difference."
"If you say so. But tell me, do you like your fellow Companions, or
even your fellow Witches, any better than you do your cargo?"
"No," Hammen admitted.
"Good. Then we can stop this foolish talk about the Witches' service
to mankind, since you don't give a damn about either Witches or
mankind. You care only about one Witch; your interests are entirely
self-interests. Correct?"
"Yes."
"Good. Better. Now I suppose you are not entirely satisfied with
the benefits you now receive as a Witch? You would like more money,
pleasure, power, prestige? You have ambition, greed, hunger, desire?"
"Yes."
"Fine. I didn't think you had altogether ceased to be human. Then I can
tell you that the Transmitter Service has to perform its most important
mission, and you are thought to be the best man for it."
"Most important mission?" said Hammen. "Best man?"
Gordus became happy. "Those are questions? But I can't tell you the
answers. Not yet. First, you must promise us the added protection of
taking a human Companion for this assignment."
"Why should I want to do that, Gordus?"
"Because I have promised that you would, and I never fail."
Hammen stood for the second time. "Sorry. Not a good enough reason for
me."
* * * * *
Gordus' face splintered into confusion. "But as your superior, as your
coordinator, I order you to take a human Companion for this assignment."
"Gordus," Hammen said, "you were once a Companion yourself."
"When I was younger, while my wife was alive."
"Then rescind your order or I'll kill you--under the Code, in a duel."