"No. What is it?"
"A planet. It belongs to a green star system, chart designation KL421,
Sub-sector 9G, Sector 80, Quadrant 7. It's a very isolated system, the
only inhabited one in 9G, as a matter of fact. 9G is a Terran quota
sector, and since Nanta Dik is humanoid, it's become headquarters for
our nationals who are engaged in business in that sub-sector."
Durham nodded. Unassimilated territory lying outside the Federation was
divided among Federation members, allowing them to engage in trade only
in their allotted sectors and subject to local law and license. This
eliminated competitive friction between Federation worlds, threw open
new areas to development, and eventually--usually under the sponsorship
of the federated world--brought the quota sectors into the vast family
of suns that had already spread over more than half the galaxy. There
were abuses now and again, but on the whole, as a system, it worked
pretty well.
"I take it that Nanta Dik is where I'm going."
"Yes. Now listen. First thing in the morning, go and book a third-class
passage to Earth on the _Sylvania Merchant_, leaving on the day
following. Let your friends know you're going home. They won't be
surprised."
"Don't rub it in."
"Sorry. When you reach the spaceport, walk across the main rotunda near
the newsstand. Drop your ticket and your passport, folded together,
go on to the newsstand and wait. They will be returned to you by a
uniformed attendant, only your passport will be in a different name and
your ticket will now be on a freighter outbound for Nanta Dik. You will
then embark at once. Is that all clear?"
"Everything but the reason."
"I'll come to that. How good is your memory?"
"As good as it ever was."
"All right. When you reach Nanta Dik a man will meet you as you leave
the ship. He will ask if you are the ornithologist. You will say yes.
Then--pay close attention to this--you will say, _The darkbirds will
soon fly_. Got that?"
"The darkbirds will soon fly. Simple enough. What's it mean?"
"9G is a rich sector, isolated, improperly policed, underpopulated.
There has been a certain amount of trouble, poaching, claim jumping,
outright piracy. The 'darkbirds' are a couple of suspected ships. We
want to set a trap for them, and you know how things are on The Hub.
If a man buys a pair of socks, the news is all across the galaxy in a
week. That's the reason for all the secrecy."
"Is that all?"
"No." Hawtree got up, turning his back on Durham. He said harshly,
"Listen, Lloyd." It was the first time he had used Durham's Christian
name. "This is an important job. It may not seem like one, but it is.
Do it. There's somebody else who wanted you to have another chance."
Durham did not say anything. He waited for Hawtree to turn around and
face him and say the name. But he didn't, and finally Durham said,
"Susan?"
"I don't know what she sees in you," said Hawtree, and pushed a button.
Paulsen came in. Hawtree jerked a thumb at Durham. "Take him back. And
tell Burke to give him the money."
Durham went out and got into the 'copter. He felt dizzy, and this time
it was not from drinks or the lack of them. He sat, and Paulsen took
the 'copter off.
Hawtree watched it from inside the glass doors until it was out of
sight above the roof. And another man came from behind a door that led
into Hawtree's private study, and watched it with him.
"Are you sure about him?" asked the man.
"I know him," Hawtree said. "He's a slob."
"But are you sure?"
"Don't worry, Morrison," Hawtree said. "I know him. He'll talk. Bet you
a hundred he never even makes the spaceport."
"Blessed are the fools," said Morrison, "for they shall inherit
nothing."