She was in a private office of Bill's leased embassy, in downtown Spirit near the Ministry of Dynastic Affairs. The embassy was part of the Temple of Administration. The Ministry's diplomatic office lay outside the Temple itself and just a few hundred meters from her embassy building. The Na-Dina housekeeper had let Mahree and Krillen into the building, explaining that the local Na-Dina trade representatives were downtown meeting with the Minister. Mahree had then had taken her leave of the Investigator. She needed privacy. Her foray into the plush, scented office of the Project Engineer had left her feeling ill at ease, even angry. Reaching for the desk's holo-tank control pad, she started to code in her call to Shassiszss, but was stopped by a red busy light. She tapped the office intercom. "Doseen, why is the FTL line blocked?" "Because," the housekeeper replied, "there is an incoming call on the Horn That Calls The Stars for you, Ambassador. From a Robert Gable of StarBridge. Do you accept?" In spite of her surprise, she said, "Of course." Mahree watched the air above the tank shiver, then deepened 253 into a three-dimensional image of Rob's office.
