"I have the feeling that you do not want my presence reported to the Masters," he said, "Is this so?" "That is correct," Skorta said. "My reasons are, of course, selfish. Until official cognizance has been taken of your presence on Teldi, I am at liberty to learn as much as possible from you before the Masters rule on the factuality of your information. I expect that much of what I learn will have to be officially forgotten, not committed to writing, and will die with me. The Masters must consider the mental well-being of their slaves as the highest priority, and the simple fact of your presence here implies a way of life infinitely better than our existence on Teldi. "Fortunately I can justify my delay in reporting you," it added, "because of initial confusion regarding your status and the necessity of educating you in our ways lest you inadvertently commit a crime, such as insulting a Master." It was not lying, Martin thought admiringly, but it was certainly bending die truth into some fancy shapes.
