The database in Rover contained books as well as musical and video performances.  Both the Saxtorphs spent a considerable amount of their leisure reading, she more than he.  Their tastes differed enough that they had separate terminals in their cabin.  He wanted his literature, like his food, plain and hearty; Dorcas ranged wider.  Ever since hyperwave made transmission easy, she had been putting hundreds of writings by extrasolar dwellers into the discs, with the quixotic idea of eventually getting to know most of them.

The ship was a few days into hyperspace when she entered the saloon and found Tregennis.  A couple of hours' workout in the gym, followed by a shower and change of coverall, left her aglow.  The Plateaunian sat talking with Markham.  That was unusual; the commissioner had kept rather to himself.

"Indeed the spectroscope, interferometer, the entire panoply of instruments reveals much," Tregennis was saying.  "How else did Miss Brozik discover her star and learn of its uniqueness?  But there is no substitute for a close look, and who would put a iyperdrive in an unmanned probe?"

"I know," Markham replied.  "I was simply inquiring what data you already possess.  That was never made clear to me.  For example, does the star have planets?"

"It's too small and faint for us to establish that, at the distance from which we observed.  Ah, I am surprised, sir.  Were you so little interested that you didn't ask questions?"

"Why should he, when he was vetoing our mission?" Dorcas interjected.  It brought her to their notice.  Tregennis started to rise.  "No, please stay seated."  He looked so fragile.  "No offense intended, Landholder Markham.  I'm afraid I expressed myself tactlessly, but it seemed obvious.  After all, you were - are a busy man with countless claims on your attention."

"I understand, Mme. Saxtorph," the Wunderlander said stiffly.  "You are correct.  Feeling as I did, I took care to suppress my curiosity."

Tregennis shook his head in a bemused fashion.  He doubtless wasn't very familiar with the twists and turns the human mind can take.  Dorcas recalled that he had never been married, except to his science - though he did seem to regard Laurinda as a surrogate daughter.

The computerman sat down.  "In fact," she said conciliatingly, "I still wonder why you felt you could be spared from your post for as long as we may be gone.  You could have sent somebody else."

"Trustworthy persons are hard to find," Markham stated, "especially in the younger generation."