Free The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert

said. “Especially Havvy.” He moved the statuette to a more central position on the chart.
    â€œWe failed because we were too eager,” Tria said, her voice snappish. “Poor timing.”
    Gar scratched his chin with his thumb. Tria sometimes disturbed him by that accusatory tone she took toward their failures. He said:
    â€œBut … if she turns out to be one of them and we haven’t allowed for it …”
    â€œWe’ll look through that gate when we come to it,” Broey said. “ If we come to it. Even another failure could have its uses. The food factories will give us a substantial increase at the next harvest. That means we can postpone the more troublesome political decisions which have been bothering us.”
    Broey let this thought hang between them while he set himself to identifying the lines of activity revealed by what had happened in this room today. Yes, the Humans betrayed unmistakable signs that they behaved according to a secret plan. Things were going well, then: they’d attempt to supersede him soon … and fail.
    A door behind Tria opened. A fat Human female entered. Her body bulbed in green coveralls and her round face appeared to float in a halo of yellow hair.

    Her cheeks betrayed the telltale lividity of dacon addiction. She spoke subserviently to Gar.
    â€œYou told me to interrupt if …”
    â€œYes, yes.”
    Gar waved to indicate she could speak freely. The gesture’s significance did not escape Broey. Another part of their set piece.
    â€œWe’ve located Havvy but Jedrik’s not with him.”
    Gar nodded, addressed Broey:
    â€œWhether Jedrik’s an agent or another puppet, this whole thing smells of something they have set in motion.”
    Once more, his gaze darted ceilingward.
    â€œI will act on that assumption,” Tria said. She pushed her chair back, arose. “I’m going into the Warrens.”
    Broey looked up at her. Again, he felt his talons twitch beneath their sheaths. He said:
    â€œDon’t interfere with them.”
    Gar forced his gaze away from the Gowachin while his mind raced. Often, the Gowachin were difficult to read, but Broey had been obvious just then: he was confident that he could locate Jedrik and he didn’t care who knew it. That could be very dangerous.
    Tria had seen it, too, of course, but she made no comment, merely turned and followed the fat woman out of the room.
    Gar arose like a folding ruler being opened to its limit. “I’d best be getting along. There are many matters requiring my personal attention.”
    â€œWe depend on you for a great deal,” Broey said.
    He was not yet ready to release Gar, however. Let Tria get well on her way. Best to keep those two apart for a spell. He said:
    â€œBefore you go, Gar. Several things still bother me. Why was Jedrik so precipitate? And why destroy her records? What was it that we were not supposed to see?”
    â€œPerhaps it was an attempt to confuse us,” Gar said, quoting Tria. “One thing’s sure: it wasn’t just an angry gesture.”
    â€œThere must be a clue somewhere,” Broey said.
    â€œWould you have us risk an interrogation of Havvy?”

    â€œOf course not!”
    Gar showed no sign that he recognized Broey’s anger. He said:
    â€œDespite what you and Tria say, I don’t think we can afford another mistake at this time. Havvy was … well …”
    â€œIf you recall,” Broey said, “Havvy was not one of Tria’s mistakes. She went along with us under protest. I wish now we’d listened to her.” He waved a hand idly in dismissal. “Go see to your important affairs.” He watched Gar leave.
    Yes, on the basis of the Human’s behavior it was reasonable to assume he knew nothing as yet about this infiltrator Bahrank was bringing through the gates. Gar would’ve concealed such valuable information, would not have dared