Free Mute by Piers Anthony

was only the pretext. It is you CC wants.”
    “But that implies—”
    “That you are something extremely special. That is why I, one of CC’s most able interviewers, was sent to you, instead of a routine enforcement squad.”
    “Is your head packed with all the knowledge of the universe?”
    She laughed. “Impressed you, didn’t I! No, after I saw my recording of the leadmuter, I did some research and memorization. I don’t really understand what I’m talking about, in heavy metals or physics. CC thought this line of presentation would be effective with you.”
    “The big machine was right. It’s an effective presentation. I’m impressed. But that doesn’t mean I’ll join CC. For one thing, I simply don’t believe I’m that important.”
    “You don’t have to believe. You just have to do what is required. CC pays well—in more currency than money. You can probably name your price.”
    “Such as the protection of the leadmuter and my enclave?”
    “In addition to such things.”
    Despite himself, Knot was intrigued. How far would Finesse and CC go? “How about Mit and Hermine—?”
    I thought you’d never ask? Hermine put in. Mit says we’ve already been assigned to you.
    “And you,” he finished, flicking his gaze from her thigh to her face.
    “Wasn’t that a foregone conclusion?” Finesse inquired. “Or am I losing my touch?”
    “Was it? Ask Mit.”
    It was, the weasel assured them.
    “And you are willing?” he asked incredulously. Finesse nodded soberly.
    “You sell yourself?”
    “If the price is correct.”
    “If CC orders you to.”
    “Yes.” She seemed to feel no shame in this. She had been quite serious when she said she owed CC a lot.
    “You give yourself to an asymmetrical mutant? You’re a beautiful normal!” Knot was getting disgusted, but was also fatally intrigued.
    “You understate the case,” she said. “You are a minimum physical mutant, yes; that aspect of you hardly sweeps a girl off her normal feet, and I’m no fetishist. But I’ve dealt with many more grotesque mutants than you, and many much duller normals than you. You are not repulsive, taken as a whole. But your psi power—that is quite another matter. It is enormous, it is subtle, it is beautiful. It undercut me completely—and I have had experience with psi before. It is rare; there is no other like it in CC’s files, which means it is probably unique. How much it is worth inherently I don’t know, but there is considerable value in its rarity. For association with such psi I would sell my soul, let alone my mere body.”
    “You can’t even remember my power!” Knot exclaimed, unreasonably flattered by her forceful statement.
    “Yes I can. The same way York does. Once I have the recording, my memory is secure. Your power is primary, not secondary; the subject has to interact with you directly to be affected. So with the help of technology I can counter your power—but I remain dazzled by it. How I envy you psi-mutants!”
    “ You envy me! ” Knot said in unfeigned wonder.
    “But don’t be naive about price. When you join CC, you can specify any kind of company you want—or CC will provide a woman for you more exactly tailored to your tastes than you can now imagine. I am grossly imperfect for you, and so is your secretary York; once you meet this one—”
    “Am I going to ask for such a woman?”
    No, Hermine thought. You’re such an independent cuss, you will refuse as a matter of foolish principle. Finesse has already netted you, even though you know better.
    “You will preserve the semblance of self-determination by making your own flawed selection,” Finesse said, frowning prettily. “You are guided more by appearance and personality and familiarity than by logic. Mit knows. Do you think for half an instant I would have broached the subject, otherwise?”
    Yes, he thought, if she wanted to convert him without having to keep him. Bait and switch. But he hoped Hermine had not