Free Mute by Piers Anthony Page B

doctoring.”
    “That can be quite a feat.”
    “Still, it is hardly on a par with transmuting lead to gold, or whatever else.”
    “I know,” she said, frowning prettily. “I admit it doesn’t seem like much with which to save the galaxy. But it must be an excellent power for a secret agent. At any rate, have you become resigned to your fate?”
    “You are inquiring yet again whether I am joining CC? Seems to me I have made my attitude plain enough.”
    “Not whether you are joining; I know you are. I asked whether you are resigned to that fact. I’d rather have you join satisfied than join unsatisfied.”
    “The answer, to whatever question, is no.” Knot got up and walked out of the cave.
    You can’t do it, Mit warned through Hermine. Your course is predetermined. You can only make it more difficult for yourself, forcing yourself to yield ungracefully.
    Like hell! he thought back.
    “Why be difficult?” Finesse demanded, scrambling up after him. Regardless whether she believed in predestination, her pride had obviously been stung. “Oh!”
    Knot turned at her exclamation. She had tripped and sprawled. He hurried back to help her. “I didn’t ask you to fall for me. Are you hurt?”
    Naughty man! Is that a human pun? About falling?
    “Oh, go away,” Finesse said, pouting charmingly. “It’s nothing.” She touched one ankle and winced.
    “You might have sprained an ankle,” he said, not believing it.
    “Let me see.”
    Touch her and you are lost, Hermine warned.
    Knot put his right hand on her ankle. It was an extremely nice ankle, smooth and warm, tapering into the kind of calf and leg only normals could generate.
    “Give that back!” she cried, jerking her leg away. In the process she showed the upper portion of her leg, the inner thigh beneath her skirt, without the benefit of concealing shadow. The view was accidental, and therefore compelling. “It’s not hurt.”
    “My touch offends you now?” he asked. “The lowly mute may not lay hands on the celestial normal?”
    “You think I’m trying to vamp you with a fake injury!” she exclaimed.
    Isn’t she? he asked Hermine.
    No. She meant to vamp you intellectually, this time. She feels that is more permanent. You’re too smart for the straight physical approach. She took a spill, making herself look foolish. She is angry again, because the fall was unintentional. She was distracted. Her ankle hurts.
    “I apologize for what I thought,” Knot said.
    Finesse melted. “No, you’re only trying to help. I do not take gracefully to falls or other lapses of dignity.”
    “So Hermine told me. Did she also keep you posted about my thoughts?”
    “Yes.”
    “She’s a little tattletale.”
    “She enjoys it. You two get along very well.”
    “And did she tell you I saw up your leg?”
    “Of course. She takes special glee in news like that.”
    “It’s some leg.”
    “Nature worked very hard on it.”
    “Um.”
    “Men are fools. No woman would let the sight of a man’s leg sway her from her ignorant determination.”
    “True.”
    No weasel either, Hermine put in.
    “You really like my leg?”
    “I like all of you.”
    “Even my temper?”
    “That’s the best part of you.”
    “Better than my leg?”
    “Well—”
    “The lightning has abated. My recorder is operating again.”
    He blinked. “What has that to do with what I’m thinking?”
    “I don’t want to forget a moment of this.” She opened her arms to him.
    “I’m not agreeing to join CC!” he protested.
    “But you will allow me to complete my mission by bringing you in for a direct CC interview?”
    “Direct off-world interview? Never!”
    “To plead your case for the leadmuter’s welfare. If you don’t join, that remains in doubt. You need to convince CC that your way is best, and you can do that effectively only in person. Anyone else would forget your message, unless you made a hologram, and that would further betray your nature,”
    “You’re very