Free The Dogtown Tourist Agency by Jack Vance Page B

may so inform your principals, and they will have to trim their sails to the wind.”
    “Can you identify the directors of Istagam, or tell me anything about their mode of operation?”
    “I’m sorry, sir; this is a matter which I can’t discuss.”
    “On what grounds?”
    “Caprice,” said Sir Estevan. “That’s as good a reason as any. I’m sorry that I now must terminate our discussion.”
    Hetzel rose to his feet. “Thank you for your courtesy. It has been a pleasure talking with you.”
    “Bring me back the translator tape; I’ll want to check it over.”
    “I’ll be sure to do so.”
    Captain Baw stood three inches taller than Hetzel; his shoulders, chest, and abdomen bulged with muscle; his round, flat face was cold and wary. He rose briskly to his feet when Hetzel entered his office, and stood sternly erect during the period of the interview.
    “You are Captain Baw, I believe.”
    “I am he.”
    “Sir Estevan suggested that I consult you, in order to clarify exactly what happened this morning.”
    “Very good, then, consult away.”
    “You were present when the killings occurred?”
    “I was indeed.”
    “What was the precise sequence of events?”
    “I brought in a man named Gidion Dirby, who claimed urgent business with Sir Estevan. As I stepped forward to attract Sir Estevan’s attention, he produced a gun and opened fire.”
    “You saw him shoot the gun?”
    “He stood behind me, from where the shots originated.”
    “What of the Gomaz? They stood behind you as well.”
    “Gomaz are not allowed to carry guns.”
    “Assume that through some unusual circumstance, one of the Gomaz did in fact carry a gun—what then?”
    “First: he would not kill in cold blood. Second: he would not kill his fellows. Third: he would not depart without making a thorough job of it.”
    “What happened to the weapon?”
    “I have no information in this regard. You must put the question to Gidion Dirby.”
    “As a matter of fact, I have done so. Somewhat to his surprise, he did find a gun in his pocket. The cells were discharged and the contacts were corroded. The gun has not been fired for months. What do you say to that?”
    In a voice of long-suffering patience, Captain Baw replied, “Sir, it is not my place to argue with you. Ask your questions of fact; I will respond as well as I can.”
    “You state that you did not actually see the gun being fired.”
    Baw lowered his eyelids, and his eyes became such narrow lines of leaden gristle that Hetzel wondered how he could see. “I will merely assert, sir, that the shots came from the vicinity of Gidion Dirby. I glimpsed the action from the corner of my eye; I was somewhat preoccupied with the Gomaz, who had become restless and upset.”
    “Why did you not immediately rush forth and capture Gidion Dirby?”
    “My first duty was to Sir Estevan. I assured myself that he was not seriously hurt, and had a brief discussion with him. Then, when I went to seek Vv. Dirby, he was nowhere to be seen. I assumed that he had taken himself to Far Dogtown, where we lack jurisdiction.”
    “You might have caught him, had you hurried.”
    “Perhaps so, sir, but there was no basis on which I might have arrested him, and this was the subject of my discussion with Sir Estevan. Dirby’s shots killed a Liss in Liss territory, an Olefract in Olefract territory, and no one has bothered to pass a law against killing Gomaz. The shoe is on the other foot. We have no formal extradition procedures with either Liss or Olefract, nor have they as yet made any representations to us.”
    “All this seems highly abstract,” said Hetzel. “I would expect that when you observe a man killing two Triarchs, you would capture him first and worry about charges later.”
    Baw condescended a small smile. “This procedure might be feasible within the Reach. You do not understand how carefully we must deal with the Liss and Olefract. We adhere to the exact letter of our contract; they do