“Now, let’s have those names and addresses,” he said. “This will be the biggest round-up in IDMS history.”
“And the pinch will be yours, dear sir,” Blote said. “I foresee early promotion for you.” He held out his shackled wrists. “Would you mind?”
“Well…” Dzhackoon hesitated, but unlocked the cuffs. “I think I’m on firm ground. Just don’t mention it to Inspector Spoghodo.”
“You can’t do that!” Snithian snapped. “These persons are dangerous!”
“That is my decision. Now—”
Snithian brought out the pistol with a sudden movement. “I’ll brook no interference from meddlers—”
There was a sound from the door. All heads turned. The girl Dan had seen in the house stood in the doorway, glancing calmly from Snithian to Blote to Dzhackoon. When her eyes met Dan’s she smiled. Dan thought he had never seen such a beautiful face—and the figure matched.
“Get out, you fool!” Snithian snapped. “No; come inside, and shut the door.”
“Leave the girl out of this, Snithian,” Dan croaked.
“Now I’ll have to destroy all of you,” Snithian keened. “You first of all, ugly native!” He aimed the gun at Dan.
“Put the gun down, Mr. Snithian,” the girl said in a warm, melodious voice. She seemed completely unworried by the grotesque aliens, Dan noted abstractedly.
Snithian swiveled on her. “You dare—!”
“Oh, yes, I dare, Snithian.” Her voice had a firm ring now.
Snithian stared at her. “Who… are you… ?”
“I am the Ivroy.”
Snithian wilted. The gun fell to the floor. His fantastically tall figure drooped, his face suddenly gray.
“Return to your home, Snithian,” the girl said sadly. “I will deal with you later.”
“But… but…” His voice was a thin squeak.
“Did you think you could conceal your betrayal from the Ivroy?” she said softly.
Snithian turned and blundered from the room, ducking under the low door. The Ivroy turned to Dzhackoon.
“You and your Service are to be commended,” she said. “I leave the apprehension of the culprits to you.” She nodded at Blote. “I will rely on you to assist in the task—and to limit your operations thereafter to non-interdicted areas.”
“But of course, your worship. You have my word as a Vegan. Do visit me on Vorplisch some day. I’d love the wives and kiddie to meet you.” He blinked rapidly. “So long, Dan. It’s been crazy cool.”
Dzhackoon and Blote stepped through the Portal. It shimmered and winked out. The Ivroy faced Dan. He swallowed hard, watching the play of light in the shoulder-length hair, golden, fine as spun glass…
“Your name is Dan?” Her musical voice interrupted his survey.
“Dan Slane,” he said. He took a deep breath. “Are you really the Ivroy?”
“I am of the Ivroy, who are many and one.”
“But you look like—just a beautiful girl.”
The Ivroy smiled. Her teeth were as even as matched pearls, Dan thought, and as white as—
“I am a girl, Dan. We are cousins, you and I—separated by the long mystery of time.”
“Blote—and Dzhackoon and Snithian, too—seemed to think the Ivroy ran the Universe. But—”
The Ivroy put her hand on Dan’s. It was as soft as a flower petal.
“Don’t trouble yourself over this just now, Dan. Would you like to become my agent? I need a trustworthy friend to help me in my work here.”
“Doing what?” Dan heard himself say.
“Watching over the race which will one day become the Ivroy.”
“I don’t understand all this—but I’m willing to try.”
“There will be much to learn, Dan. The full use of the mind, control of aging and disease… Our work will require many centuries.”
“Centuries? But—”
“I’ll teach you, Dan.”
“It sounds great,” Dan said. “Too good to be true. But how do you know I’m the man for the job? Don’t I have to take some kind of test?”
She looked up at him, smiling, her lips slightly parted. On impulse, Dan put a hand under her chin, drew her face close and kissed her on the mouth…
A full minute later, the Ivroy, nestled in Dan’s arms, looked up at him again.
“You passed the test,” she said.