Judgment at Proteus by Timothy Zahn Page B

it to live?”
    “ We want it to live,” Wandek put in firmly. “Despite what some Human cultures believe, all sentient life is sacred and must be protected and nurtured to the fullest extent of our abilities.”
    “Very noble,” I said, watching him closely. “Yet the baby is Ms. German’s, not yours. Doesn’t she have a say in the matter? Especially since the baby is now getting in the way of her own treatment?”
    Wandek drew himself up, his blaze mottling again. “The baby will be protected,” he said curtly. “We have not—” He broke off. “All sentient life is sacred,” he repeated.
    “Of course,” I said, ducking my head humbly. I’d gotten what I’d been looking for. Time to backpedal. “Naturally, I agree. It’s just that there are many regions on Earth, with laws that vary widely from place to place.”
    “This is the Filiaelian Assembly, not Earth,” Wandek said frostily, the mottling of his blaze slowly fading back to normal. “Only Filiaelian law has any bearing.”
    “Of course,” I said again as I turned back to Aronobal. “Any idea how long the tests on Ms. German’s baby will take?”
    “No,” Aronobal said. “If you like, I can put your name and comm number on the list of those to be informed of progress.”
    “I’d appreciate that.” I gave her my number and Bayta’s and watched as she keyed them into her comm. “Can you tell me who we talk to about getting accommodations somewhere in this sector?” I asked when she’d finished.
    “That has already been arranged,” Wandek said. “Speak with the receptionist at the door where we entered.”
    “Thanks.” I started to turn away. “Oh. Does she happen to speak English?”
    “You Humans,” Wandek said, his tone more resigned than angry. “So many of you seem to believe the galaxy must necessarily accommodate your needs and desires.”
    “Yes, we’re funny that way,” I agreed. “Does she speak English, or doesn’t she?”
    Wandek made an impatient-sounding rumble deep in his throat. “I will send an English-speaker to meet you at her desk,” he said, pulling out his comm. “I must return now to my work.”
    “And I to observe the work on Ms. German’s child,” Aronobal added.
    “Of course,” I said. “Thank you. Both of you.”
    Whatever else one might say about Wandek, he definitely got fast results. By the time we reached the receptionist’s desk there was a young Filly in a pale green outfit already waiting for us. “You are the Human Compton?” he asked.
    “Yes,” I acknowledged.
    “Come with me,” he said, walking toward one of the corridors and motioning for us to follow. “Your quarters have been assigned.”
    “Are they near Ms. German’s?” I asked, making no move to follow. “They have to be near Ms. German’s.”
    “Your quarters have been assigned,” he repeated. “Come with me.”
    He headed down the corridor, not checking to see if we were following or not. Taking Bayta’s arm, I headed us off after him.
    We retraced our steps out of the dome, down the ramp to the traffic corridor, along the glideway, and back to Terese’s room. The door our guide led us to was two doors farther down. “Here,” he said, gesturing toward a plate beside the door. “It is already keyed to your nucleics.”
    “Thank you,” I said. I touched my hand to the plate, and with a soft click the door slid open. With my watchdogs crowding at my sides, I went inside.
    And stopped. The room was a photocopy of Terese’s, right down to the color scheme on the blankets on the bed.
    The single, barely double-size bed.
    One.
    I felt the movement of air as Bayta came in and stopped beside Doug. “Cozy,” I commented.
    She didn’t say anything. But I suspected that she wasn’t looking at me just as hard as I wasn’t looking at her.
    I should have expected this, of course. I hadn’t, but I should have. One of the Modhri’s best and most insidious methods of infiltration was through something