Tahn coughed and leaned his head sideways, fairly equivalent to a casual 'so what?' "False Gods. False Helpers," he said. Ward held his breath and swung back to face the port. Great, sizzling Hell! He wondered if his opposite with the Grimnal had such problems. Probably not. Problems weren't allowed in the United Peace Worlds. And with the Grimnal preference for island life over the sea, it apparently took little urging to make them want all the islands in the world. "You realize," Ward said without turning, "that they have probably known of our coming for days." "Good." "And what would they still be doing at anchor?" Cough, cough. Probably meaning how the hell should I know? II If only they didn't have this towering independency and conceit, Ward thought. They used to fight as individual ships. Then they weren't the least surprised if a lonely frigate was blown to splinters by an overwhelming Grimnal force. In fact, it was a thing of joy and beauty forever. It was only by the very fiercest thundering had he gotten this fleet together under Tahn, and only Tahn's high position had kept it together. And God only knew how much longer it would hold together. The Grimnal had shown remarkable organization. Ward had pointed that out, and that was a gross mistake. The Kali wanted nothing to do with what the Grimnal did. A sharp rap sounded on the cabin door and a Kali slipped in. He made the casual motion that could be a salute, a greeting or a wave good-by, depending on circumstances. "Two gliders return," he said happily. "In the bay are two first-liners, four second-liners, five frigates and some corvettes. All at anchor. Just waiting for us." Ward nodded. "How many corvettes?" The Kali's face wrinkled in dismay. "Fifty-six," he said softly. Ward smiled to himself, and ran the Kali fleet by in his mind. Eighteen first-liners mounting a hundred-twenty guns apiece. Eleven second-liners mounting eighty to ninety guns. Twenty-four frigates mounting fifty to sixty guns. Fifty-two corvettes mounting ten to twenty guns. A strong force, but not as strong as the Grimnal potential. Firmly, he said: "We will run down almost to Anda Passage--then wait." The Kali glanced at each other. Tahn coughed. "Not to go in?" "No!" "Why?" Ward took a deep breath and told himself to stay calm. "We know there are land guns along the Passage. We know that even without them three first-liners could hold it against anything. We know that those ships in the bay are not the whole fleet. Where are the rest?" Double cough. Double head bob. Two helpless expressions. "We outnumber," Tahn said hopefully. Ward muffled a smile. At least they were learning something. "We cannot go in, Tahn. It's a trap." Tahn was quiet, his whole body slowly coming to what Ward knew was hurt pride and anger. "Then we wait?" "We wait." Tahn was nearly rigid, his voice fighting its cage of control. "We wait like before?"