"I have my reasons," he said bitterly. "Now, if you're through with me, little master, I think I'd like to get some sleep. In the meantime you'd better get them back to their homes before they're missed." "I can't," I confessed. "The controller isn't big enough to handle eight of you--not as individuals." Donald chuckled grimly. "That's your worry. Remember, unless you find out which of them will be missed and act accordingly, you're going to be very much in the public eye." * * * * * I didn't feel too happy as I cut off, but Donald had given me an idea. One by one I checked the new proxies. Of the six, two were living together. They had the casual emotional involvement with males so characteristic of this species, but they could remain here for several days without causing comment. Of the remaining four, one had a roommate and would be difficult to extract; another was living alone; still another was mated and had an offspring, but she was not living with her mate--a legal action having separated her much as it separates incompatible Thalassans. The offspring, however, was living with her when she wasn't working, a not unusual situation on this world, but one which could have some complications unless she was returned to it very shortly. The last was living with her parents and was seriously involved emotionally with a male. She was planning to be officially mated in the near future, although it would be legal fiction rather than fact since she was already nurturing a living embryo of some three weeks development. I debated whether to remove it, a simple enough manipulation, but decided against it. It would be interesting to observe a mammalian reproduction. But to remove her from her family and her unofficial mate was a task that might be difficult. I needed help. I projected a call for Ven, phrasing it imperatively so she could have no doubt about its urgency. Her answer was quick and clear. "I'm coming," she said. "Good. I need you. And bring Edith. We have a problem that will require her talents." "She'll be happy to cooperate." Ven's projection was cheerfully confident. "You did her no permanent damage, I hope." "Not a bit. In fact, you'd never know she's been disciplined." "Well, get in here, both of you. We have work to do." Edith had trouble squeezing into the control room and, despite her skin conditioning, the place quickly filled with her scent. But Ven and I were old hands now and took it in stride. She grasped the problem instantly. "The only one who might be any trouble is Alice. Her family and her boy friend can be difficult. The others won't need much effort, except for Grace. She'd better be returned to her baby as soon as possible." "How soon?" I asked. "The baby isn't living with her," Edith added, "not while she's working, but she sees it regularly. Every day or two, I believe." I sighed. That solved the biggest problem. "We had better start at once," Ven said.