Gordus waved a fat hand in front of him, laughing up and down the scale. "No, no, no. Peace, please. You have no need to plead so strongly for the cause of Witches. _You_ don't have to be a Witch, you know, Hammen. You're good enough to be a regular, full-fledged Companion. The reason you get so many of your cargo through is that you in the most literal sense Companion them all. It would be possible for you to use a fellow Companion on your jumps instead of a Familiar." * * * * * Hammen sat down, no longer angry, or energetic. "No. No, it wouldn't be possible for me to do that. I can take people on an occasional jump, for high pay. But I couldn't stand the same kind of contact, day in, day out, with another human being. Pay doesn't come that high." Gordus gave another laugh, and killed it sharply. "And there you were a few moments ago bragging about all the service Witches had been to the human race, and when we get down to it, it turns out you hate the human race." Hammen tasted the inside of his dry mouth and longed for a way out. "I don't _hate_ it; I just can't stand it. There's a difference." "If you say so. But tell me, do you like your fellow Companions, or even your fellow Witches, any better than you do your cargo?" "No," Hammen admitted. "Good. Then we can stop this foolish talk about the Witches' service to mankind, since you don't give a damn about either Witches or mankind. You care only about one Witch; your interests are entirely self-interests. Correct?" "Yes." "Good. Better. Now I suppose you are not entirely satisfied with the benefits you now receive as a Witch? You would like more money, pleasure, power, prestige? You have ambition, greed, hunger, desire?" "Yes." "Fine. I didn't think you had altogether ceased to be human. Then I can tell you that the Transmitter Service has to perform its most important mission, and you are thought to be the best man for it." "Most important mission?" said Hammen. "Best man?" Gordus became happy. "Those are questions? But I can't tell you the answers. Not yet. First, you must promise us the added protection of taking a human Companion for this assignment." "Why should I want to do that, Gordus?" "Because I have promised that you would, and I never fail." Hammen stood for the second time. "Sorry. Not a good enough reason for me." * * * * * Gordus' face splintered into confusion. "But as your superior, as your coordinator, I order you to take a human Companion for this assignment." "Gordus," Hammen said, "you were once a Companion yourself." "When I was younger, while my wife was alive." "Then rescind your order or I'll kill you--under the Code, in a duel." Gordus sneered. "I have never been beaten." "Obviously," Hammen said. He didn't point out anything about his own status. "No." It was a final thing. "Are you armed at this instant?" The coordinator shook his heavy head.