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. . . and laid a strict injunction on me to help him find his family. I had hoped -- yes, and believed -- that the files would show that Baslim was mistaken." He frowned and chewed his lip. "A Hegemonic cruiser is due here in two weeks. That ought to give you time to assure yourself that I can search files as well as any clerk."
"What do you mean?"
"Is there doubt? Debts are always paid . . . and there is one more payment due."
She stared. "Husband, are you out of your mind?"
"I don't like it any better than you do. He's not only a fine boy; he's the most brilliant tracker we've ever had."
"Trackers!" she said bitterly. "Who cares about that? Fjalar, if you think that I will permit one of my sons to be turned over to fraki --" She choked up.
"He is fraki."
"He is not. He is Sisu, just as I am. I was adopted, so was he. We are both Sisu, we will always be."
"Have it your way. I hope he will always be Sisu in his heart. But the last payment must be made."
"That debt was paid in full, long ago!"
"The ledger doesn't show it."
"Nonsense! Baslim wanted the boy returned to his family. Some fraki family -- if fraki have families. So we gave him a family -- our own, clan and sept. Is that not better payment than some flea-bitten fraki litter? Or do you think so little of Sisu?"
She glared up at him, and the Krausa thought bitterly that there must be something to the belief that the pure blood of the People produced better brains
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