Page 194 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Investigating the Mystery of the Talking Plant
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“There was a lot of food for thought in what the Reverend had to
say,” Kaga told Lugo as they went out into the hall, “but none of it
theological. And while we’re on the subject of comestibles, let’s go
have lunch.”
“Okay,” said Lugo, “the PKU commissary is still open. It’s just past
1300.”
“By the way,” asked Kaga, as they walked briskly out of the alien
quarters, “what is that stuff zorillium used for?”
“Yo’s trade item? Well, zorillium is a very volatile substance, a
potential explosive of great power. We are trying to mine all we can of
it and get it off the planet before the next religious war starts and the
good Reverend’s group figures out how to use it to blow holes in its
opposition.”

10: A Secret Revealed

It was 1400 GST, and Captain Kaga and Lieutenant Lugo were
walking toward the PKU communications room. Lugo’s personal
ComSet began beeping, and he acknowledged the call.
“Miss Woswoot is at the alien quarters reception desk,” he told
Kaga after signing off. “Where shall we talk to her?”
“Why don’t you meet her alone first: tell her that a PKU officer is
investigating the circumstances of Bulakko’s death. Then bring her
back here to the com room. And take your time; I want to research a
couple of things while you’re gone. Oh, one more thing: be sure to
check the lock on the Tzigian gallery—we don’t want anyone to get at
the sonopor plant again. Not yet, anyway.”
Lugo left him, and thought about the case as he walked through the
main hall. All those strange stories told by the emissaries! Had Captain
Kaga made any sense of them? How could anyone tell if an alien were
lying? And what was the connection between the attack on the
sonopor plant and Bulakko’s accident—or was it murder? Questions
continued to plague him as he returned with Miss Woswoot. What
could she have to do with this? he wondered. As they approached the
door to the closed exhibit he watched her reactions. She was talking
rapidly about the incident.
“Oh, it really is terrible, Lieutenant, that it should have happened
while I was on duty. You know, that habitat machinery frightens me. I

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