Memories of the terror of being in a burning building came back to Keilin. "No! Just think how many people will be killed."
"Besides, there's no guarantee of success," said Cap. "No, Leyla. You'll have to restrain yourself until it is yours."
"Go in, take them all hostage, take the core section, and use the hostages to get out of the city. Take the rest of the stock and scatter them in the bazaar along the toll passage. That'll keep the flatfeet occupied awhile," Beywulf suggested, eyeing the concept of professional mayhem with relish.
"With what weapons, pray? And the Amphir policy on hostages is that none of them are worth the city's reputation."
"Well, Cap. Do we raise an army and invade the place? Lot of loot on offer."
"Only if all else fails. My idea means killing the gate guards . . ."
Suddenly all the talk of death and murder sickened him. Keilin interrupted, "I'll do it."
The group was silenced. Finally Cap asked, with exaggerated patience, "How?"
"They have built flush against the city wall here . . . on both sides. I can get over. The shop building is easy to get into. There are no bars on most of the windows. Compared to Port Tinarana, the building security is a joke."
"The only bars are on the women's quarters," interrupted Leyla savagely.
"Well, I won't be going there. I know where the core section is. It's in a steel case on the other side of the curtain to the left of the back room."
"A hidden safe," said Cap, "and then what, small dark horse? Are you an expert safecracker as well?"
"No. But I saw that all that money swindled from the trader in the turban was whisked behind that curtain by the short fat one. And he had a key, which he took out of his pocket on the way. I just have to find it, and remove it from him."
"Boy, you're turning into more than just another little psi." It was not entirely praise and approbation. There was a little threat in his voice too. "Just don't you get too cocky for your own good. Talk with Leyla. She'll tell you the internal layout of the non-shop part of the building. Beywulf will go along in case your fat little burgher wakes up."
"Beywulf . . . but he's so big . . ."
The broad hairy face broke into a sardonic smile. "But I can climb better than you, boy," and he jumped up and down, with an arm above his head, going "Ook! OOK!" and scratching his armpit with the other hand.
"That's enough, Beywulf." Cap was not amused. "You'll go tomorrow night. We need to provision and prepare for a hasty retreat."
"Good. I was hoping you did not want me to go tonight," Keilin said slowly. "I'd like to get a few things from the bazaar, and do a careful recce of the jeweller's shop tomorrow." He didn't dare to point out that it wasn't Beywulf's climbing ability that had worried him, but the hairy man's ability to be a silent burglar.
The next night scuds of cloud hid the moon, making the night alternately light and dark. Whenever it was dark Keilin spidered across the rooftops, to freeze in the light periods. Behind him he could hear his somewhat unwelcome assistant grunting along. Frustration made him grit his teeth with annoyance. He could have moved at twice this speed on his own. And he kept expecting that great behemoth to fall through the slates. It was a good thing this wasn't a more ordinary city, but an overprotected, overpoliced and pampered place. Otherwise they'd certainly have been caught by now, or at least attacked for poaching on someone else's territory.
At last they were on the roof next door to the target. And luck was with them. There was a window open on the top story. But there were still voices coming from inside, and a scattering of lights coming from windows in the upper floors. In the shadow of a tall gable they settled down to wait. They had a fine view of the building, and soon found entertainment. The barred windows were visible only from the rooftop, and Keilin and Beywulf spent an entertaining and educative half hour watching the three middle-to-late-teen-age daughters of the house prepare for bed. Keilin found he hadn't noticed the cold at all.
When the candles were finally snuffed Beywulf sighed gustily next to him. "Seems a shame to leave three well-endowed little gems like that to become those dispirited women one sees sludging about in this place. Tell you what . . . I'll liberate them, while you go and collect this pretty that Cap wants." Keilin smothered a sneeze. Damn. It was colder than he'd thought, and knowing Beywulf, he was only half-joking too. Before he could reply his eye was caught by another dark figure dropping onto the next-door rooftop. Keilin motioned Beywulf to silence. This person moved with the kind of sneak-thief caution alien to Beywulf.