It's addressed to us both!  
Impatiently, he lowered the laser weapon, and sighed heavily. I don't suppose you can show me any basis for your alarm? The targeted Zenshiite slave looked nervously through the shimmering shield. Or is this just another one of your mysterious intuitions?
 
She thrust the mathematics forward. Savant, I have been unable to extract a specific basis for the anomaly when I introduce a factor of coherent laser energy into the field interface. But there is clearly a dramatic singularity potential.
 
Holtzman looked at the scribblings, but they meant nothing to him: The lines were so messy, steps skipped, odd notations to denote factors he had never seen before. He frowned, not wanting to admit that he was unable to understand. Not a very rigorous proof, Norma -- and not convincing either.
 
Can you disprove it? Can you take the risk? This could be even worse than the disaster with the alloy-resonance generator, a huge catastrophe.
 
Holtzman's expression remained stony, though a feather of doubt tickled his mind. He could not ignore this woman's sheer brilliance. He had always suspected that Norma understood the concepts of his own field better than he did. Very well. If you insist, I'll take an extra precaution or two. Any suggestions?
 
Conduct the test far away, on a moon or, better yet, an asteroid.
 
On an asteroid! Do you know the added expense that would entail?
 
Less expensive than rebuilding the entire city of Starda.
 
He chuckled, then saw that she wasn't joking. I will postpone my test to consider this. But I insist that you provide proof. Back up your intuition before I go to such great trouble and expense. I can't justify such a huge undertaking just because your feet are cold.
 
* * *
 
NORMA CENVA WAS a scientific and mathematical adept, but she had never been schooled in personal politics. Like a naïve child, she went to see Lord Niko Bludd in his noble residence on the bluff overlooking the Isana!