TELZEY & TRIGGER

The Complete Federation
of the Hub; Vol II

THEY'RE DYNAMITE

Telzey Amberdon is one of the most powerful xenotelepaths in the known galaxy. Trigger Argee is a crack shot, with reflexes that make lightning look lethargic, and also a top agent of the galaxy's Federation of the Hub. Separately, they have been making life miserable for human criminals, unfriendly aliens, and nefarious members of all species. But when a danger to the entire Hub civilization brought these two together, the galaxy would never be the same!

"Here, read this-you'll love it!" -Janet Kagan,
-Hugo-Winner and author of the bestseller Uhura's Song

"Wonderfully fresh." -The Horn Book

"Telzey Amberdon ... is strong, competent, and fun to be with."
-A Reader's Guide to Science Fiction

"[A] typical James Schmitz mix of humor, strange mental powers, and mild anarchy. Delightful."
-The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction

Cover art by Bob Eggleton

Paperback

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First printing, July 2000

Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 0-671-57879-0

"Company Planet" first published May 1971 in Analog;
"Resident Witch" first published in May 1970 in Analog;
"Compulsion" first published June 1970 in Analog (note: the Prologue to "Compulsion" was originally published as a separate short story under the title "The Pork Chop Tree" in February 1965 in Analog;
"Glory Day" first published June 1971 in Analog;
"Child of the Gods" first published March 1972 in Analog;
"Ti's Toys" first published under the title "The Telzey Toy" May 1971 in Analog;
"The Symbiotes" first published September 1972 in Analog;
all copyright to the estate of James H. Schmitz

A Baen Books Original
Baen Publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
http://www.baen.com

Typeset by Windhaven Press
Auburn, NH

Electronic version by WebWrights
http://www.webwrights.com

COLOR COORDINATION
IS EVERYTHING

"I've found out a few things," Telzey said. "Better get your mindshield closed tight, and keep it tight."

"Done," said Trigger. "Psi stuff around, eh?"

Telzey nodded. "Quite a lot of it! I don't know what that means yet, but it could mean trouble. About what happened to us—somebody turned a stun beam on Casmard's space yacht and knocked us out before they grappled and boarded."

"A rough beam that was!" Trigger said. "Felt as if my head turned into a drum half the size of the universe and somebody was pounding on it with clubs. Do you know who did it, where we are, and what's happened to Casmard and the navigator?"

More or less, I do," Telzey said. "We're on Askanam. More specifically, we're in the palace of the man who's been Regent of Tamandun in Casmard's absence. He was presumably responsible for the attack on the yacht."

"To have Casmard kidnapped?"

"Apparently. We're here because we happened to be on the yacht with Casmard." Trigger said after a moment. "From what I've heard of Askanam politics, that doesn't look too good."

"I'm afraid it isn't good," Telzey agreed. "When we're missed, all anyone will know is that the yacht vanished in interstellar space with all aboard. And my mind probe picked up something about arena games connected with Glory Day festivities."

"Well—" Trigger shrugged. "Let's freshen up and change our clothes before we have visitors. What do you wear on Askanam in the palace of a Regent who might be thinking of featuring you in the upcoming arena games?"

"Something quietly conservative, I suppose," Telzey said.

"All right. Just so it goes with my purse." The cosmetics purse didn't contain cosmetics but Trigger's favorite gun. . . .

Books in this series:

Telzey Amberdon
TnT: Telzey & Trigger
Trigger Argee (forthcoming)