40

"You know, I'm an awful lot better at my job when I have all pertinent information," she says. "Anyway, I learned of Katariki's message eight days ago or so, and I've been looking into it ever since."

"Have you discovered anything?"

"Yes. I have."

Electra is carrying a small metal box, the size of a cigarette packet. She places it on the desk, and indicates that you should open it.

You do. Inside is something flat and black, about an inch long, vaguely triangular but quite irregular in shape.

"What is it?" you ask.

"As far as I can tell, a fingernail," says Electra. "The man who sent it to me said he has a whole alien corpse to sell us—an alien he heard was called a 'Surgeon.' He says he wants an awful lot of money for it, and that he'll only deal with you personally, face-to-face."

"Is he for real?" you ask.

"I checked the DNA of that fingernail sitting in front of you. It's extraterrestrial in origin. No doubt about it."

You stare down at the black triangle once more, then back up at Electra. "When do we leave?"

Next