Thewindows of Brairton's office were small and high up on the wall.  So high up that he could not see out ofthem.  He didn't care much for what thescenery outside had to offer.  If hecould have it his way the place would have no windows at all.  But he needed easy access for his spies.  The feline part of Brairton's nature wanted alwaysto swat at the wasps buzzing their news to his ears.  But if he killed them before they relayedtheir information his whole Buzz System would be quite pointless. So he resisted.Regretfully.

Sofinally, he now knew how the goat fitted into Lac Taal’s network.  It had taken careful planning and positioningof his spies to find out that key point. Brairton considered letting the queen's consort know, but decided hewould keep this nugget of information locked away for the present.  A time would come when the queen would trulyunderstand his worth and see how she had underestimated him.

Hewondered how his little exercise in distraction was progressing.  Perhaps he should just take a peep at theproceedings to see if they were going according to plan.  Not that he anticipated they wouldn’t.  This was a tiny display of what he intendedfor the future.  Lac Taal would have toup his game considerably to deal with what Brairton had in mind.  The hairs on the back of his neck rose inanticipation at the mere thought and a purr of pleasure rumbled deep in histhroat.

Butthe view from the observation screens in his side wall did not cheer him in theway he had anticipated.  The twin entitywere good at their job.  He extended andretracted his claws as he walked stiffly round his desk. Brairton had to giveLac Taal his due, he knew how to pick a good crew.  But he slammed his fist hard into the surfaceof his desk.  Several nervouslyslumbering desk items leapt from the desk squeaking and scattered to thedarkest outermost reaches of the office.

Hestill had an expedition to organise and it would take careful planning.  Now, on to the third stage of theoperation.  How many operatives would heneed?  Three.  Yes, three would be more than enough.  Brairton sneered.  It was almost too easy.  If the prize waiting at the end of this matchwas not so substantial he would almost think the game unworthy of his time andtalents.

Brairtonturned casually to view the nectar pods where his exhausted spies slurped attheir reward.  With a swift motion hetrapped a plump furred wasp body between his fingers.  The insect made no effort to struggle.  Brairton pinched out its stinger and suckedat the venom, feeling the tingle of it against his tongue in the same way thehairless skin on his abdomen prickled when touched by a nettle.  He relished these sensations, but they werefleeting.  And he longed for a moresubstantial feeling, one that would linger in the mind as well as thebody.  Finally Brairton pulled out theinsect's wings, leaving them to flutter carelessly to the floor while hesavoured the taste of the nectar sweetened body of the wasp.