Mary's thoughts went briefly to the Diamond WEAPON. Would things have been different if they had brought it along with them? Had they dodged a bullet by winding up here? How did all of this enter into her scheming. The more she turned the thought over in her mind the less she liked it.

"Blast that woman." She clenched her fist, but most of her fury was spent on the initial outburst. "She never had any intent of treating with us in good faith. Just plots upon plots. Where does it end? What is she really after?"