Part E

"We shouldn't have come early," Kaylee whispered in Simon's ear. "I never like coming to a partly beforehand and waiting for things to start."

"Well, what makes you think in terms of it not having started?" Simon replied, a bit more loudly but still trying to not be overheard. "Just because the host hasn't gotten up on that stage and made a speech, or the main course getting served out?"

"Yeah, that," she answered. "Or even appetizers getting served out would help." Simon went and pointed off behind her, and she turned to look in that direction. "Oh. Well, them getting here would help."

"We're not in a very densely populated part of the floor," he reminded her, which was true, and was something that they had both felt grateful for. However, with his words Simon arguably jinxed them, because only a few minutes a trio of stately, more-than-middle-aged oriental ladies stepped near to the table that they had planted themselves at and bowed.

"I would not wish to intrude on your time, but would you perhaps be Mister and Missus Maren?" the rightmost lady asked in a melodic voice.

"Miz Juli Maren," Kaylee said, with a fairly good imitation of the real Juli Maren's acerbic snap. "So pleased to meet you."

"You and your husband honour the conference with your presence, Miz Maren," the next lady said, "especially we of Bei Zhing Analyticals, who have laboured for years to refine your discoveries."

"My, umm... my discoveries?" Simon blurted out.

"No, I regret if my associate was not clear," the last lady intoned. "It is your wife's development of the genetic code machine that we are seeking to improve."

"Wow, really," Kaylee said. "Thanks - it's always nice to know that the work is continuing, though that... machine wasn't all my work. May I ask your names?"

"Certainly. I am Anara Liu, and attending with me are my sister Jian Doe, and our long-time colleague Janet Wing."

"Well, it's so nice to meet you... oh," Kaylee broke off in midsentence as Simon kicked her a bit emphatically und