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“This will not take long.” Bremot nodded and remained in the lift.
    “I suppose you don't know anything about this,” Jamrog cried as he entered the Threl meeting room. No one else was in attendance, save Opinski, Jamrog's guide, standing quietly in a far corner of the room.
    Hladik glanced at the flimsy yellow communique fluttering in Jamrog's hand and said, “Of course not, Supreme Director—seeing as how you have not yet shown it to me.”
    “Read!” Jamrog threw the sheet in Hladik's face.
    Hladik took the transcript and read it, “Yes, I see.”
    “That's all you have to say? I see?” Jamrog fumed.
    “I see, yes. I see no reason for you to be upset by this—” He snapped the sheet with a finger, “—this routine report.”
    “Your own guards caught someone in the Archives, and you call it routine.”
    “A Dhog, Supreme Director. What else?”
    “A Dhog in the Archives. On the day before Rohee's funeral?”
    “Coincidence. What else could it be?”
    Hladik shrugged, outwardly trying to remain unconcerned. Inwardly he seethed. Why had those idiots allowed the Saecaraz to be contacted first? The communication should have been sent directly to him if Nilokerus guards were involved. Or perhaps Jamrog had intercepted it? “What do you suggest, Supreme Director? I fail to see—”
    “You fail to see a great many things these days, Hageman,” Jamrog barked, then dismissed Hladik's hurt expression with an impatient flick of his hand. “All right, I may be oversensitive just now, but it's only because I am concerned that nothing interfere with Rohee's funeral. Everything must take place precisely as I have planned. The people must witness a glorious spectacle. There must be no distraction.”
    “What could go wrong?”
    Jamrog dropped into the Supreme Director's thronelike chair and passed a hand over his eyes. “I have not slept for two days, Hladik. I'm tired.”
    Hladik approached and sat down next to him. He waved Jamrog's guide away. Opinski withdrew discreetly. “Now, suppose you tell me what's really troubling you, Jamrog. I know there is some other reason you sent for me.”
    Jamrog stared upward and then closed his eyes. “I'm so tired.”
    “Rest then. Rest now so that you can enjoy your triumph tomorrow all the more.”
    “How can I rest when Tvrdy plots against me? He is out there even now, scheming with that Cabal of his to steal the bhuj from me and I have not even been installed yet.”
    “That is but a tiresome formality—it gives the priests something to do. No one, not even the ridiculous Tvrdy, doubts that you are Supreme Director now. Besides, you have worn Tvrdy down. His power is gone; the Cabal you speak of is smashed. There is nothing left. He has no choice but to accept defeat gracefully if he would save his skin.”
    “You do not know Tvrdy at all if you believe I have won so easily. He will resist me to his last breath.”
    “Forget him. He's nothing.”
    “What if he is behind this incident in the Archives?”
    “Well, what if he is? He will have discovered nothing. His agent was caught before he could make a report. There is nothing to worry about. If you wish, I will have the man brought to the tank and questioned and—” He hesitated.
    “Yes? I'm listening. Go on.”
    “I was about to suggest having him conditioned after questioning and returned to his master. That way, if he is one of Tvrdy's men, we will have eyes and ears inside Tvrdy's network.”
    Jamrog's eyes narrowed with cunning. “Sometimes I underestimate your resourcefulness, Hladik. Yes, have the man conditioned and then allow him to escape.”
    Hladik forced a laugh. “Think of it! We will have an agent inside Tvrdy's network.”
    “Not an agent, Hladik,” Jamrog said, his eyes narrowing to slits. “I want a weapon.”

SIX
    “It will be all right, Asquith, you'll see. You wanted to go to the concert and since I cannot go with you, I asked my friend to take you.” Jaire was pulling a