alternately. Now the viewer could see the black depths of space, empty except for a few distant pinpoints of stars, and the curving crescent of the other duelist’s ship streaking by, a pencil beam of laser light flicking out, bending weirdly in that crazy gravity field, seeking its target. Then the bluish inferno of the star would slide into view, blazing, brilliant, drowning out everything else from sight.
The boy fought well, but finally maneuvered himself too close to the star. He could have escaped if he had controlled the ship a little better. Instead, he power-dived straight into its flaming surface. The tri-di executives decided to erase his final screams from the tape before they showed it to the public.
The second challenge came from an Acquatainian merchant, one of the richest men in the Cluster, who had drunk too much at a party and picked a quarrel with Leoh. The Professor went back to the simple physics arena and disposed of him easily.
By the time Leoh (and Hector) returned to the capital, he was the darling of Acquatainian society. They feasted him, they toasted him, they took him to the ballet and opera, they did everything except let him alone to work. Geri was part of Acquatainia’s social leadership, so Hector at least got to see her—but only in crowded, noisy rooms.
11
Odal sat tensely to his room’s only chair and watched Kor’s bullet-shaped head on the view screen as the Intelligence Minister said:
“So far the plan has gone extremely well. Leoh has not only been of no trouble to us, but his exploits have distracted most of the soft-headed Acquatainians. Meanwhile our preparations are exactly on schedule.”
“The invasion,” Odal murmured.
Kor smiled. “We have—let us say, persuaded—the government of the Etra Domain to allow us to station a battle fleet in their territory. Etra stands between the Acquatainian Cluster and the nearest Star Watch bases. If the Commonwealth tries to intervene, we can hold up their forces long enough to allow us to conquer Acquatainia.”
Odal nodded curtly, he had heard the plan before.
“Now is the time,” Kor went on, “for you to supply the final step. The destruction of Leoh, and the complete lulling of the Acquatainians.”
Odal said nothing.
“You still do not like the role you are required to play,” Kor said. “No, don’t bother to deny it, I can see it in your face. Let me remind you that your duty may not always be pleasant, but if you succeed your rewards will be high.”
“I will do my duty, unpleasant or not,” Odal said stiffly.
Leoh looked bone-weary to Hector as they returned from the party. That morning, a new psychonics building had been dedicated at the university. It was named the
The day had been spent in speeches on an outdoor platform in the morning, a tour of the new building in the afternoon, dinner with the president and trustees of the university, and the inevitable party that night.
“I’ve simply got to find time,” Leoh was saying as they stepped out of the lift tube into the hallway in front of their apartment, “to run some experiments on your ‘jump.’ We can use the tape of…”
But Hector was staring quizzically at the apartment door. It was open and the lights inside were on.
“Another newsman, I’ll bet,” Leoh said wearily.
“I’ll tell him to come back some other time,” said Hector. He moved ahead of Leoh and entered the apartment.
Sitting on the air couch in the middle of the living room was Odal.
“You!”
The Kerak major rose to his feet slowly, a tight smile on his face, as first Hector and then Leoh came in, saw him, and stopped.
“Good evening,” Odal said, getting to his feet. “Come right in. After all, this is your place.”
“How did you get into?…”
“That’s of no real concern. I’m here to settle some unfinished business. Professor Leoh, some time ago you accused me of cheating in the dueling machine. I was about to challenge you when the Watchman intervened. I challenge you now.”
“Now wait,” Hector began, “you can’t…”
“I already have. Professor, do you accept my challenge?”
Leoh stood three steps inside the door, unmoving, silent.
“Let me remind you,” Odal said calmly, “that you have gone to great lengths to prove to the people of Acquatainia that the dueling machine is safe and harmless. If I may quote one of your many tri-di speeches, Tampering with the dueling machine is a thing of the past.’ If you refuse to meet me in a duel, it will seem that you’re afraid that the machine is not so safe… when
Leoh said, “And you would, of course, see to it that my refusal became public knowledge.”
Smiling again, Odal nodded. “You are a great celebrity. I’m sure the news media would learn about it one way or another.”
“Don’t do it,” Hector said to Leoh. “It’s a trap. Don’t agree to duel with him. I’ll…”
“You, Watchman, have already beaten me in a duel,” Odal said, his smile vanishing. “You can’t ask me to face you again. It would be unfair.”
“I’ll agree to the duel,” Leoh answered, “if you’ll agree to have the tape shown publicly.”
“Very well,” Odal said. “We will meet in three days, as is customary?”
“Make it a week,” Hector said. “Give us a chance to… uh, inspect the machine and make sure, that is…”
“Make certain that the monsters from Kerak haven’t tampered with it?” Odal laughed. “Very well, a week from today.”
Odal walked toward the door, stepped between Hector and Leoh, and left. The door clicked shut behind him.
Hector turned his eyes from the closed door to Leoh. “You shouldn’t have accepted… I mean, well, it’s a trick of some kind, I know it is.”
The Professor looked thoughtful. “Is it? Or is Odal—or Kanus, or whoever—getting desperate? I’ve been able to show the Acquatainian people that they have nothing to fear from the dueling machine, you know. They might be trying to restore the machine to its symbol of terror.”
Hector shook his head.
“But I can beat Odal in a fair duel,” Leoh said. “After all, I’ve won every duel I’ve fought, haven’t I? And you beat Odal. The only duels he won were when he had outside help. I think I can beat him, I honestly do.”
Hector didn’t answer, but merely stared in disbelief at the old man.
The building that housed the dueling machine was surrounded by throngs of people. Their restless, anxious murmuring could be heard even inside the normally quiet room. The press gallery, high above the machine itself, was packed with reporters.
For a solid week every tri-di outlet in the Acquataine Cluster had drummed continuously on the coming duel between Leoh and Odal. Good against evil, with the issue seriously in doubt. The old, overweight, shaggy professor against the blade-slim professional killer.
Hector and Leoh stood before the machine. The meditechs were bustling about making final checks on the controls. On the other side of the room, tiers of temporary seats had been put in. They were filled with government and social leaders, military men, policemen, and a small contingent from the Kerak embassy. Geri Dulaq sat in the front row, next to the empty chair that would be Hector’s.
