Leoh shrugged and hiked his eyebrows, an expression that sent a network of creases across his fleshy face. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I’d still like to take a good look at some ideas for better interstellar transportation. And I’d want to be on hand here if those savages from Kerak try to use the dueling machine for their own purposes again.”
Nodding, Spencer rumbled, “I knew it. You’re getting yourself involved in politics. Sooner or later you’ll be after my job.”
Even Hector laughed at that.
More seriously, Spencer went on, “You know, of course, that I’m here officially to attend the inauguration of General Martine as the new Prime Minister.”
“Yes,” said Leoh. “And your real reason for coming?”
Lowering his voice slightly, Spencer answered, “I hope to persuade Martine to join the Commonwealth. Or at least to sign a treaty of alliance with us. It’s the only way that Acquatainia can avoid a war with Kerak. All of Acquatainia’s former allies have been taken over by Kerak or frightened off. Alone, the Acquatainians are in grave danger. As a Commonwealth member, or an ally, I doubt that even Kanus would be foolish enough to attack them right now.”
“But Acquatainia has always refused Commonwealth membership … or even an alliance.”
“Yes, but General Martine might see things differently now that Kanus is obviously preparing for war,” Spencer said.
“But the General . . .” Hector began, then stopped.
“Go on, my boy. What were you going to say?”
“Well, it might not be anything important . . . just something that Geri told me about the General . . . er, the Prime Minister. She, eh, well, she said he’s a stubborn, shortsighted, proud old clod. Those were her words, sir.”
Spencer huffed. “The Terran embassy here used slightly different terms, but they painted the same picture of him.”
“And, uh, she said he’s also very brave and patriotic . .. but short-tempered.”
Leoh turned a worried expression toward Spencer. “It doesn’t sound as though he’d be willing to admit that he needs Commonwealth protection, does it?”
Shrugging, Sir Harold replied, “The plain fact is that an alliance with the Commonwealth is the only way to avert a war. I’ve had our computer simulators study the situation. Now that Kerak has absorbed Szarno and has neutralized Acquatainia’s other former allies, the computer predicts that Kerak will defeat Acquatainia in a war. Ninety-three percent probability.”
Leoh’s look of gloom sank deeper.
“And once Kanus has Acquatainia under his grasp, he’ll attack the Commonwealth.”
“What? But that’s suicide! Why should he do that?”
“I’d say it’s because he’s a lunatic,” Spencer answered, with real anger edging his voice. “The sociodynamicists tell me that Kanus’ sort of dictatorship must continually seek to expand, or it will fall apart from internal dissensions and pressures.”
“But he can’t beat the Commonwealth,” Hector said.
“Correct,” Spencer agreed. “Every computer simulation we’ve run shows that the Commonwealth would crush Kerak, even if Kanus has Acquatainia’s resources in his hands.”
The Star Watch Commander paused a moment, then added, “But the computers also predict that the war will cost millions of lives on both sides. And it will trigger off other wars, elsewhere, that could eventually destroy the Commonwealth entirely.”
Leoh leaned back with the shock. “Then-Martine simply must accept Commonwealth alliance.”
Spencer nodded. But his face showed that he didn’t expect it.
Leoh and Hector watched General Martine’s inauguration on tri-di, in the professor’s apartment. That evening, they joined the throngs of politicians, businessmen, military leaders, ambassadors, artists, visitors, and other VIP’s who were congregating at the city’s main spaceport for the new Prime Minister’s inaugural ball. The party was to be held aboard a satellite orbiting the planet.
“Do you think Geri will be there?” Hector asked Leoh as they pushed along with the crowd into a jammed shuttle craft.
The Watchman was wearing his dress black-and-silver uniform, with the comet insignias on his collar. Leoh wore a simple cover-all, as advised in the invitation to the party. It was a splendid crimson with gold trim.
“You said she’s been invited,” Leoh answered over the hubbub of the hundreds of other conversations.