“Son, you’re makin’ a mistake,” said Rev, warming to his favorite subject. “The King’s comin’ to Landoor, no doubt about it. Why, he’s already here, if you look around you. Every true follower-“
“I’ll warn you, that sounds a lot like sedition to me,” said one cop. “Landoor’s got its own government, and we aren’t about to change.”
“That’s right, sedition!” said Takamine, his face lighting up. “I knew this man was a troublemaker when I first laid eyes on him. That greasy hair, that sneer-“
“But it weren’t me, I tell you,” said Rev.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, too,” said Phule. “There are at least eleven legionnaires who resemble this man, plus quite a few of your own citizens-“
“Dozens,” said Rev confidently. “Before long, hundreds of thousands will want to follow the King.”
“I’ve heard just about enough of that,” said the cop who’d accused Rev of sedition. “Mister, I don’t know whether you robbed this man or not, but I’m gonna take you down to the station for questioning.”
“One moment, officer,” said Phule, whose checkered history in relation to Legion brass had made him a pretty good barracks-room lawyer. He stepped forward between Rev and the policemen. “The Legion will always cooperate with civilian authorities, but I can’t stand by and see my company’s chaplain hauled away on an unfounded charge. If you file a formal complaint, a Legion board of justice will determine whether or not there’s been a breach of local law-“
“What did I tell ya?” screamed Takamine. “The minute you pin one of these occupying goons down for some offense, the rest of them close ranks to protect him. I’m gonna write the governor and have ’em thrown off the planet. My cousin’s a big contributor to the Native Landooran Party. A big contributor.”