The tenseness in Merdon’s face relaxed a bit. “All rightA few minutes.”
Vorgens looked around at the crowd that had gathered about them.
“Perhaps we could talk better up there.” He pointed to a little knoll.
Merdon shrugged.
“We’re going for a walk, sergeant,” Vorgens told Mclntyre, “and I don’t want to be disturbed.”
Merdon said much the same to Tarat. Then they started walking, in silence.
But as they reached the foot of the knoll and began climbing its gentle slope, Merdon asked: “You talked with my father?”
“Altai did. He’s organizing a defense of the city.”
“He’ll get himself killed.”
“What are you going to do to help save him?”
Merdon glanced at the Watchman”There’s nothing I can do. You know thatKatan is too far away, even for the fastest groundcars. The Komani will be there before we can get to the city.”
*’r1 r!”
So? Merdon stopped walking. “So I’m going to hit the
Komani where it will hurt the most. I’m going to kill Okatar.”
Vorgens pursed his lips thoughtfully. Then he said, “That won’t save your father.”
“He could save himself if he’d abandon the city.”
“Would you run away, if you were in his place?”
Merdon opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out.
“You may have heard,” Vorgens said, resuming his climb toward the top of the knoll, “that my personal situation has changed somewhat since our last meeting.”
Merdon, striding swiftly to catch up with the Watchman, could not help grinning. “I’ve heard.”
“I’m no longer a prisoner, and while my rank is still that of a junior officer, I am the Star Watch officer in command of Shinar.”