Their eyes met for an instant. The man gave a barely perceptible shake of his head, then left.
Odal returned his attention to Leoh”I’m sorry. Professor, but I can’t allow you to monitor my thoughts during the duel.”
“But….”
“I regret having to refuse you. But, as you yourself pointed out, there is no legal requirement for such a course of action. I must refuse. I hope you understand.”
Leoh rose slowly from the couch. “No, I do not understand. You sit here and discuss legal points when we both know full well that you’re planning to murder Massan tomorrow.” His voice burning with anger, Leoh went on, “You’ve turned my invention into a murder weapon. But you’ve turned me into an enemy. I’ll find out how you’re doing it, and I won’t rest until you and your kind are put away where you belong … on a planet for the criminally insane!”
Hector reached for the door and opened it. He and Leoh went out, leaving Odal alone in me room. In a few minutes, the dark-suited man returned.
“I have just spoken with the Leader on the tri-di and obtained permission to make a slight adjustment in our plans.”
“An adjustment. Minister Kor?”
“After your duel tomorrow, your next opponent will be Dr. Leoh,” said Kor. “He is the next man to die.”
The mists swirled deep and impenetrable around Fernd Massan. He stared blindly through the useless view plate in his helmet, then reached up slowly and carefully placed the infrared detector before his eyes.
/ never realized a hallucination could seem so real. Massan thought.