Now he was being pushed down into the sea. He screamed again and tried to wrench his body away. The frothing sea filled his view plate. He was under. He was being held under. And now … now the view plate itself was being loosened.
No! Don’t! The scalding cold methane/ammonia sea seeped through the opening view plate.
“It’s only a dream!” Massan shouted to himself, “Only a dream! A dream! A….”
Dr. Leoh stared at the dinner table without really seeing it. Coming to the restaurant had been Hector’s idea. Three hours earlier Massan had been removed from the dueling machine—dead.
Leoh sat stolidly, hands in lap, his mind racing in many different directions at once. Hector was off at the phone, getting the latest information from the meditechs, Odal had expressed his regrets perfunctorily, and then left for the Kerak embassy, under a heavy escort of his own plainclothes guards. The government of the Acquataine Cluster was quite literally falling apart, with no man willing to assume the responsibility of leadership … and thereby expose himself. One hour after the duel, Kanus’ troops had landed on all the major planets of Szarno; die annexation was complete.
And what have I done since I arrived here? Leoh demanded of himself. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I have sat back like a doddering old professor and played academic games with the machine, while younger, more vigorous men have USED the machine to suit their own purposes.
Used the machine. There was a fragment of an idea there. Something nebulous that must be approached carefully or it will fade away. Used the machine … used it…. Leoh toyed with the phrase for a few moments, then gave it up with a sigh of resignation. Lord, Fm too tired even to think.