“And there’s nothing you can do to convince Martine?” Leoh asked.
“Apparently not. But if you’re going to remain on the scene here, perhaps you can try.”
Leoh nodded. “I can speak to the scientists here at the university. Their voices should cany some weight with the government.”
Spencer looked skeptical. “What else will you be tinkering with? I know you won’t be content without some sort of research problem to puzzle over.”
“I’m trying to find a way of improving on the star shipsWe’ve got to make interstellar traveT easier….”
“The star ships are highly efficient already.”
“I know. I mean a fundamental improvement. Perhaps a completely different way to travel through space … as different as the star ships are from the ancient rockets.”
Spencer held up a beefy hand. “Enough! In another minute you’ll start spouting metadimensional physics at me. Politics is hard enough for me to understand.”
Leoh chuckled.
Turning to Hector, Sir Harold said, “Lieutenant, keep a close eye on him as long as he’s in Acquatainia. Professor Leoh is a valuable man—and my friend. Understood?”
“Yessir.”
Odal stood rigidly at attention before Kor. The Intelligence Minister was leaning back in his padded desk chair, his hands playing over an ornate dagger that he used as a pointer.
**You don’t enjoy your duties here?” Kor was smiling coldly.
“I am an army officer,” Odal said carefiilly. “I find that interrogation work is … unpleasant.”
Kor tapped the dagger against his fingernails. “But you are one of the few men who can use the dueling machine or interrogation. And you are by far the best man we have for the purpose. The others are amateurs compared to you. You have talent!”