And he wants the tape shown publicly, just as you thought he would.”
Odal smiled tightly. “Excellent.”
“Look, if I’m going to be made to look foolish on that tape,” the newsman said, “I think I ought to get more money,”
“I don’t handle the financial matters,” Odal said. “You’ll have to speak to the embassy accountant… after we see how well you play your part in the duel.”
Pouting, the newsman replied, “All right. But I’m going to be finished for life when that tape is shown.”
“We’ll take care of you,” Odal promised. Indeed, we’ll provide for you for the rest of your life.
Geri Dulaq walked briskly out of the sunlight of the university’s campus into the shadows of the dueling machine’s high-vaulted chamber. “Hector, you sounded so worried on the phone. -..” He took her hands in his. “I am. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. It’s … well, it’s happened again. First Ponte argues the Professor into a duel, and now this newsman. You think Ponte might be working for Kerak, so … I mean….”
“Perhaps the newsman is too,” Geri finished for him. Hector nodded. “And with Odal back .., well, they’re brewing up something….”
“Where is the Professor now?” Geri asked. Pointing to the office behind the dueling machine chamber. Hector said, “In there. He doesn’t want to be disturbed … working on equations or something … about interstellar ships, I think.” Geri looked surprised.
“Oh, he’s not worried about the duel,” Hector explained. “I told him all about Ponte … what you said, I mean. But he thinks the machine can’t be tampered with, so he’s not, uh, worried. And he beat Ponte pretty easily.”