Leoh started for the door. Odal remained standing in front of the lounge. Then he called:
“Professor. That girl . . . the one who was so startled when I arrived at your dueling machine Who is she?”
Leoh turned. “Ceri Dulaq. The late Prime Minister’s daughter.”
“Oh, I see.” For an instant, Odal’s nearly expressionless face seemed to show something: disappointment, regret?
“She hates me, doesn’t she?” he asked.
‘To use your own words,” said Leoh, “why not?”
Hector scratched his head thoughtfully and said, “This sort of, well, puts me in a … urn, funny position.”
The Kerak captain shrugged. “We are all in an extremely delicate position.”
“Well, I suppose so, if… that is, I mean .. , how do I know you’re telling me the truth?”
The captain’s blunt, seamed face hardened angrily for a moment. They were sitting on the bridge of the orbiting star ship to which Hector had been brought. Beyond the protective rail, on the level below, was the control center of the mammoth vessel. The captain controlled his rage and replied evenly:
“A Kerak officer does not tell lies. Under any circumstances. My—superior, let us say—has spoken to the Star Watch Commander, as I explained to you. They reached an agreement whereby you are to remain on this ship until further notice. I am willing to allow you free rein of the ship, exclusive of the control center itself, the power plant, and the air locks. I believe that this is more than fair.”
Hector drummed his fingers on the chart table next to him. “Guess I’ve got no choice, really. I’m sort of, well, halfway between a prisoner and, um, a cultural exchange tourist.”