without thinking! He raisedhis voice.
"Can you hear me, Michaels?"
He had been right. The answering voice came from the palace doorway.
"I can hear."
"Then listen carefully." Stern put all his persuasive power into hisvoice.
"I shall not harm this boy unless I am forced to, but I assure you thatif I am interfered with, I'll not hesitate. From where you are, you cando nothing. Any blast you release will spread out to kill him as wellas me. You realize that?"
"I can hear you." Don's voice was expressionless.
"And," added Stern loudly, "if I am struck or attacked, I will havetime to release this khroal. This is also obvious, is it not?"
There was no answer. Stern frowned. What was the fellow doing? He drewa deep breath. He'd have to go through with it now, no matter what.
"I am going to the gate in the wall over there. Shortly after I gothrough that gate, I shall release this boy, and use a means of escapewhich I have prepared. You may watch me, of course, but make no effortto stop me--or this boy dies."
He paused again, waiting for an answer.
The wardens, he could see, had stopped and stood, undecided. None ofthem was close enough to be dangerous.
This, he thought with a surge of hope, was going to work out after all.He turned his eyes for a swift glance at his captive.
Once at the yacht, he could release a bit of energy from the khroal.This boy had destroyed all his careful plans. No, he decided, PeteWaern could not be allowed to live and enjoy those good things thepalace afforded.
He tightened his grip about the boy's neck.
* * * * *
Don Michaels had strapped his sling on his arm. Now, he lay on thefloor of the Blue Palace. Stern's head was centered in the scope andthe cross hairs bobbed slowly about a spot just in front of the man'sright ear.
"No question about it," Don told himself, "if Stern gets Pete throughthat gate, that'll be the end of Pete."
He put pressure on the trigger.
"The guy's as sore as a singed gersal," he told himself. "And half nutsbesides. He'll spray Pete with that thing if it's the last thing heever does." He continued his pressure on the trigger. The cross hairsstill hovered about the man's ear.
"Hope that anatomy book was right," he told himself.
Of course, he realized, if he missed the tiny target--if the bulletfailed to destroy the motor centers on impact--Stern would die anyway.But he just might be able to press the release on that khroal. And thatwouldn't be good.
The aiming point moved a trifle and Don eased back into position.
What had happened to the trigger on this thing? Had he forgotten totake off the safety? Again, the cross hairs started to wander and heeased them back--back toward that little spot.
The rifle leaped upward with a roar, slamming back against Don'sshoulder. He let it settle again, examining the scene anxiously throughhis sight.
Stern was still on his feet, but his hands were dropping limply to hissides. Don could just see the glitter of the khroal by Pete's feet.Then, Stern's knees bent and he flowed to the ground.
Pete had turned at the sound of the shot. He looked back at the palacedoor, then glanced at the khroal.
At last, he knelt beside the body on the ground. He felt the throat,then examined the man's head. For an instant, he looked a little sick,then he looked away from the tiny hole in front of the man's ear. Hegot to his feet and waved a hand.
"Pinwheel," he shouted.
* * * * *
The newly enrobed King of Oredan settled back in his chair and shookthe heavy cloth back from his shoulder.
"So," he said thoughtfully, "it's all over." He sighed.
"And it's all just beginning, too. Now, I'll have to form agovernment." He smiled sadly.
"It's funny, Don. For years, I've dreamed of actually being king. Nowit's suddenly happened and I feel about as helpless as they come." Hestretched out a hand. "All at once, I'm realizing it's pretty rough fora schoolboy to suddenly find himself with a whole nation to run. Idon't know where to start."
"You'll get used to it, Pete." Don smiled at him. "Get yourself a fewreally competent advisors. Tell them what you want, and let them go outand get some competent people to do things. And you've got it whipped."
"Yeah." Pete nodded. "Yeah, I guess that's the way it's done. But----Well, I asked for it. And they handed it to me." He looked directly atDon.
"How about you? You've got plenty of clan rank, you know. Whatdepartment do you want?"
Don shook his head slowly. "Don't look at me," he advised. "Theyoffered me a spot in the Stellar Guard and I'm signing up." He glancedaround the room.
"I've got no place here."
"What are you talking about?" Pete frowned. "I owe this whole thing toyou. I wouldn't even be alive if you hadn't been around. You can haveanything you want here, and you know it. What can the Federation offeryou?"
Don shrugged. "Oh, I don't know," he said. "Lot of work, of course.Pride of accomplishment, maybe. Peace of mind. Hard to say. Only onething I'm sure of. I wouldn't work out here."
"I don't get it." Pete shook his head.
Don looked at him, his face expressionless.
"Look, Pete. Do you really like me?"
"Why, of course. You saved my life and set me on the throne. I told youthat."
"Not just what I mean. Do you feel perfectly relaxed and easy when I'maround? Would you really call me a close friend?"
Pete squirmed in his chair. Uneasily, he looked overhead at the tassledcanopy.
"That's a lousy way to put it," he complained.
"Well?" Don's face was still expressionless.
Pete forced himself to look directly at him.
"I don't know. I ... well, you've done so darn much. Well, I guess I ama little afraid of you, at that." He looked at the floor.
"Oh, all right. I'll have to admit it. You do actually make me uneasy.Always did, even back at school. Lot of fellows felt the same way."
Don stood. "That's what I mean. And it would get worse if I hungaround. You'd get so you hated yourself--and me." He held out a hand.
"You're the king--the ruler of this whole nation. That means you've gotto be the head man. No one can give you orders. They can suggest, butno one can be even capable of giving you orders." He smiled.
"Dad will rebuild the ranch, of course. And I may come back once in awhile, in a very quiet way. But for the most part, I'd better not bearound too often."
Pete got to his feet. Suddenly, he looked relieved and at ease.
"I'll make certain your ranch is never interfered with," he promised."It's yours, so long as you or your father want it. And I hope thatsome day it'll be a home for your kids." He paused.
"If you ever do decide to come to the capital," he added, "you'll be awelcome guest at the palace."
"O.K." Don grinned. "Let's leave it that way. Good-by, then, and I hopeyours is the longest reign in history."
He turned and walked through the curtain.
THE END
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