it that the rest of us got a good start, and leftus to take it from there." He smiled.
"We had some fun, now and then. Got the border pacified. Got the crooksand the tough boys calmed down. And we got the hill tribes cooled offsome, too. Even made friends with them--after a while. And some guysgot married and made noises like real Khlorisanu--genuine Oredanu, infact. A few of them married Oredana girls." He laughed shortly.
"The Khlorisanu are humanoid--human to as many decimals as you need togo. There's a little minor variation in superficial appearance betweenthem and the average galactic, but there's no basic difference. Quite afew of the fellows found the local girls made good wives.
"But anyway. There wasn't any real organization among us. We just ...well, sort of knew what the other fellow was about. Kind of kept ourown personal policy files. And things went along pretty well.
"Oh, there were some fellows who stuck to some sort of organizationalstructure, I suppose. You know how that is--some guys can't draw a deepbreath unless the rest of the team is there to fill in the picture.
* * * * *
"And then, there were several people like Andy Masterson, who showed upfrom nowhere. That was none of my business. Happened to know Andy, butI've never talked to him here. Those people had complete newbackgrounds. No Guard experience--it says here. And they joined theeconomy--took out Oredan citizenship. Some of them got into governmentwork.
"Then this guy, Daniel Stern, showed up. He started grabbing influencewith both hands. Smart young guy. Killed off a prime minister--wethink--and a king. Can't prove any of that, though." Kent shook hishead.
"Don't think we didn't try to stop him, once we realized what he was upto. We did. About that time, a whole lot of us did get together andorganize. But he's one of those people. If he tells a man to go out andshoot himself, the next thing you hear is the sound of a falling body."His eyes clouded and he looked searchingly at Don.
"You should know what I mean. Like when you told that Ghar thief totell us all about it--remember?"
"Look, Dad, that's something I'd like to know...."
Kent Michaels waved a hand. "So would I. But I know less about it thanyou do, so it's no use. All I know is that some people can tell mostanyone to do almost anything--and it gets done. As I said, Stern seemsto be one of them." He shrugged.
"Anyway, we lost a lot of good colonists before we decided to sit backand wait this boy out.
"It's been a long wait. Some of us have gotten rich in the meantime, inspite of Stern's trick taxes. Some of us have had a pretty rough time,I guess. But we're all growing older, and Stern's pretty cagey aboutimmigration. Doubt if many guardsmen are getting in these days. We'regoing to have to depend on our kids, I think."
Don leaned forward.
"In other words, I could have kicked over an applecart?"
"Well, let's say you might have bent an axle on your own pretty, bluewagon. It's a good thing Masterson was there when you blew up. Anyoneelse, and I might have come up short one son. I wouldn't like that toowell. Might make me go down to Oreladar and try a little targetpractice." He frowned thoughtfully.
"You know, come to think of it, no one ever made me do anything Ididn't want to do."
Don looked thoughtful.
"What do I do now?"
"Just what you said. Start working for your keep. If I get the newsright, the waiting period is about over. Stern's finally dipped his toein the water, with that business over Waern, and we might be able to dosomething. You just might get your teeth into it. And maybe I'll findmyself going back to work.
"First, you'll have to go back to Riandar. Apologize to Masterson, ofcourse, and give him a peace offering. I'll give you a bottle ofDiamond Brandy before you leave. Be sure you hold the diamond in frontof him when you stick the bottle out. Otherwise, he might throwsomething. He'll take it from there." The older man grinned.
"And if I remember Andy Masterson, he'll come up with enough work tokeep you busy."
* * * * *
Andrew Masterson frowned at the bottle held before him.
"What's this?" he inquired. "You know better than to bring stuff likethis on the grounds."
Don Michaels shrugged. "Dad said there wasn't too much of it around anymore. Thought you might like some."
"Oh, he did? Yeah. Well, I'll take it as well meant. Might find someonewho could use it." Masterson opened a drawer and thrust the bottleinside.
"He have anything else to say?"
Don nodded, looking at Masterson's suddenly watchful eyes. "He said ifyou'd come up our way, he'd show you how to hold 'em and squeeze 'em.Said maybe you might like to bring up some friends some time and givethem a chance to find out what border life is like."
"Huh! You mean he's still playing games with those antique leadtossers?" Masterson grinned suddenly. "Thought he'd have outgrown thatfoolishness years ago. By the way, how's he shooting these days?"
"Fired a pinwheel after I told him about the row yesterday. Meant heonly dropped three points on the target--standing."
"So? Maybe he could do damage with one of those antiques of his, atthat--if he could get someone to hold still long enough for him toshoot at them. But nobody makes ammunition for the things any more.Where's he getting that?"
"Makes it himself." Don smiled. "He's got quite a workshop down in thebasement."
Masterson nodded. "That's Kent Michaels, all right. O.K., youngster, Iknew who you were in the first place. Just checking. Tell me, did heget you mixed up with that antique craze of his?"
Don nodded. "I beat him at it once in a while, sir."
"Did you hand him another beating yesterday? When you went out of here,it looked as though you were going to have to whip somebody."
Don frowned. "He made a monkey out of me. I couldn't stay on target."
"Uh, huh." Masterson nodded slowly. "Figures. Remember that, that it'llbe the most valuable match you ever lost."
"Sir?"
"That's right. Yesterday, you got pretty well charged up. Even managedto warm up a secret police agent. Doesn't pay, believe me. About thetime you get emotionally involved in a problem, the problem turnsaround and bites you. You're lucky. Someone else got bit instead--thistime. You see, one of us didn't get shook up."
"I don't----"
Masterson tilted his head. "We had an unfortunate accident here rightafter you left. Dr. Rayson went rushing out of here and took off in hisflier. Something went wrong--nobody's sure what. Maybe he didn't lethis stabilizing rotors have time to lock in. Maybe a lot of things.Anyway, he flipped about fifty meters up. Came down pretty fast, andburned right by the parking lot. Quite a mess." He nodded sadly.
"Shame. Fine psychologist, and one of the best secret policemen in therealm."
"You----"
Masterson held up a hand. "Let's just say he was careless." Hemotioned.
"Sit down. No, not in the hot seat. Take that one over there. Then youcan see things." He drew a long breath.
"Your father say anything about Stern?"
Don nodded. "He doesn't like him too well."
"He's got company. Know what Stern's trying to do, don't you?"
Don laughed uneasily. "I'm pretty well mixed up, to be truthful. Fromwhat Dad told me, he's trying to turn Oredan into a Dictatorship, withhim at the head. Then, he'll take over the rest of the planet--a pieceat a time."
"Close. He's planned it pretty well, too. He's got the royal successionpretty well balled up. He's almost ready to move in right now. Only onestumbling block. Know what that is?"
Don shook his head.
"Youngster named Petoen Waern. He's old enough--older than he looks.His mother's a niece of the last king. Conclave of the tribes could puthim on the throne tomorrow morning. He's a bet Stern missed a whileback. Now, he's trying to make up for it."
Don frowned. "Is that really why----"
"Right. That's why the row in the locker room. That would haveeliminated that cla
imant in a hurry. Nobody wants a king with a familycriminal record and a habit of starting brawls--especially when heloses those brawls. Kings just aren't supposed to go in for that sortof thing." Masterson smiled mirthlessly.
"Anyway, I doubt he'd have survived that affair if you hadn't rammedyour neck into it."
* * * * *
"But there are other claimants. They'll come of age