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It appeared that Hoddan was revered for the size of the benders he enabled his followers to hang on. But there remained the fact that the Lady Fani had tried to get him massacred. He puzzled over it. The little yacht sped through space toward Walden. He tried to think how he'd offended Fani. He could think of nothing.
I don't like him, but at this moment I don't like anybody very much, and I won't play favorites." Thal dragged the insensible young nobleman into the next room. Hoddan locked the door and pocketed the key as Fani came into view again. She was splendidly attired, now, in brocade and jewels.
But they came pouring out of emptiness to go into a swirling, plainly pre-intended orbit about the planet from which Hoddan had risen less than an hour before. There was inevitable confusion, though, and the spacephone proved it.
"But " "So that," said Hoddan, "while your debt to me cannot and should not be overlooked, nevertheless" Hoddan put the roll into his mouth and spoke less clearly "you feel that you should give consideration to the claims of Walden to inquire into my actions while there." He chewed, and swallowed, and said gravely: "And can I make deathrays?" Don Loris brightened. He drew a deep breath of relief.
Tractor treads were bent and cracked. It was not a machine except in shape. It was a mock-up in worthless materials which probably cost its maker the twentieth part of what an honest jungle plow would cost to build. Hoddan felt the anger any man feels when he sees betrayal of that honor a competent machine represents. "It's not all like this!" he said incredulously.
I am troubled by Bron Hoddan. So what could I do? She said the same thing to each of us, and each of us had to say that he would fight for her. To each she said that she was troubled by you. Then Don Loris sent us out to look at your body. And now we are disgraced!" Hoddan's mouth opened and closed and opened again. He remembered this item of Darthian etiquette.
Lying flat, he kicked convulsively for a few seconds. He looked like somebody who had taken poison. Then he waited. It was a rather long time before his jailer came down the cell corridor, dragging a fire hose. Hoddan had been correct in assuming that he was watched.
Behind him, cops realized their trouserless condition and appealed plaintively to householders to notify headquarters of their state. Hoddan did not feel particularly disillusioned, somehow. It occurred to him, even, that this particular event was likely to help him get off of Walden. If he was to leave against the cops' will, he needed to have them at less than top efficiency.
"You haven't phrased it that way, but you're actually a rebel. A revolutionist. You defy authority and tradition and governments and such things. Naturally the Interstellar Diplomatic Service is inclined to be on your side. What do you think it's for?" In something under two hours Hoddan was ushered into the ambassador's office.
"Thank you," said Hoddan. "I'll see you in the morning." He sealed up the ship when the lawyer's clerk departed. Then he felt lonely. He was the only living thing in the ship. His footsteps echoed hollowly. There was nobody to speak to. Not even anybody to threaten. He'd done a lot of threatening lately. He went forlornly to the cabin once occupied by the liner's former skipper.
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