I picked Cagu up and got him over my shoulder, and all the way to the far exit it was so quiet in the Palace of Merrymaking that I could hear my own heavy breathing and the tinkle of fountains and the squeak of my fancy yellow plastic shoes. * * * * * In the bodyguards' quarters I laid Cagu out on a bunk, then faced the dozen scowling bruisers who stared down at the still body. "Cagu was a good man," I said. "Now he's dead. He died like an animal ... for nothing. That ended all his lives, didn't it, boys? How do you like it?" Mull glowered at me. "You talk like we was to blame," he said. "Cagu was my compeer too." "Whose pal was he a thousand years ago?" I snapped. "What was he--once? What were you? Vallon wasn't always like this. There was a time when every man was his own Owner--" "Look, you ain't of the Brotherhood--" one thug started. "So that's what you call it? But it's just another name for an old racket. A big shot sets himself up as dictator--" "We got our Code," Mull said. "Our job is to stick up for the Owner ... and that don't mean standing around listening to some japester callin' names." "I'm not calling names," I snapped. "I'm talking rebellion. You boys have all the muscle and most of the guts in this organization. Why do you sit on your tails and let the boss live off the fat while you murder each other for the amusement of the patrons? I say let's pay him a call--right now. You had a birthright ... once. But it's up to you to collect it ... before some more of you go the way Cagu did." There was an angry mutter. Torbu came in, face swollen. I backed up to a table, ready for trouble. "Hold it, you birds," Torbu said. "What's goin' on?" "This guy! He's talkin' revolt and treason," somebody said. "He wants we should pull some rough stuff--on Owner Qohey hisself." Torbu came up to me. "You're a stranger around Bar-Ponderone. Cagu said you was okay. You worked me over pretty good ... and I got no hard feelin's; that's the breaks. But don't try to start no trouble here. We got our Code and our Brotherhood. We look out for each other; that's good enough for us. Owner Qohey ain't no worse than any other Owner ... and by the Code, we'll stand by him!" "Listen to me," I said. "I know the history of Vallon: I know what you were once and what you could be again. All you have to do is take over the power. I can lead you to the ship I came here in. There are briefing rods aboard, enough to show you--" "That's enough," Torbu broke in. He made a cabalistic sign in the air. "We ain't gettin' mixed up in no tabu ghost-boats or takin' on no magicians and demons--" "Hogwash! That tabu routine is just a gag to keep you away from the cities so you won't discover what you're missing--" "I don't wanna hafta take you to the Greymen, Drgon," Torbu growled. "Leave it lay."