Panting, I looked across at Cagu. His scarred face, white as wax, was strangely altered now; it looked peaceful. I took a bottle from a waiter-slave, poured out a stiff drink, then a couple more. Somebody helped Torbu to his feet, walked him to the ringside. I had another drink. It had been a big evening. Now all I had to do was take the body home.... I went over to where Cagu was laid out on the floor. Shocked people stood around staring. Torbu was on his knees beside the body. A tear ran down his nose, dripped on Cagu's face. Torbu wiped it away with a big scarred hand. "I'm sorry, old friend," he said. "I didn't mean it, you know I didn't." 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. * * * * * In the bodyguards' quarters I laid Cagu out on the 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." 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." "Names, hell," I snapped. "I'm talking rebellion. You boys have all the muscle and most of the guts in this organization. Why let the boss live off the fat while you murder each other for the amusement of the patrons? You had a birthright ... once. But it's up to you to collect it ... before more of you go the way Cagu did." There was an angry mutter. Torbu came in, face swollen. "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--"