"I suppose the 'path of neutrality' means Superior might consider hiring itself out to the highest bidder?" Don asked. "That would be one way of putting it," Clark said. "Undiplomatic but accurate." "How does Civek intend to get his message to Washington?" asked Don, aware that it had already been transmitted to the Pentagon via the transceiver under his collar. "Bottle over the side?" "My sources tell me they've got WCAV working on short wave. That right, Alis?" "Don't ask me. I only live there." "Do you still think Civek is fronting for the Cavalier crowd?" Don asked her. "I don't remember saying that," she said. "I think I agreed with you when you said Civek was ineffectual. Who do _you_ think is behind him? Do you think he's king of the kangaroos?" "Well," Don said, "they're the ones who took him away last night. And when he came back this morning he had all the trappings. He didn't get that coach-and-six from foreign aid." Ed Clark said, "This is all very fascinating, kids, but it's not helping me get out my extra. Don, why don't you take the little lady out to lunch? You can continue your theorizing over the blueplate special at the Riverside Inn. Only place in town still open, they tell me." * * * * * Doc Bendy was hurrying out of the Riverside Inn as they reached it. He waved to them. "Save your money. His Gracious Majesty is throwing a free lunch for everybody." "Where?" "At the palace, of course." "What palace?" Alis asked. "The bubble gum factory. He's taken it over." "Why the gum factory?" "Cheeky McFerson offered it to him. Not the factory itself but the big old house near the west wing. The mansion that's been closed up since the old man died. They say Cheeky's been given a title as part of the bargain." "Sir Cheeky?" Alis asked, giggling. "Something like that. Lord Chicle, maybe, or Baron de Mouthful. Come on. It should be quite a show." Dozens of people were in the streets, all heading in the same direction. Word of the king's largess spread fast and, on the factory grounds, guards were directing the crowd to a line that disappeared into a side door of the old McFerson mansion. A flag flew from the top of a pole at the front of the house. It was whipping in a stiff breeze and Don couldn't make out the device, except that a crown formed part of it. One of the guards recognized Alis Garet and directed her to the front door. She took Doc Bendy and Don by their arms. "Come on," she said. "We're VIP's. Father must have sworn allegiance." The chief of police was sitting behind a desk in the wide front hall but he now wore a military tunic with a chestful of decorations (including the Good Conduct Medal, Sergeant Cort noticed), and the visor of his military cap was overrun with gold curlicues. "Well, Vince," Bendy said. "I see you got in on the ground floor." "General Sir Vincent Grande, Minister of Defense," Grande said with a stiff little bow, "at your service."