"Yes, I see," he said. "And, if you'll pardon me for thinking of my own miserable life, I am afraid that Zorvash Pedrik intends to kill me for betraying him." He thought for a minute. "I would be safe inside the Capitol," he said at last. I suppose the expression on my face must have shown him what I thought of the idea of allowing any Damakoi inside the Grand Capitol, because he said, hurriedly: "Surely you must know that I am not carrying a theta bomb or any other kind of atomic bomb. Your radiation detectors would have spotted it, would they not?" I had to admit that they would have spotted it if he were carrying anything that would fission. "Very well, then. You will have me under guard, will you not? Your men can watch me. They wouldn't let me get away with anything odd." It sounded logical, and I admitted it. "Okay," I said, "we'll put you in the basement of the Grand Capitol. You'll be safe there, and if we catch the killer, you'll be right there to identify him." * * * * * We pulled up in front of the Grand Capitol, and the Damakoi and I climbed out of the car. I'll admit that I still wasn't absolutely sure of my guess about Holdreth Khain, but since I knew he wouldn't be dangerous by himself, I felt I could take the chance. The guards had the car surrounded by the time we got out. They took a good look at the Damakoi, and went over him again with detectors and searched him physically. "You'll have to change your clothes completely," I told him. "We had one assassin who was wearing a special plastic suit that evaporated into a poisonous gas. It was rather nasty." "Certainly," agreed Holdreth Khain. The guards led him away to the dressing room. I went inside and got on the phone to the Special Supplies Warehouse. The supply officer faded into the screen. "What is it, Mr. Cameron?" "Do you happen to have a twelve by twelve foot piece of invisible plexisteel?" I asked. "We can cut you one in a hurry," he said. "Cut me _two_," I ordered, "and get them over here to the Grand Capitol building fast--and I really mean _fast_." "We'll have them there in seven--no, _six_ minutes." "Right. And send along construction men with them. I'm building a trap for a killer who thinks he's clever." I didn't add _I hope_, but I thought it. I was sure that there would be no slip-ups. I'd been picked for my ability to outguess and out-think anyone and everyone who might try to hurt the Galactic Government, and so far, I'd succeeded; the Government itself had withstood everything sent against it.