“I realize all that.” Paul was suddenly meek, conciliatory, sublimely treacherous. “But you must allow me as much sincerity as you withhold for yourself. I want to do what’s best. I think he should die and I’ve done everything to persuade him. He was near agreement when you upset everything.” “For which I’m happy ... though it was something of an accident. Are you sure that it is only for the sake of Cavesword you want him dead?” “What other possible reason?” He looked at me indignantly. I could not be sure whether he was telling the truth or not. I doubted it. “Many other reasons. For one thing you would be his heir, in complete control of the Establishment; and that of course is something worth inheriting.” Paul shrugged convincingly. “I’m as much in charge now as I would be with him dead,” he said with a certain truth. “I’m interested in Cavesword, not in Cave. If his death enhances and establishes the Word more securely then I must do all I can to convince him to take that course.” “There is another way,” I said, smiling at the pleasant thought. “Another way?” “To convince us of your dedication and sincerity to Cavesword.” “What’s that?” “You kill _yourself_, Paul.” There was a long silence. I pressed the buzzer and my secretary came in. Without a word, Paul left. Immediately afterwards, I took the private elevator to Cave’s penthouse. Two guards stopped me while I was announced by a third. After a short delay, I was admitted to Cave’s study, but not to Cave; instead, Iris received me. “I know what’s happening,” I said. “Where is he?” “Obviously you do.” Her voice was cold. She did not ask me to sit down. Awkwardly, I faced her at the room’s center. “We must stop him.” “John? Stop him from what?” “Doing what Paul wants him to do.” “And what you want as well.” “You’re mistaken. I thought I made myself clear the other night. But though my timing was apparently bad, under _no_ circumstances do I want him to die.” “You made your speech to force him.” “And Paul thinks I made it to stop him.” I couldn’t help smiling. “I am, it seems, everyone’s enemy.” “Paul has told me everything. How you and he and Stokharin all decided, without consulting us, that John should die.” I was astonished at Paul’s boldness. Could he really be moving so swiftly? How else explain such a prodigious lie? I told her quickly, urgently what I felt, what I had said to Paul and he to me. She heard me to the end without expressing either belief or disbelief. When I’d finished she turned away from me and went to the window where, through yellow glass, the city rose upon the band of horizon. “It’s too late,” she said, evenly. “I hadn’t expected this. Perhaps you’re telling me the truth ... if you are, you’ve made a terrible mistake.” She turned about suddenly, with a precision which was almost military. “He’s going to do it.”