Thomakein's face fell. "I will be blamed for Elanane's death," he said solemnly. "I am more than sorry about that." "Being sorry is not enough." "What do you intend to do about it?" "Thomakein"--Guy opened the phonoscope key, dialed government headquarters, and continued--"I arrest you, Thomakein, for treason against the integrity of Ertene!" The faces on the plate registered horror, and then action. The plate continued to register as headquarters kept the circuit open. Guy dropped his hold on the audio key to cut the sounds of men in full cry. "Now we'll see." "You idiot," laughed Thomakein. "You'll see how Ertinians stick together!" "We'll see." "You might have come in," said Thomakein. "Together we could have ruled the entire System." "You planned to rule it alone," sneered Guy. "I shall--now." "You're the kind of man to share such power with me." "Certainly." "Rot." "Have it your way." "I'll have it my way," said Guy. "It's not your way." "Nor yours. I don't particularly care," said Thomakein easily. "My plans are about set anyway. A day or so means little." "Days--even hours can ruin anything." "Not when the plan includes the possibility of something slipping." "Nice trick you played on me." "Thank you, Guy. That's just an idea. If I can play puppets with a ruler of Ertene, an ambitious young man from Terra, and the fate of worlds and make everything come out even--I can run the show." "You controlled the election of Elanane because he resembled me." "Naturally. That was part of it." "Why?" "Because I knew that no Ertinian would permit me to arm Ertene for power and invasion. It took an energetic man, with will, force, and fear of discovery to push it through. Guy, you'd have been safe if I'd been permitted to run this freely. Terra couldn't touch you. But you choose to pit your futile will against mine. Mine--and Ertene's!" "I am going to keep Ertene free!" shouted Guy, hammering on the desk with his fist. "You mean, 'Gomanar is going to save his skin!' don't you?" sneered Thomakein. "I'll shoot the works, Thomakein, if it's necessary." "Poor lad. You had promise." The door flung open, and police entered. They begged Thomakein's forgiveness, and then marched him from the office to the great hall wherein the Council met. The great Hall of History brought back the memory of his first visit, and Guy smiled. Then as the Council entered and seated itself, Guy faced them. In the balcony above, faces peered over at the governmental representatives. The wall below the balcony's edge came alive with the hundred and eighty phonoscopes that would take this proceeding to all Ertene. "A grave charge has been made," said the leader of the group. "Who brings this charge." "I, Lanee Elanane, charge that this man, Thomakein, has plotted against the Will of Ertene." "The charge is treason, then?" "Yes."