"Next thing, I was being accused of accepting a money bribe from Pete. And I really got into it with the faculty advisor. That's not good." He dropped his hands to his sides. "Right now, I'm not too popular at school. And I want to know what's going on. I want to know why Pete didn't show up to give me backing. I want to know what can be done to unscramble this mess." Wearn shook his head slowly. "There are other schools--private schools," he said. "And we are still possessed of some----" "Careful, Mr. Waern." Don held up a warning hand. "I don't carry the sling, but I do come from the Morek. Don't say something that might be misinterpreted. I want to see things straightened out. I didn't come here to start a feud with you." Jasu Waern shivered a little. "But you are galactic, are you not? Surely, you are no hillman." "I was brought up among them. Now get Pete. I want to talk to both of you." Waern looked unhappy. But he walked across the room and pulled at a cord. A servant came to the door. "Tell Master Petoen," ordered Waern, "that I would like to see him in here." The man bowed and left. Waern turned back to Don. "You see, Mr. Michaels," he said apologetically, "we are in difficult times here. My brother----" "I know." Don nodded. "Pete was upset the other evening. He told me a little. A little more than is made public." Waern's eyebrows went up. "He said nothing about that." Don waved negligently. "It did no harm. Maybe it was a good thing." He turned toward the door, waiting. * * * * * Pete came in, looking about the room. "You brought Don Michaels here, Father?" Waern shook his head. "He came. He insisted on talking to you, Petoen. And I find he is very persuasive." "Oh." Pete turned. "I'm sorry, Don. Father thought that I----" Don laughed shortly. "He was right--to some extent. But I'd like to talk to both of you about a few things." He moved back, to perch on the edge of a heavily carved table. "Let's look at it this way. I got into trouble over the affair. Not good, of course, but what happened to me is just one small incident. All over Oredan, good intentioned people have things happening to them. Sometimes, they're pretty serious things--like someone getting killed. And they usually can't figure out what hit them. These things happen pretty often. Why?" Waern looked uncomfortable, but said nothing. Don looked at him curiously. "Do you really think, Mr. Waern, that you can sit here in peace? That if you ignore this whole mess, it'll go away?" Jasu Waern spread his hands. "What dare I do? My brother was trying to do something. He is gone." "True. He tried to clean up a little here and fix a little there. And that only in one city. He didn't come boldly out and demand. He was playing on the edge of the board, not in the center. A king could do much more than that." Waern looked at him, shaking his head.