The bubbling air seemed to draw in on itself and take solid form. Dr. Leoh sat at a desk chair and looked up at the standing commander. “Harold, it’s a pleasure to see you once again.” Spencer’s stern eyes softened, and his beefy face broke into a well-creased smile. “Albert, you ancient scoundrel. What do you mean by interrupting my first visit home in fifteen years?” “It won’t be a long interruption,” Leoh said. “You told my chief of staff that it was urgent,” Sir Harold groused. “It is. But it’s not the sort of problem that requires much action on your part. Yet. You are familiar with recent political developments on the Kerak Worlds?” Spencer snorted. “I know that a barbarian named Kanus has established himself as a dictator. He’s a troublemaker. I’ve been talking to the Commonwealth Council about the advisability of quashing him before he causes grief, but you know the Council ... first wait until the flames have sprung up, then thrash about and demand that the Star Watch do something!” Leoh grinned. “You’re as irascible as ever.” “My personality is not the subject of this rather expensive discussion. What about Kanus? And what are you doing, getting yourself involved in politics? About to change your profession again?” “No, not at all,” Leoh answered, laughing. Then, more seriously. “It seems as though Kanus has discovered some method of using the dueling machines to achieve political advantages over his neighbors.” “What?” Leoh explained the circumstances of Odal’s duels with the Acquatainian prime minister and Szarno Industrialist. “Dulaq is completely incapacitated and the other poor fellow is dead?” Spencer’s face darkened into a thundercloud. “You were right to call me. This is a situation that could easily become intolerable.” “I agree,” Leoh said. “But evidently Kanus has not broken any laws or interstellar agreements. All that meets the eye is a disturbing pair of accidents, both of them accruing to Kanus’ benefit.” “Do you believe that they were accidents?” “Certainly not. The dueling machine cannot cause physical or mental harm ... unless someone has tampered with it in some way.” “That is my thought, too.” Spencer was silent for a moment, weighing the matter in his mind. “Very well. The Star Watch cannot act officially, but there is nothing to prevent me from dispatching an officer to the Acquataine Cluster, on detached duty, to serve as liaison between us.” “Good. I think that will be the most effective method of handling the situation, at present.” “It will be done.” Sir Harold pronounced. His aide made a mental note of it. “Thank you very much,” Leoh said. “Now, go back to enjoying your vacation.” “Vacation? This is no vacation,” Spencer rumbled. “I happen to be celebrating my birthday.” “So? Well, congratulations. I try not to remember mine,” Leoh said. “Then you must be older than I,” Spencer replied, allowing only the faintest hint of a smile to appear. “I suppose it’s possible.”