"Hurkkirk did his work well; I'm afraid you killed him too mercifully," von Schlichten said. "Well, I'm sending the _Northern Star_ to Krink. She can only bring in one regiment at a trip, the way they're scattered; which one do you want first?" Jonkvank's mouth, until now compressed grimly, parted in a gleaming smile. He made an exclamation of pleasure which sounded rather like a boy running along a picket fence with a stick. "Good, general! Good!" he cried. "The first should be the regiment Murderers, at Furnk; they all have rifles like your soldiers. Have them brought to the Great Square, at the Palace here. And then, the regiment Fear-Makers, at Jeelznidd, and the regiment Corpse-Reapers, at...." "Let that go until the Murderers are in," von Schlichten advised. "They're at Furnk, you say? I'll send the _Northern Star_ there, directly." "Oh, good, general! I will not soon forget this! And, as soon as the work is finished here, I will send soldiers to help you at Skilk. There shall be a great pile of the heads of those who had part in this wickedness, both here and there!" "Good. Now, if you will pardon me, I'll go to give the necessary orders...." * * * * * As he left the booth, he saw Hideyoshi O'Leary in front of the situation-map, and hailed him. "Harry and Hassan are getting the car re-ammoed; they dropped me off here. Want to come up with us and see the show?" O'Leary asked, as he saw the general. "No, I want you to go to Krink, as soon as Harry brings the car here again." He told O'Leary what he intended doing. "You'll probably have to go around ahead of the _Star_ and alert these regiments. And as soon as things stabilize at Krink, prod Jonkvank into airlifting troops here. You're authorized, in my name, to promise Jonkvank that he can assume political control at Skilk, after we've stuffed Firkked's head in the dustbin." Jules Keaveney, who always seemed to be where he wasn't wanted, heard that and fairly screamed. "General von Schlichten! That is a political decision! You have no authority to make promises like that; that is a matter for the Governor-General, at least!" "Well, as of now, and until a successor to Sid Harrington can be sent here from Terra, I'm Governor-General," von Schlichten told him, mentally thanking Keaveney for reminding him of the necessity for such a step. "Captain Malavez! You will send out an all-station telecast, immediately: Military Commander-in-Chief Carlos von Schlichten, being informed of the deaths of both Governor-General Harrington and Lieutenant-Governor Blount, assumes the duties of Governor-General, as of 0001 today." He turned to Keaveney. "Does that satisfy you?" he asked. "No, it doesn't. You have no authority to assume a civil position of any sort, let alone the very highest position...." Von Schlichten unbuttoned his holster and took out his authority, letting Keaveney look in to the muzzle of it.