Page 4 (1/2)

All sentient beings are created unequal The best society provides each with equal opportunity to float at his own level

- The Gowachin Priambit had been accepted A surplus of fifty Hu Whoever it ould see the possibilities of continuing - ten here, thirty there - and because of the way she&039;d introduced this flaw, the next people discarded would be h Gowachin to s out her daily routine knohat she&039;d set in motion It was all very well to accept the fact that you were going into danger When the actual moment arrived, it always had a different character As the subtle and not so subtle evidence of success accu over her Noas the time to think about her true power base, the troops ould obey her slightest hint, the tight coe with the Rim, the carefully selected and trained lieutenants Noas the ti so smoothly into her trap She concealed elation behind a facade of anger They&039;d expect her to be angry

The evidence began with a slowed response at her co Whoever had taken her bait wanted to be certain she was expendable Wouldn&039;t want to eliminate someone and then discover that the eliminated someone was essential to the power structure She&039;d ion which could be made non-essential

The ered a disconnect on her telltale circuit, re the evidence of her preparations before anyone could find it She didn&039;t think there&039;d be that ambit, but unnecessary chances weren&039;t part of her plan She removed the telltale ti cabinets, there to be destroyed with the other evidence when the Elector&039;s toads ca The lonely blue flash would be confined by metal walls which would heat to a nice blood red before lapsing into slag and ashes

In the next stage, people averted their faces as they walked past her office doorway

Ahhh, the accuracy of the rulance at a companion on the other side, concentration on aze fixed on the corridor&039;s ends Important business up there No time to stop and chat with Keila Jedrik today

By the Veil of Heaven! They were so transparent!

A Gowachin walked by exa the corridor&039;s blank opposite wall She knew that Gowachin: one of the Elector&039;s spies What would he tell Elector Broey today? Jedrik glared at the Gowachin in secret glee By nightfall, Broey would knoho&039;d picked up her gambit, but it was too small a bite to arouse his avarice He&039;dthe information for possible future use It was too early for him to suspect a sacrifice move

A Human male followed the Gowachin He was intent on the adjustlance at a Senior Liaitor in her office His name was Drayjo Only yesterday, Drayjo hadtoward her over this very desk to reveal the rey coveralls What did it er saw her as a useful conquest His face was a wooden door, closed, locked, hiding nothing

Avert your face, you clog!

When the red light glowed on her terminal screen, it caaret it Communication flowed across the screen:

"Opp SD22240268523ZX"

Good old ZX!

Bad neays developed its own coded idio every nuance:

"The Mandate of God having been consulted, the following supernumerary functions are hereby reduced If your position screen carries your job title with an underline, you are included in the reduction

"Senior Liaitor"

Jedrik clenched her fists in silared at the underlined words It was done OppOut, the good old Double-O Through its pliable aration of the Heavenly Veil had struck again

None of her elation showed through her Dosadi controls Soain would note presently that only Huood old Double-O Not one Gowachin there Whoeverdown the trail she&039;d deliberately left Evidence would accuht she kneould read that accumulated evidence for Broey It would be Tria It was not yet time for Tria to entertain doubts Broey would hear what Jedrik wanted hiame would be played by Jedrik&039;s rules then, and by the time others learned the rules it&039;d be too late