An unsabotaged machine cannot
cause actual physical harm.

"Yet you have already killed one man and incapacitated another. Where
will it stop?"

Odal's face remained calm, except for the faintest glitter of fire
deep in his eyes. His voice was quiet, but had the edge of a
well-honed blade to it: "I cannot be blamed for my background and
experience. And I have not tampered with your machines."

The door to the room opened, and a short, thick-set, bullet-headed man
entered. He was dressed in a dark street suit, so that it was
impossible to guess his station at the Embassy.

"Would the gentlemen care for refreshments?" he asked in a low-pitched
voice.

"No, thank you," Leoh said.

"Some Kerak wine, perhaps?"

"Well--"

"I don't, uh, think we'd better, sir," Hector said. "Thanks all the
same."

The man shrugged and sat at a chair next to the door.

Odal turned back to Leoh. "Sir, I have my duty. Massan and I duel
tomorrow. There is no possibility of postponing it."

"Very well," Leoh said. "Will you at least allow us to place some
special instrumentation into the booth with you, so that we can
monitor the duel more fully? We can do the same with Massan. I know
the duels are normally private and you would be within your legal
rights to refuse the request. But, morally--"

The smile returned to Odal's face. "You wish to monitor my thoughts.
To record them and see how I perform during the duel. Interesting.
Very interesting--"

The man at the door rose and said, "If you have no desire for
refreshments, gentlemen--"

Odal turned to him. "Thank you for your attention."

Their eyes met and locked for an instant. The man give a barely
perceptible shake of his head, then left.

Odal returned his attention to Leoh, "I am sorry, professor, but I
cannot allow you to monitor my thoughts during the duel."

"But--"

"I regret having to refuse you. But, as you yourself pointed out,
there is no legal requirement for such a course of action. I must
refuse. I hope you understand."

Leoh rose from the couch, and Hector popped up beside him. "I'm afraid
I do understand. And I, too, regret your decision."

Odal escorted them out to their car. They drove away, and the Kerak
major walked slowly back into the Embassy building. He was met in the
hallway by the dark-suited man who had sat in on the conversation.

"I could have let them monitor my thoughts and still crush Massan,"
Odal said. "It would have been a good j