m-m, yes, well, maybe so. I guess you're right--Well, anyway,
we've gained a little more time."

"Four days." Leoh shook his head. "Four days to the end of the week.
All right, come on, we have work to do."

Hector was grinning broadly as they left the restaurant. He began to
whistle.

"What are you so happy about?" Leoh grumbled.

"About you, sir. When we came in here, you were, uh, well ... almost
beaten. Now you're right back in the game again."

Leoh glanced at the Star Watchman. "In your own odd way, Hector,
you're quite a boy ... I think."

XII

Their groundcar glided from the parking building to the restaurant's
entrance ramp, at the radio call of the doorman. Within minutes,
Hector and Leoh were cruising through the city, in the deepening
shadows of night.

"There's only one man," Leoh said, "who has faced Odal and lived
through it."

"Dulaq," Hector agreed. "But ... for all the information the medical
people have been able to get from him, he might as well be, uh, dead."

"He's still completely withdrawn?"

Hector nodded. "The medicos think that ... well, maybe in a few
months, with drugs and psychotherapy and all that ... they might be
able to bring him back."

"It won't be soon enough. We've only got four days."

"I know."

Leoh was silent for several minutes. Then: "Who is Dulaq's closest
living relative? Does he have a wife?"

"I think his wife is, uh, dead. Has a daughter though. Pretty girl.
Bumped into her in the hospital once or twice--"

Leoh smiled in the darkness. Hector's term, "bumped into" was probably
completely literal.

"Why are you asking about Dulaq's next-of-kin?"

"Because," Leoh replied, "I think there might be a way to make Dulaq
tell us what happened during his duel. But it is a very dangerous way.
Perhaps a fatal way."

"Oh."

They lapsed into silence again. Finally he blurted, "Come on, my boy,
let's find the daughter and talk to her."

"Tonight?"

"Now."

* * * * *

_She certainly is a pretty girl_, Leoh thought as he explained very
carefully to Geri Dulaq what he proposed to do. She sat quietly and
politely in the spacious living room of the Dulaq residence. The
glittering chandelier cast touches of fire on her chestnut hair. Her
slim body was slightly rigid with tension, her hands were clasped in
her lap. Her face--which looked as though it could be very
expressive--was completely serious now.

[Illustration]

"