s
being done now than--"

Pardeau raised an impatient hand, opening a gap of silence into which
the voice of Cargill poured.

"--land in which the voice of dissenter is not heard; in which Lenster
and men of his despicable ilk are forever crushed and beaten--"

Pardeau was scowling. Almost unconsciously he had held the pause, with
hand upraised, until Cargill finished his passage. As Cargill stopped
for breath, Pardeau jerked his hand down sharply, completing the
gesture. "I have no time for any more of this. And I resent having to
seek you out. Next time report to my office as is proper and keep me
posted as to your activities. Next--"

Pardeau eyed Hillerman for one blank moment and allowed the threat to
reflect clearly that possibly there would not be many more next times.
Then he turned and strode swiftly from the foyer.

* * * * *

Cargill's voice had hardly faded when he picked it up again on his car
radio. It was a foregone conclusion that every radio in the land would
be tuned to the lecture. So great was Cargill's popularity that every
citizen traveling in a car would wish to hear it and turn on his
receiver. It was foolish not to have a radio properly tuned when Cargill
spoke. He was saying:

"--and so under the banner of complete solidarity, we will march
forward, a solid phalanx against which no force can stand. Now that our
own house is swept clean of vermin--rid forever of carrion like Lenster
and his ilk, we can--"

Pardeau had traveled swiftly through the streets at the high speed
reserved for higher servants of the New State. Lesser servants of the
New State had learned caution and thus no regrettable deaths or maimings
occurred; the lesser servants having grown wary and fleet of foot.

Pardeau switched off his motor but left his radio blaring. Cargill's
voice followed him up the broad steps of the Executive Building and was
just fading out when Pardeau was able to pick it up again from the
loudspeaker under the great arches.

He entered the building and traversed the vast foyer to a niche which
housed a private elevator. He entered the lift, deserting it on the
ninth floor, where he entered an unobtrusive door and joined a group
which consisted of the New State's well guarded pool of power and
brains.

There was Blanchard of Finance; Keeley, Director of Foreign Education;
Masichek, overlord of the nation's larder, and seven others.

When Pardeau entered, a