pace Navy, and
after we get it, these local troubles will all stop, and then what'll we
be expected to do? Scrap the ships?"

They both knew what would be done with some of them. It would have to be
done stealthily, while nobody was looking, but some of those ships would
go far beyond the boundaries of the Empire, and new things would happen.
New worlds, new problems. Great and frightening changes.

"Paul, we agreed upon this long ago, when we were still boys at the
University. The Empire stopped growing, and when things stop growing,
they start dying, the death of petrifaction. And when petrifaction is
complete, the cracking and the crumbling starts, and there's no way of
stopping it. But if we can get people out onto new planets, the Empire
won't die; it'll start growing again."

"You didn't start that thing at the University, this morning, yourself,
did you?"

"Not the student riot, no. But the hooligan attack, yes. That was some
of my own men. The real hooligans began looting after Handrosan had
gotten the students out of the district. We collared all of them,
including their boss, Nutchy the Knife, right away, and as soon as we
did that, Big Moogie and Zikko the Nose tried to move in. We're cleaning
them up now. By tomorrow morning there won't be one of these nonworkers'
voting blocks left in Asgard, and by the end of the week they'll be
cleaned up all over Odin. I have discovered a plot, and they're all
involved in it."

"Wait a moment." Paul got to his feet. "That reminds me; Harv Dorflay's
hiding Rod and Olva out in the mountains. I wanted him out of here while
things were happening. I'll have to call him and tell him it's safe to
come in, now."

"Well, zip up your tunic and put your dagger on; you look as though
you'd been arrested, disarmed and searched."

"That's right." He hastily repaired his appearance and went to the
screen across the room, punching out the combination of the screen with
Rodrik's picnic party.

* * * * *

A young lieutenant of the Household Troops appeared in it, and had to be
reassured. He got General Dorflay.

"Your Majesty! You are all right?"

"Perfectly all right, general, and it's quite safe to bring His Imperial
Highness in. The conspiracy against the Throne has been crushed."

"Oh, thank the gods! Is Prince Travann a prisoner?"

"Quite the contrary, general. It was our loyal and devoted subject,
Prince Travann, who crushed the conspi