laced you on a pedestal of honor. Honoring you,
another--and if possible--a more corrupt man, and behind your image
they have waxed fat. But I am going to use the Truth to destroy that
image, and when I destroy the image I shall destroy the evil that
produced it."

"That's a tall order for one man," Jason said calmly--much calmer than
he really felt. "Do you have a cigarette?"

"There is, of course, no tobacco or spirits on this ship. And I am
more than one man. I have followers. The Truth Party is already a
power to be reckoned with. We have spent much time and energy in
tracking you down, but it was worth it. We have followed your
dishonest trail into the past, to Mahaut's Planet, to the Nebula
Casino on Galipto, through a series of sordid crimes that turns an
honest man's stomach. We have warrants for your arrest from each of
these places, in some cases even the results of trials and your death
sentence."

"I suppose it doesn't bother your sense of legality that those trials
were all held in my absence," Jason asked. "Or that I have only
fleeced casinos and gamblers--who make their living by fleecing
suckers?"

Mikah Samon wiped away this consideration with a wave of his hand.
"You have been proven guilty of a number of crimes. No amount of
wriggling on the hook can change that. You should be thankful that
your revolting record will have a good use in the end. It will be the
lever with which we shall topple the grafting government of Cassylia."

"I'm beginning to be sorry that I stopped Kerk and Meta from shooting
you," Jason said, shaking his head in wonder. "I have a very strong
suspicion that you are going to cause yourself--and a lot of other
people--a good deal of trouble before this thing is over. Look at me
for instance--" he rattled his wrists in their restraining bands. The
servo motors whined a bit as the detector unit came to life and
tightened the grasp of the cuffs, limiting his movement. "A little
while ago I was enjoying my health and freedom and I threw it all away
on the impulse to save your life. I'm going to have to learn to fight
those impulses."

"If that is supposed to be a plea for mercy, it is sickening," Mikah
said. "I have never taken favors nor do I owe anything to men of your
type. Nor will I ever."

"_Ever_ like _never_ is a long time," Jason said very quietly. "I wish
I had your serenity of mind about the sure order of things."

"Your remark shows that there might be hope for