ss he did not possess, and which might later have to be
altered, should matters force a showdown and the need arise to
challenge his authority.

But this could not be helped, and already he felt his subconscious
beginning to turn the necessary phrases of shock and disbelief at
Stone's treachery and sudden reversal. He dressed briskly, and had
only just begun to pace when Calder appeared at the portal. He turned
to him at once.

"Have communications officer Janson report to me in SubCon 20 in half
an hour, then tell the yeoman to have my breakfast sent there." His
expression changed slightly as he looked into the unquestioning face of
his loyal subaltern. "... Do you want to know what he really said?"

Calder stepped beyond the portal and turned the small handle that
security-sealed the room, showing by this mute gesture that it did not
matter to him, he would serve his General as he had always done, but
that if Hayes wished to tell him he would be honored to listen. He was
the one man who could have a softening effect on his master, though he
would have been shocked to learn it. Hayes turned to face the wall.

"He tried to cut me off, Michael." He glanced over at him briefly, the
smallest touch of melancholy, then back to the wall. "He said that my
'obsession' with the communist threat was based on pure fabrication,
the result of an unbalance mind." For as he spoke, he truly believed
that this was what Stone had done. "He said that to view the matter
harshly, I had committed treason..... He ordered me to return home
with my tail between my legs and maybe, MAYBE he would forgive me."
Without turning he knew that Calder's face had assumed its
characteristic frown of fierce devotion, the one that acknowledged
tough measures were at hand, not wanted, but forced upon them by those
enemies, unfathomable in their ignorance and baseness, who challenged
and sought to sabotage his master's clear vision and irreproachable
aims.

"He can't do that, sir." Hayes turned, rekindled, as always, by this
soldier's undying spirit.

"No, he can't. Though it does my heart good to hear it." Their eyes
met. "But you needed to know that things could get a little rough.
The President of the United Commonwealth himself is no longer above
suspicion."

"You know that I would do anything," stammered Calder. "Follow you
anywhere."

"Yes, yes! That's the spirit we need to impart! It's entirely on our
shoulders now. The