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loud enough for Poyndex to hear. “That’s the other thing… No one to talk—”
    He suddenly broke off. “What the clot?”
    “Something wrong, sir?”
    The Emperor hammered keys. “No. I probably should have— Holy drakh!”
    The Emperor bleared up at Poyndex. “My files…” he gasped, “they’re…”
    Poyndex glanced at the screen. Saw the display. “STEN, NI.
    KILGOUR, ALEX. NO FILES ON RECORD. PRESS ONCE FOR ANOTHER RE-QUEST.“
    The IS chief staggered back, as flabbergasted as his boss. The Eternal Emperor’s personal files on Sten and Kilgour had been wiped absolutely clean.
    The Emperor’s heavy fist smashed on his desk. “I want Sten, dammit! Get him, Poyndex. If you don’t, I will. And I will personally put his head on a stake next to yours.”
    Poyndex fled. And as he went out the door, he swore he could hear a growling, as if a great hound were snarling after him.
    CHAPTER FOUR
    “Gooo EVENING, GENTLEBEINGS. I’m Pyt’r Jynnings. Welcome to this week’s edition of ‘Nightscan.’ The news program that examines the crucial issues of our time.
    ‘Tonight we focus our full hour on an event that has stunned the Empire. At the heart of this broadcast is a disarmingly simple question…
    “Sten: Traitor, or Misunderstood Genius?
    ‘To my right, Professor Knovack. A renowned Imperial historian and expert on parliamentary power brokering. To my left, Sr. Wiker. Former speechwriter for the Eternal Emperor. Current ambassador to the Tahn worlds.
    “Professor. We’ll start with you. What is your response to the question?”
    “Oh, he’s a traitor. No question about it.”
    “What about you, Sr. Wiker?”
    “I couldn’t have put it better myself, Pyt’r. Sten is definitely a traitor.”
    “Ah! Agreement! And… uh… so soon. Goodness me. Well, let’s explore the other side of the coin, then. Professor?”
    “I went first before.”
    “Ha ha. Too true. Well, Sr. Wiker, what’s fair is fair. Now, tell us… do you think Sten is a misunderstood genius?”
    “That’s an interesting question, Pyt’r. And I’ve come prepared to discuss it all night… if I have to.”
    “Good. Good.”
    “But, before we do, I think we have to talk about the nature of this man.”
    “Oh? Did you know Sten? Personally?”
    “Good God, no! Uh… I mean… I know of him. And I most certainly know his type.”
    “Please share these insights with our viewers.”
    ‘To begin with, he has enjoyed the favor of our Emperor his entire life. True, he performed some service. Valuable service, some might say.“
    “But, would you say that?”
    “I think that’s… uh… open to interpretation. More importantly, he has been the recipient of a host of honors. So these services—however one might characterize them—have certainly been repaid. Besides these honors, he has also been blessed with great wealth. Thanks to his friendship with the Eternal Emperor.”
    “How do you react to those statements, Professor Knovack?”
    “I think this… this… traitor approached our Emperor in a rare moment of weakness. After that awful business with the privy council. And our beloved Emperor mistook his ambition for love and loyalty. And now it seems… the Emperor was… was… nurturing a snake at his bosom.”
    “Very well put, Professor. Your reputation as a phrasemaker has once again been assured… Any comments thus far, Sr. Wiker?”
    “I think we’re forgetting those poor Imperial service beings who were the victims of Sten’s traitorous and cowardly action. Especially Admiral Mason. Think of his family! Think of how much agony they must be in at this moment.”
    “A most excellent point. I think we should all pause for just a moment. A moment of silence, if you please. Out of respect for Admiral Mason’s family and the crew of the Caligula ...”
    As the vid recorders whirred for the billions of K-B-N-S-O viewers, the three men solemnly bowed their heads.
    The director’s voice whispered in Jynning’s