of his eye…lens。 It was the crowning achievement of his technical staff； the ultimate debugger。
Edwards knew that Lang had several monitoring systems that the scientist thought would catch every word and movement in the room； but the remotes built into Edwards's belt and epaulets and the fabric of his dress uniform would counter all that。 Lang was going to find himself with a lot of blank tape。
〃How can I prove that to you and the others？〃 Edwards finished。
Lang hadn't batted an eye。 〃Remain neutral during the hearing of Wolff and the others； since you have no real evidence。 Put all your forces under the direct mand of the council。 And most importantly； allow me and my teams to examine the Invid artifacts； or remains； or whatever else there is； under the Royal Hall。〃
〃No！〃 Edwards forgot himself； his fist pounding a table so that minor items leapt off it and scattered on the floor。
〃No？〃 Lang echoed mildly。 〃And why not； General？ Nothing to hide； surely？ So； when you permit me to investigate the catabs there； which your people so closely guard； then we can talk about your dutiful beneficence toward the REF。〃
〃You stay away from there； you damn black magician！〃 the general hollered。
〃And another thing；〃 Lang said mildly。 〃Major Carpenter and the Earth expedition are safely away。 The warning's gone forth； and there is nothing you can do about it。〃
The general was stunned for a moment。 He had had no idea that any of the new SDF…7 vessels had been fitted with a spacefold drive！ And now one was on its way to Earth； manded by an officer loyal to the council and to Lang； imperiling all Edwards's grand designs。
The general； provoked beyond words； lurched at the scientist； hands out to choke him。
Suddenly； Lang's hands were clamped around Edwards's wrists with a strength that threatened to crush them。 The general was being forced back and down to his knees。 There was a wild moment in which Edwards realized that Lang's strength wasn't Human…that Lang could quite easily kill him。
Edwards had e into Lang's bailiwick without bodyguards； though； because he was sure he had read the man。 〃Go。。。ahead；〃 he gritted。 〃Finish it； if you think you can！ Murder me！ Isn't that what your precious Shapings are all about？〃
The tremendous pressure from the scientist's grip fell away； and Edwards was left to rub numbed wrists。 He laughed a little hysterically。 〃No； you can't； can you？ That wouldn't be kosher with the Shapings of the Protoculture； would it？〃 He cackled to himself； struggling to his feet。
〃Stop your subversion now；〃 Lang said in a near monotone； 〃before there's any more bloodshed。 Adhere to your oath； and abandon these megalomaniacal dreams。〃
Edwards drew himself up； lips ing away from his locked teeth。 He would perhaps never again have a chance to tell Lang off in private； this would be the only moment when the two stood alone together out of the spotlight； as it were。
〃Here's the oath I'll serve；〃 he said in a voice so low it was barely audible。 But as he spoke it became louder。 〃I swear to kill Wolff。 I swear to exterminate Rick and Lisa Hunter and Breetai； after I've made them suffer enough。 The rest of you will either bow at my feet or die。 I swear to have Obstat and Huxley and all the rest of them on the council as my personal slaves…〃
It was on the tip of his tongue to say that he meant to subjugate Minmei； but that secret he managed to contain。 〃I swear to have the galaxy as my personal domain。〃
He backed away； flexing partially paralyzed fingers。 〃I swear revenge。〃
Lang didn't pursue him； indeed； Lang stood with hands locked behind his back now。 〃Then there's nothing to discuss。 But…one last question； if you will； General。〃
Edwards flashed a grin like a shark's。 〃What？〃
Lang's eyebrows met。 〃I understand why you despise Rick Hunter； his connection to your old nemesis； Roy Fokker； makes that obvious。 But whence es this loathing of Lisa Hayes Hunter？ What has she ever done to you？〃
Edwards forgot the pain； letting his hands fall to his sides。 〃You'll find out when the oh…so…saintly Hunters do： when it's too late。〃
He turned his back on Lang； striding out of the room so fast that the door barely had time to get out of his way。
Lang made sure the door was secure； then turned toward a dim corner of his sanctum。 〃Scott； did you get all that？〃
Scott Bernard； Lang's apprentice and godson； emerged…a slender； dark…haired； unsmiling kid of thirteen or so； small for his age。 〃The machines are in some sort of flux； Doctor。〃
Heels clacking on the hardtop； Edwards walked back toward his limo as his personal bodyguards fell in beside him。 The wrist module still read true； he laughed。
Nothing I say can be held against me！
That left a number of other concerns； but suddenly the most pressing among them was Minmei。 Edwards made a rasping； pantherish sound as he slid into his limo。
God！ It would be so easy to break her will by physical or chemical means…to turn her into something that would obey his every word and whim； satisfy his every hunger。
The hell of it was he wanted Minmei； not some brainwiped zombie that looked and talked like her。 He wanted her to love him。
And she would。 If he had to turn the universe upside down and shake it like a toy to make her do so； she would love him。
The limo rolled out under the security spotlights； flanked by security vehicles； about to swoop under the security umbrella of Ghost VTs。
〃Wait！〃
Surface…effect braking thrusters blared； people pulled guns and Guardian…mode fighters swooped in； while the security net crackled with confused transmissions。
Edwards was out of the limo virtually over the lap of a hulking bodyguard。 〃Did you see him？ There； up there*〃
But the spot to which he was pointing； the top of a nearby building； was empty。 Even as VT spotlights converged on it； he could see that。
Adams was out of the front seat。 〃What was it； sir？〃
Edwards kept his eyes trained on the spot。 Don't let them see you sweat！ You can't afford to show any weakness！
〃Nothing； a trick of the light。 Let's get 'em rolling。〃
When the convoy was moving again； he replayed the split…second glimpse and couldn't convince himself that he had been wrong。
A human figure； poised on the roof almost nonchalantly。 Watching。
Waiting。。。
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The frictions among the Sentinels were many； and the Grail of defeating the Regent was sometimes the single thing that kept them from a disastrous falling…out。
It is noteworthy that none of them noticed how immune Tesla grew to their irritability； frustration； retribution； and so on。 They were physical warriors； under attack…though they didn't know it…from a metaphysical foe who'd gotten inside their own lines。
Ann London； Ring of Iron： The Sentinels in Conflict
揥hat's the matter； Lieutenant mander Baker？ Don't I look 'strac'？〃
Jack Baker eyed Gnea。 〃I； uh； I just wish my academy mandant could see you； is all。〃
Such an encounter would offer a chance to brush up on his cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique； Jack figured； because modore Steinfeld would certainly have a heart attack if she ever got a glance at Gnea。
Just as Lisa had taken to wearing Praxian accessories； most Sentinels pretty much dressed as they saw fit。 Prolonged campaigning had seen to it that virtually nobody had a regulation wardrobe anymore； and people wore what came to hand or caught their fancy。
A case in point was Gnea。 The ringmail G…string and studded dragonskin halter top were in keeping with Praxian fashion； but the REF dress uniform jacket was a bit of a shock。 The high…waisted mess jacket was decked out with brush epaulets； decorations and ribbons； fourrageres； and insignia。
She pirouetted to show off her new acquisition。 〃mander Grant's exec and I are just about the same size； so we swapped；〃 she said； brushing the embroidery on her cuffs。 Jack wondered how the economy…size Lieutenant mander Shimoda was enjoying her new gryphon…fur shawl。 Certainly Gnea； a six…foot…four teenager with legs that wouldn't quit； did things for that jacket that； in Jack's private opinion； merited a medal。
〃Anyway； what did you want to see me about； Jack？〃
He realized guiltily that he had