“I understand,” I said. “So, how come Felipe conquered Louisiana, since we’re Amun and he’s . . . Ah, is Nevada in Narayana or Zeus?”

“Narayana. He took Louisiana because he wasn’t as frightened of Sophie-Anne as everyone else. He planned, and executed quickly and with precision after the governing . . . board . . . of Narayana Clan approved his plan.”

“He had to present a plan before he moved on us?”

“That’s the way it’s done. The kings and queens of Narayana wouldn’t want their territory weakened if Felipe failed and Sophie-Anne managed to take Nevada. So he had to outline his plan.”

“They didn’t think we might want to say something about that plan?”

“Not their concern. If we’re weak enough to be taken, then we are fair game. Sophie-Anne was a good leader, and much respected. With her incapacitation, Felipe judged we were weak enough to attack. Stan’s lieutenant in Texas has struggled these past few months since Stan was injured in Rhodes, and it’s been hard for him to hold on to Texas.”

“How would they know how hurt Sophie-Anne was? How hurt Stan is?”

“Spies. We all spy on each other.” Eric shrugged. (Big deal. Spies.)

“What if one of the rulers in Narayana had owed some favor to Sophie-Anne and decided to tip her off to the takeover?”

“I’m sure some of them considered it. But with Sophie-Anne so severely wounded, I suppose they decided that the odds lay with Felipe.”

This was appalling. “How do you trust anyone?”

“I don’t. There are two exceptions. You, and Pam.”

“Oh,” I said. I tried to imagine feeling like that. “That’s awful, Eric.”

I thought he’d shrug that off. But instead, he regarded me soberly. “Yes. It’s not good.”

“Do you know who the spies in Area Five are?”

“Felicia, of course. She is weak, and it’s not much of a secret that she must be in the pay of someone; probably Stan in Texas, or Freyda in Oklahoma.”

“I don’t know Freyda.” I’d met Stan. “Is Texas in Zeus or Amun?”

Eric beamed at me. I was his star pupil. “Zeus,” he said. “But Stan had to be at the summit because he was proposing to go in with Mississippi on a resort development.”

“He sure paid for that,” I said. “If they have spies, we have spies, too, right?”

“Of course.”

“Who? I’m not missing anyone?”

“You met Rasul in New Orleans, I believe.”

I nodded. Rasul had been of Middle Eastern stock, and he’d had quite a sense of humor. “He survived the takeover.”

“Yes, because he agreed to become a spy for Victor, and therefore for Felipe. They sent him to Michigan.”

“Michigan?”

“There is a very large Arab enclave there, and Rasul fits in well. He tells them he fled the takeover.” Eric paused. “You know, his life will be ended if you tell anyone this.”