they can come and go from our land at will, surely it is plain that we can never be safe until they are destroyed. I would suggest we begin immediately to direct all the efforts of our scientistsof Taragorm and Kalan in particularto finding these renegades and finishing them. They threaten us from within…”

“Baron Meliadus. What news of the emissaries from Asiacommunista?”

“None, so far. Mighty King Emperor, but…”

“A few guerillas, Baron Meliadus, this empire may contend with, but if our shores are threatened by a force as great, if not greater, than our own, by a force, moreover that is possessed of scientific secrets unknown to us, that we may not survive, you see …” The golden voice spoke with acid patience.

Meliadus frowned. “We have no proof that such an invasion is planned, Monarch of the World …”

“Agreed. Neither have we proof, Baron Meliadus, that Hawkmoon and his band of terrorists have the power to do us any great harm.” Streaks of ice blue suddenly appeared in the Throne Globe’s fluid.

“Great King Emperor. Give me the time and the resources…”

“We are an expanding empire, Baron Meliadus; We wish to expand still further. It would be pessimistic, would it not, to stand still? That is not our way. We are proud of our influence upon the Earth. We wish to extend it. You seem uneager to carry out the principles of our ambition which is to spread a great, laughing terror to the corners of the world. You are becoming smallminded, we fear …”

“But by refusing to counter those subtle forces that might wreck our schemes, Prince of All, we could betray our destiny also!”

“We resent dissension, Baron Meliadus. Your personal hatred of Hawkmoon and, we have heard, your desire for Yisselda of Brass, represent dissension. We have your self-interest at heart, baron, for if you continue in this course, we shall be obliged to elect another over you, to

dismiss you from our serviceaye, even to dismiss you from your Order…”

Instinctively, Baron Meliadus’s gauntleted hands leapt fearfully to his mask. To be unmasked! The greatest disgracethe greatest horror of them all! For that was what the threat implied. To join the ranks of the lowest scum in Londrathe caste of the unmasked ones! Meliadus shuddered and could hardly bring himself to speak.

At last he murmured. “I will reflect on your words, Emperor of the Earth…”

“Do so, Baron Meliadus. We would not wish to see such a great conqueror destroyed by a few clouded thoughts. If you would regain all our favour, you will find for us the means by which the Asiacommunistan emissaries left.”

Baron Meliadus fell to his knees, his great wolf-mask nodding, his arms outspread. Thus the conqueror of Europe abased himself before his Lord, but his brain flared with a dozen rebellious thoughts and he thanked the spirit of his Order that the mask hid his face so that his fury did not show.