She certainly is a pretty girl, Leoh thought as he explained very carefully to Geri Dulaq what he proposed to do. She sat quietly and politely in the spacious living room of the Dulaq residence. The glittering chandelier cast touches of fire on her chestnut hair. Her slim body was slightly rigid with tension, her hands were clasped in her lap. Her face—which looked as though it could be very expressive—was completely serious now.
“And that is the sum of it,” Leoh concluded. “I believe that it will be possible to use the dueling machine itself to examine your father’s thoughts and determine exactly what took place during his duel against Major Odal!”
She asked softly, “But you are afraid that the shock might be repeated, and this could be fatal to my father?”
Leoh nodded wordlessly.
“Then I am very sorry, sir, but I must say no.” Firmly.
“I understand your feelings,” Leoh replied, “but I hope you realize that unless we can stop Odal and Kanus immediately, we may very well be faced with war.”
She nodded. “I know. But you must remember that we are speaking of my father, of his very life. Kanus will have his war in any event, no matter what I do.”
“Perhaps,” Leoh admitted. “Perhaps.”
Hector and Leoh drove back to the University campus and their quarters in the dueling machine chamber. Neither of them slept well that night.