The fury in her eyes nearly knocked him down. Without a word, without a gesture, she walked out.
David felt as though he'd been put through a wringer as he followed Officer Magnun into the Leader's suite at State House. Several nights of sleeplessness, the worries of planning for a refuge, and the scene with Leah had left him limp and spiritless. The girl was a danger, he knew, but she was only one of many.
He nodded at Dr. Lanza, who was busy reading reports from BureauMed, and saluted Leader Marley, who was talking with a watchguard.
Marley looked up briefly. "Sit down, Wong."
David folded himself into a chair, grateful for a few moments in which to collect himself, while Marley gave the last of his orders.
"Put them in the Vermont granite quarries, and keep them at work for the next year."
"As you say, Leader. With the usual secrecy, of course?"
"No, you blockhead! These are a bunch of nobodies. Use all the publicity you can get. Keep a punishment a secret and how can it have any effect on other people? No, I want full radio and news coverage and telecast showings as they swing the first pick at the first rocks. People have got to realize that the Leader knows best, that treason doesn't pay. No matter how clever they think they are, they'll always get caught. Understand?"
"As you say, Leader."