The statue had changed, too. The hand that gripped the circle was now hidden by a massive shield. The other hand still held what looked like a magnifying glass, and the motto was still "I Devise." But the shield gave the whole statue a look of strange menace.
Across the street, near the place where Dan had seen the Trans-Space agent, stood several men wearing orange capes, barred black across the shoulders. Nearby, the brass plate opened and a man in work clothes handed out a box and went back in.
At a store entrance up the street, watching them, stood an average-looking man in a purple cape, his look intent and calculating.
Mavis glanced at the statue and took Dan's arm. "Devisement," she said, "they won't take you now, will they, before vacation?"
Dan kept an uneasy silence and Mr. Milbun said, "Of course not, Mavis. Where's the belt?"
Mavis glanced at the statue. "Oh."
Dan looked at the statue, then at Mavis and Mr. Milbun, said nothing and went on.
They came to a large building with a long flight of broad wide steps. Across the face of the building was boldly and sternly lettered, high up:
HALL OF TRUTH
Lower down was the motto: