He was taken before the chief of the secret service of the World State. The Speaker of the Master Conclave, and the Japanese and Spanish sectional Governors were there. He was forced to a seat.
Olduk's eyes rested on the sphere of the water in the Speaker's hands. His eyes flickered briefly. The Speaker glared at him wildly.
"The longer I hold this thing," he whispered, panting, "the thirstier I get. And I can't drink! What will I do?"
Olduk said emotionlessly, "Honorable sir, you will have to hold it until there is an agreement to give my people water. Now we are all Tantaluses."
The iron-gray individual who was the chief of the secret service, ran his tongue around in his dry mouth.
"You did this?" he said huskily.
"Yes," said Olduk.
The man took a paper off his desk, unfolded it in front of Olduk's eyes.
Olduk read the headline emotionlessly:
WORLD IN TURMOIL;
DRINKING IMPOSSIBLE