Watchers of the Dark (28 page)

He dawdled over the notes he was making for the Council’s agenda, deliberately waiting until the others had arrived so he could make an entrance. The delay would also give E-Wusk and Smith, if they were among the members, an opportunity to acquaint the others with the new ONE’s sterling character and achievements.

“And if they don’t give me a proper recommendation, I’ll cashier both of them,” Darzek muttered.

Finally he stepped through his private transmitter to the Hall of Deliberations. His vivid recollection of the place jolted him. It seemed only a moment before that he had left FIVE’S oozing body here and despondently returned to EIGHT’s residence and the sleeping Miss Schlupe.

FIVE’s body had been removed, but otherwise the gloomy place was unchanged. Darzek hunched his shoulders against Supreme’s stinging probes and slowly made his way through the red-lit tunnel.

Abruptly he stood in a dim hallway. From beyond an open door he heard voices, and E-Wusk’s booming laugh. He composed himself and strode forward to meet the Council.