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Lombar Hisst was in a dungeon room under his office。 He met Madison the instant the PR man stepped out of the airbus。
〃You've got to help me；〃 said the agitated Hisst。 〃There's a deputation up there。 The most senior officers of the Fleet。 The Fleet outnumbers the Apparatus ten to one； even more。 They're very angry about what Gris is saying！ What if they mutiny？〃
〃Now listen；〃 said Madison； in a calm； reassuring voice； 〃this is just a problem in PR and we are being very successful。 The basics are Coverage； Controversy and Confidence。 We surely have Coverage： every paper is giving us front page every day and the Homeview exposure is terrific。 This deputation is vital Controversy。 We could not possibly do without it。 Now all we have to add is maximum Confidence。〃
〃That's what's getting shaky；〃 said Lombar。 〃Mine。〃
〃Oh； no； no；〃 said Madison； 〃this is all part of the plan。 This is a heaven…sent opportunity for image building。 You can raise public confidence to the stars with it！ This is just another great chance to be a STRONG MAN！ Somebody not to be trifled with！ Now give me one of those presigned blanks we got from the Grand Council。 I'll send for my camera crew。 You just let those admirals cool their heels while I set this up。〃
Lombar； much reassured； did as he was told。
An hour later； in his cave of an office； before the cameras of Madison's crew； he stood tall in his red uniform and glared at the deputation in powder blue。
In a roaring voice； into the incredulous faces of senior Fleet officers he had not even invited to sit； Lombar Hisst； using the Madison prepared speech； stormed； 〃You are here to plain about the statements of the prisoner Gris。 I shall have you know that he is not representative of the Apparatus。 Apparatus officers are honest and upright men； beyond reproach。 That is more than I can say for officers of the Fleet。 You have dared to question what I； the Dictator of Voltar； have ordered。 Therefore； know all； by order of the Grand Council and signed by the Lord of the Fleet； its member； the following regulations are in effect at once：
〃A） No officer or personnel of the Fleet may mention the name of Jettero Heller。
〃B） No officer or personnel of the Fleet may speak ill of the Apparatus。
〃C） No officer or personnel of the Fleet may plain about myself； Lombar Hisst； in any way； or question any order that I issue； no matter how or where。
〃D） Fleet officers must salute any officer or personnel of the Apparatus。
〃E） Any offender against these regulations shall be docked a year's pay。
〃The deputation before me is dismissed。 Get out of here at once！〃
A senior； gray…haired admiral； the whole front of his uniform gold with decorations； stepped forward。 〃Hisst； I can see from here that the order you hold in your hand bears no Royal seal。 It cannot therefore be enforced； as it has no validity。〃
Hisst drew himself up like a red thunderstorm。 The cameras were rolling。 〃You； sir； have just violated Section C of this issue twice。 You have questioned an order I gave and the deputation which came to me so impudently has not left！ Therefore；〃 and he reached down to his desk for another order Madison had just typed in case； 〃the entire Fleet is restricted to its ships and bases and this order calls upon the Army to enforce it。 Now salute and LEAVE！〃
They did not salute。 They left。
The camera crew went out to show them getting into the airbuses。
Lombar was ecstatic。 〃They obeyed！〃 he said to Madison。 〃Did you see their faces？ Almost purple！ But they are cowed！ Why； I suddenly realize I can use them to relieve the Apparatus on Calabar and begin to organize the invasion of Blito…P3 in earnest！〃
〃Oh； yes； indeed；〃 said Madison。 〃Today you've taken a giant step forward to assuming total power and the Crown。〃
〃I certainly have；〃 said Lombar； expanding。 〃When we capture Rockecenter and put him back on his throne there； I'm going to have to tell him what a truly magnificent aide you are。〃
Madison grinned。
This was cream on top of cream。
Yes； his homeing would be glorious。
He just had to make sure that he had finished his job with Heller。
Chapter 3
Madison felt now that it was time to advance his program a notch。 According to his notebooks； with this trial； so far； he had been using a PR technique known as 〃invidious association。〃
Day after day； as the gruesome testimony ran on； Lord Turn would challenge the Gris attorneys； demanding they inform him exactly what this or that crime could possibly have to do with Jettero Heller。 In fact； each time Gris would take the stand again to admit guilt and state that he had done it because of Heller； Lord Turn would lose no chance to again demand an explanation…what did this have to do with the charge against Gris and what did it have to do with Jettero Heller？ But the Gris attorneys were old； experienced hands and； with this legal dodge or that； would insist on their rights to present the case IN FULL before giving any explanation of relevance。 In due course； they solemnly promised Lord Turn； it would be revealed just how the charge of bigamy was incurred by Gris because of Heller。
The image of Heller was being surrounded in mystery。 Now it was time to begin to give it more substance。 To a master of PR like Madison； it was just child's play。 The next move； while the trial continued； was to begin the image remold。 It was time to release the musical。
He got Hightee Heller on the viewer…phone。 〃I understand；〃 he said； 〃that the play； The Outlaw； is all ready to hit the stage。〃
〃That's true；〃 said Hightee。 〃Sets and costumes； music； all rehearsed and ready to go。 But I don't think this is a wise time to do it。 It has political connotations and the political scene looks pretty rocky。〃
〃Oh； heavens；〃 said Madison； 〃is that all？ Forget it。 I can absolutely guarantee that no harm will e to you。 Hisst will do whatever I say。〃
〃I've noticed that；〃 said Hightee。
〃Well； e on； then； be a sport。 The people hate him anyway and they love you。 He wouldn't dare touch you。 By the way； you haven't heard from dear Jettero； have you？〃
〃Oh； when I showed the jewel； a Fleet observer wrote in and said he was certain； from the way an Apparatus fuel dump was blown up； that Jet was on Calabar。 But that's impossible。 He'd never side with rebels。〃
Madison knew very well that Heller was on Calabar； but he said； 〃Of course not。 Well； shall we put the musical on the planks tomorrow night？〃
〃If you can guarantee nothing will happen to members of the cast。 We're dealing with Apparatus thugs； you know； and I don't want my friends knocked around。〃
The shameless Madison said； 〃I absolutely guarantee on my honor as a gentleman； nothing at all will happen to the cast and no harm will e to you。 Hisst just needs a bit of slowing down； that's all。〃
〃All right；〃 said Hightee； 〃in front of the cameras she goes； tomorrow night； live。 Good viewing。〃
Madison called the manager of Homeview and dictated some announcement spots to go on the air at once and continuing。 They were terrific e…ons。 He wanted all Voltar in front of sets tomorrow night and the whole Confederacy right after。
At 6：30 the following evening； he ran down Lombar in his Government City office。 Madison walked in looking very worried。
〃C