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〃And； er；〃 said the head assassin； 〃when did the king last； er； eat？〃
〃I'm sorry to say it hasn't eaten properly ever since it came here；〃 said Wonse。
〃Oh。〃
〃You must understand；〃 said Wonse； fiddling desperately with his wooden cutlery； 〃that merely waylaying people like some mon assassin。。。〃
〃Excuse me。。。〃 the head assassin began。
〃Some mon murderer； I mean … there is no 。。。 satisfaction there。 The whole essence of the king's feeding is that it should be； well。。。 an act of bonding between king and subjects。 It is； it is perhaps a living allegory。 Reinforcing the close links between the crown and the munity；〃 he added。
〃The precise nature of the meal。。。〃 the head thief began； almost choking on the words。 〃Are we talking about young maidens here？〃
〃Sheer prejudice；〃 said Wonse。 〃The age is immaterial。 Marital status is； of course； of importance。 And social class。 Something to do with flavour； I believe。〃 He leaned forward； and now his voice was pain…filled and urgent and； they felt； genuinely his own for the first time。 〃Please consider it！〃 he hissed。 〃After all； just one a month！ In exchange for so much！ The families of people of use to the king； Privy Councillors such as yourselves； would not； of course； even be considered。 And when you think of all the alternatives 。。。〃
They didn't think about all the alternatives。 It was enough to think about just one of them。
The silence purred at them as Wonse talked。 They avoided one another's faces； for fear of what they might see mirrored there。 Each man thought： one of the others is bound to say something soon； some protest； and then I'll murmur agreement； not actually say anything； I'm not as stupid as that； but definitely murmur very firmly； so that the others will be in no doubt that I thoroughly disapprove； because at a time like this it behooves all decent men to nearly stand up and be almost heard 。 。 。
But no one said anything。 The cowards； each man thought。
And no one touched the pudding； or the brick…thick chocolate mints served afterwards。 They just listened in flushed； gloomy horror as Wonse's voice droned on； and when they were dismissed they tried to leave as separately as possible； so that they didn't have to talk to one another。
Except for the head merchant； that is。 He found himself leaving the palace with the chief assassin； and they strolled side by side； minds racing。 The chief merchant tried to look on the bright side； he was one of those men who organise sing…songs when things go drastically wrong。
〃Well； well；〃 he said。 〃So we're privy councillors now。 Just fancy。''
〃Hmm；〃 said the assassin。
〃I wonder what's the difference between ordinary councillors and privy councillors？〃 wondered the merchant aloud。
The assassin scowled at him。 〃I think；〃 he said； 〃it is because you're expected to eat shit。〃
He turned the glare back on his feet again。 What kept going through his mind were Wonse's last words； as he shook the secretary's limp hand。 He wondered if anyone else had heard them。 Unlikely 。 。 。 they'd been a shape rather than a sound。 Wonse had simply moved his lips around them while staring fixedly at the assassin's moon…tanned face。
Help。 Me。
The assassin shivered。 Why him？ As far as he could see there was only one kind of help he was qualified to give； and very few people ever asked for it for themselves。 In fact； they usually paid large sums for it to be given as a surprise present to other people。 He wondered what was happening to Wonse that made any alternative seem better 。 。 。
。。。
Wonse sat alone in the dark； ruined hall。 Waiting。
He could try running。 But it'd find him again。 It'd always be able to find him。 It could smell his mind。
Or it would flame him。 That was worse。 Just like the Brethren。 Perhaps it was an instantaneous death； it looked an instantaneous death； but Wonse lay awake at night wondering whether those last micro…seconds somehow stretched to a subjective； white…hot eternity； every tiny part of your body a mere smear of plasma and you； there； alive in the middle of it all 。。。
Not you。 I would not flame you。
It wasn't telepathy。 As far as Wonse had always understood it； telepathy was like hearing a voice in your head。
This was like hearing a voice in your body。 His whole nervous system twanged to it； like a bow。
Rise。
Wonse jerked to his feet； overturning the chair and banging his legs on the table。 When that voice spoke； he had as much control over his body as water had over gravity。
e。
Wonse lurched across the floor。
The wings unfolded slowly； with the occasional creak； until they filled the hall from side to side。 The tip of one smashed a window； and stuck out into the afternoon air。
The dragon slowly； sensuously； stretched out its neck and yawned。 When it had finished； it brought its head around until it was a few inches in front of Wonse's face。
What does voluntary mean ？
〃It； er； it means doing something of your own free will；〃 said Wonse。
But they have no free will！ They will increase my hoard； or I will flame them！
Wonse gulped。 〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃but you mustn't。。。〃
The silent roar of fury spun him around。
There is nothing I mustn 't！
〃No； no； no！〃 squeaked Wonse； clutching his head。 〃I didn't mean that！ Believe me！ This way is better； that's all！ Better and safer！〃
None can defeat me！
〃This is certainly the case。。。〃
None can control me！
Wonse flung up his finger…spread hands in a conciliatory fashion。 〃Of course； of course；〃 he said。 〃But there are ways and ways； you know。 Ways and ways。 All the roaring and flaming； you see； you don't need it 。 。 。〃
Foolish ape！ How else can I make them do my bidding ？
Wonse put his hands behind his back。
〃They'll do it of their own free will；〃 he said。 〃And in time； they'll e to believe it was their own idea。 It'll be a tradition。 Take it from me。 We humans are adaptable creatures。〃
The dragon gave him a long； blank stare。
〃In fact；〃 said Wonse； trying to keep the trembling out of his voice； 〃before too long； if someone es along and tells them that a dragon king is a bad idea； they'll kill him themselves。〃
The dragon blinked。
For the first time Wonse could remember； it seemed uncertain。
〃I know people； you see；〃 said Wonse； simply。
The dragon continued to pin him with its gaze。
If you are lying 。。。 it thought； eventually。
〃You know I can't。 Not to you。〃
And they really act like this？
〃Oh； yes。 All the time。 It's a basic human trait。〃
Wonse knew the dragon could read at least the upper levels of his mind。 They resonated in terrible harmony。 And he could see the mighty thoughts behind the eyes in front of him。
The dragon was horrified。
〃I'm sorry；〃 said Wonse weakly。 〃That's just how we are。 It's all to do with survival； I think。〃
There will be no mighty warriors sent to kill me？ it thought； almost plaintively。
〃I don't think so。〃
No heroes？
〃Not any more。 They cost too much。〃
But I will be eating people！
Wonse whimpered。
He felt the sensation of the dragon rummaging around in his mind； trying to find a clue to understanding。 He half…saw； half…sensed the flicker of random images； of dragons； of the m