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e smooth skin of his flaccid； unwrinkled face。 An unhealthy man。 And sick men in power do sick things。 His gray eyes were unfocused。
〃Sir；〃 Bdos Err reported； saluting smartly； his left hand crossing his chest of metal。 〃We have apprehended Danik's party as they came into our paradise。〃
Stafford smiled。 〃Wonderful。 Wonderful。 Bring them forth。〃
Bdos snapped out rapid orders； and the Freefighters； with Danik in front； were brought before the chair and lined up so that Stafford could view them。
〃What's this？ Stafford said； rising from his black chair in surprise。 〃Who are these people？ They are most strange。。。〃 He rubbed his chin； stepping over to Danik。 Stafford put his face near the tall albino and said； 〃Danik； what manner of beings have you brought back with you from the surface？ Some sort of radiation mutations； no doubt。 Eh？〃
〃These are my friends；〃 Danik said。 〃And they are proof that the surface world is livable。 And not only livable； a paradise of light and color and fresh air。〃
〃Heresy；〃 someone muttered； and then a chant went up among the senators； 〃Heresy； heresy； heresy。。。〃
Stafford waved his hand in the air； and the chant subsided。
〃Well； well。 Friends； you say？ Let me look these odd mutants over for a moment。〃 Stafford walked slowly down the line as if he were reviewing an honor guard； as if he were going to say； 〃Tighten that collar； mister； straighten your posture； recruit。〃
But he paused an extra long time when he reached Rona。 He looked her up and down。 Not with sexual desire； but with curiosity。
〃A woman of the surface？ Indeed； she is too well built for a woman。 She is definitely a mutant。〃
Then Stafford came to Rockson。 〃Mismatched eyes； huh。〃 Stafford mented。 〃And a white streak in your hair。 My； my； another mutant。〃 He lifted his flaccid many…ringed hand and pressed a finger to Rockson's chin。 Rockson twisted his face to the side。 Stafford smiled。 〃And a spunky mutant at that； eh？〃
Stafford went to his chair； and climbed up on one broad flat arm of it。 〃Edenites；〃 Stafford shouted； his voice echoing in the chamber； 〃Danik has returned and brought us some curious surface dwellers。 What shall we do with the traitor and his friends from the dark realms above？〃
〃Kill。。。 torture。。。 burn。。。〃 came the assortment of replies from the floor。
The situation didn't look good。
CHAPTER 24
Stafford waved his hand for the assemblage to be quiet。 〃In a while。 In a while。。。〃 he promised。
Stafford walked back down the line to Danik。
〃Why so dour；〃 Stafford taunted； 〃on such a joyous occasion？ By the way； what happened to Run Dutil and the others of your traitorous party？〃
〃They perished； but not because of radiation or mutant animals attacking。 But because we； as underground dwellers all our lives； were unprepared for the vast distances； the cold temperatures of this season。 They perished from exhaustion； exposure； lack of food。 All of this is no reason to remain underground here in this tomb you so ironically call a paradise。〃
〃Perished； huh；〃 Stafford said。 〃Well； I told you； I told all the dissenters； that the surface was dangerous。 Now the remaining dissenters will give up their mad desires to reach the outer world。〃
Danik shouted； 〃No； you must not heed this madman。 Stafford is wrong； dead wrong。 The surface isn't as he says。 Sure； it is dangerous … but only because we don't know how to deal with it。 But we can learn； learn from the great Americans who live and fight and triumph up there in God's nature。 You should see it； you should feel it。 I was hungry； and cold； and tired； and I fully expected to die … and so did the others。 Yet not one of us； once we had been outside for more than a few minutes； once we had seen the sunrise； the clouds； once we had smelled God's good air； tasted fresh water and drank of the infinitely good sunlight； would have ever returned to our dismal lives here。 Eden is not beautiful； not a paradise； it is a drab hell。〃
Stafford yawned。 〃This is tiring； really； Danik。〃 He went to sit down on his black throne。 Evidently； Rockson noted； a bit of walking is all the man can endure as exercise。 He's even in worse shape than I imagined。
Stafford opened up a partment in the arm of the chair and extracted a sharp instrument。 He started picking at his manicured nails。 The epitome of cool； that's what he wants to appear before his minions； Rock knew。 He had seen that act before； that posed nonchalance。 All the sick leaders of the world wanted to appear above it all。
〃Ah yes； the surface has its dangers；〃 Stafford muttered； smiling up at Bdos Err； who stood at rigid attention to his right。 〃Why leave paradise？ I told them … but they wouldn't listen。 I only want to save my people from death； and the likes of Danik tries to lead them to it。〃 He pointed to Danik with the nail file。 〃Well now； Danik； you know the penalty for treason。 So what I do with you is simple。 But what about these others？ What do I do with this bearded monster with the crystals growing out of his head？ What do I do with the one with the white streak in his hair； the masculine woman； the others from the surface hell？〃
Rockson spoke up； having observed Stafford's behavior for a sufficient time to develop a psychological strategy。
Rockson now saw that there was no talking to the little man…who…would…be…God。 His megalomania allowed no rational discourse。 And with that realization； Rockson developed another strategy。 The man was proud； vain。 A little god。 And with such men； there was only one course； until you could overpower them through cunning。 Rockson would play up to Stafford。 He would feed the man's ego。
〃I am the leader of my group；〃 said Rockson； 〃I am a mutant； that is true； but I can appreciate true leadership and knowledge。 I never dreamed that Eden could be so beautiful and clean。 Had I known what wonders there were here； I would never have believed Danik's madness。 This is paradise。 The surface is hell。 If I die； I will die happy to have seen the beauty here； happy to have witnessed true leadership。〃
Stafford eyed him up and down； and finally said； 〃You are wiser than you look。 Though you are a mutation。 I might have a use for you … but not for the others。。。〃
Stafford ordered the rest of the Freefighters and Danik held in the detention cells until suitable arrangements for their public humiliation and then execution could mence。
And Stafford ordered the senators to leave also。 He told Bdos and his two henchmen and a contingent of six guards to remain behind。 And bade Rockson stay and talk for a while。
Once the prisoners had been escorted from the chamber； and the senators； gossiping and gesturing to one another； had left； Stafford clapped his hands and said； 〃Mannerly； have the doctor e and treat our friend's leg … it obviously needs help。〃
The servant returned with a squat silent man； who opened a bag and took out some salve that he applied to Rock's wound。 It worked wonders。
Rockson sat； tasting hors d'oeuvres and what looked like cheese but tasted like shit from the tray Mannerly brought。 He took a little wine； which wasn't as bad； because he was thirsty。
Pouring on the flattery。 Rock ingratiated himself to the dictato