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ust have happened。〃
〃Yes。。。 yes。〃 Papers shuffled。 〃So you stated here in your deposition。 And at the； ah； debriefing sessions。〃
〃Yes sir。〃 Those interrogations had been hardly less frightening than that first shock of realization in the dark cave； where the physical pain of the enforced tumble down the stairs had soon been swallowed up in the fear of what was going to happen next。
The five drivers； knowing only that they were all blocked in； had set up a despairing noise。 Responding as usual to this signal； the Whitehands had started to e up into the upper cave on their usual post delivery mission； and Radulescu had had to use his sword by flickering candlelight to fight them off。 Fortunately he hadn't forgotten to release the spells that bound the dragon。 After giving it a little time in which to destroy the villain outside； he had called it with another spell to tilt the great rock open from outside。
Briefly Radulescu had been tempted to try to keep the whole fiasco a secret from his superiors。 But when he got outside again and saw no trace of the missing man except a cloak； he knew he'd be on shaky ground in trying to do that。
The animals； terrified by the great dragon raging near them； had broken their tethers and run off。 Radulescu pledged his surviving drivers to silence on the journey back to the Temple； by the most terrifying oaths； and then marched them back； sword in hand； to where the cavalry was still waiting； getting restless。 No use disposing of the five drivers now； he knew。 They'd certainly be wanted for questioning。
The Chairman was moving on； at least for the time being； to another aspect of the situation。 〃。。。 underwater search along that portion of the coastline has turned up one battered helmet； the type of standard issue for our garrisons。。。 regrettably； it is not certain whether this is the helmet issued to the missing man。〃
Radulescu raised his eyebrows。 〃I would presume； sir； that a magical investigation of the helmet has been attempted？〃
〃Oh yes。 Certainly。〃
〃And … even after that … we still don't know if it belonged to this Ben or not？〃
Once again the Chairman gave him his full attention。 〃Regrettably not。 Certain pernicious influences have been at work。〃
〃Sir？〃 All of a sudden Radulescu found himself totally lost … a feeling that； in the circumstances； would lead almost at once to desperation。
The Chairman looked at him； and appeared to undergo a moment of uncertainty himself。 Then he came to a decision。 He rose from his chair at the head of the table and went to one of the long walls of the conference room； whereon a large map was displayed。 The site of the treasure trove had of course not been marked on this or any other map； but Radulescu's eyes automatically went to that coastline spot anyway。
The Chairman raised a pointer； not to that vital point； but to another place very near it。 〃Here； this headland； across the fjord … do you see the ownership indicated for this small piece of land right on the promontory？〃
It was only a tiny dot of color； that meant nothing to Radulescu until he had consulted the key at the bottom of the map。 〃Imperial lands；〃 he said then； softly； He hesitated； then added： 〃Yes sir； I think I begin to understand。〃
Even that much was a daring claim； and the Chairman kept on looking at him。 Radulescu was evidently expected to say more。 He began to flounder。 〃The Emperor is … is then … an opposing force？〃
The Chairman carefully laid down his pointer； and posed in front of the map with hands clasped behind his back。 〃I doubt you truly do begin to understand。 Not your fault； really； you couldn't be expected to。。。 you ought to soon； though。 A man in your position； presumably ready for advancement to the Council itself at the next vacancy。。。 yes； we must have you in soon for a briefing session with our top magicians； on the subject of the Emperor。 That is； of course； provided your status is not； downgraded at some point in the near future； for some reason。〃 Thus Radulescu's spirit； that had shot up at the mention of promotion； were carefully cut down again to the proper size。 〃You do know at least that the Emperor is not a myth； that he's still a real factor to be considered？〃
Obviously there was only one answer that could be returned to that。
〃I'll try to arrange that briefing soon。 If nothing arises to prevent it。〃 The Chairman returned to his chair； and his voice to its usual somewhat dusty joviality。 〃I think we may say that all the direct evidence we have at this time； Colonel； points to the conclusion that this man Ben； Ben of … what was it？ Purkinje； it says here … that this Ben of Purkinje leaped or fell to his death in the sea； if indeed he did manage to escape the dragon。 By all reports he was somewhat slow on his feet； so the probability that he escaped the dragon is perhaps not very great。
〃What I would like to ask you now is this。 Do you； yourself； see any reason why this office should not consider the incident closed？ Take some routine precautions of course； such as changing the spells for the guardian dragon … that's already been done … but then go on； by and large； as we were？〃
Radulescu cleared his throat carefully。 He did not need to exert much cleverness to sense that the bland question might well contain some kind of trap。 〃Have the drivers been questioned； sir？〃 he asked。 〃I would assume they have。〃
〃Oh； indeed。 No indications of any plot emerged during questioning。〃
Radulescu tried to think。 〃I suppose； sir； that an actual inventory of the treasure has been taken by now？〃
The Chairman nodded。 〃By myself； personally。 It is secure。〃
There was a pause。 〃Well； sir；〃 Radulescu said at last。 〃There are still a couple of things that bother me。〃
〃Ah。 Such as？〃
〃A clever man； pursued by a dragon； might well think of throwing away his cloak to distract the beast。 And from what I've heard about dragons； such a ploy might well succeed； at least momentarily。〃
〃This Ben of Purkinje was far from being a clever man； according to the officers who knew him。 You know that clever men are not monly selected for these jobs。〃
〃That's true； sir； of course。 But。。。 〃
〃But what？〃
〃I supervised； as you know； three previous deliveries to the cave； before this ill…starred one。 Out of more than twenty drivers involved in the four deliveries I supervised； he was the only one to suspect that anything was amiss。 Amiss from his own point of view； I mean。 At least he was the only one who took any steps to save his own miserable life。〃
The Chairman was silent for a little while； pondering。 He surprised Radulescu somewhat when he spoke at last。 〃Wretched life those fellows must lead。 I really don't know why they would object too much to having it ended for them … ever think of it that way？〃 〃No sir； I can't say that I have。〃
After meditating a moment longer； the Chairman said： 〃However that may be … I daresay you were warned； before you started making deliveries； that other officers have had to deal with recalcitrant drivers in the past？〃
〃I was told about the possibility