been summoned by His Excellency to read before the ceremony! I must get inside and prepare. And this, sir, is the great editor Nekabov,' he said as he wound an arm around The Major's shoulder. 'My comrade is also frustrated by the injudicious delay. Comrade Nekabov, tell this puppet what you told me.'

The Major snapped: 'You can be _certain_ the _incomprehensible_ dearth of organization _will_ be reported in my paper _tomorrow_!'

'I don't care who you are, and I don't care about your stories!' the guard barked. 'The paper doesn't make me accountable to my superior. Now, get back and wait your turn or I'll rip this...this thing off your head and stuff it in your mouth!'

But Medvelov didn't budge; instead, hisself resorted to pleading: 'Eh, comrade...sir...I can tella second comrade sidled next to my other flank.

From the thug on my right, in a malevolent hiss: 'Move.'

He didn't have to tell me twice.

But tho I worked legs, hisself demanded I move _faster_.

We plowed across the ballroom, down a hall and into an antechamber. Thereafter, I was released and shoved into a chair...

# CHAPTER 22g

### Antechamber

I stared at three large men dressed in formal wear. The two who wrestled me into the chair retreated into shadow as a third fellow strode forward.

Lo, he was an ugly man: lumpy head, eyes too close to each other; crooked snout; a jagged scar what ran from right temple to jaw. He looked like he'd been constructed from the fragments of several faces!

He studied me with crossed-eyes and then gripped the