“Yes,” I agreed. “It’s quite nice.”

When I glanced up a few moments later, I saw that he was smiling.

“What’s funny?” I asked.

“You,” he replied. “If you recall, I told you before you left for that place to be discriminating when it came to giving your trust.”

“Well? I told no one my story. If you’re going to lecture me on being friendly with Luke without learning his, I’ve already heard it.”

“And what of Julia?”

“What do you mean? She never learned…”

“Exactly. And she seems like one you could have trusted. Instead, you turned her against you.”

“All right! Maybe I used bad judgment there, too.”

“You designed a remarkable machine, and it never occurred to you it might also become a potent weapon. Random saw that right away. So did Luke. You might have been saved from disaster on that front only by the fact that it became sentient and didn’t care to be dictated to.

“You’re right. I was more concerned with solving technical problems. I didn’t think through all the consequences.

He sighed.

“What am I going to do with you, Merlin? You take risks when you don’t even know you’re taking risks.”

“I didn’t trust Vinta,” I volunteered.

“I think you could have gotten more information out of her,” he said; “if you hadn’t been so quick to save Luke, who already appeared to be out of danger. She seemed to be loosening up considerably at the end of your dialogue.”

“Perhaps I should have called you.”

“If you encounter her again, do it, and I’ll deal with her.”

I stared. He seemed to mean it.

“You know what she is?”

“I’ll unriddle her,” he said, swirling the bright orange beverage in his glass. “But I’ve a proposal for you, elegant in its simplicity. I’ve a new country place, quite’ secluded, with all the amenities. Why not return to the Courts with me rather than bouncing around from hazard to hazard? Lie low for a couple of years, enjoy the good life, catch up on your reading. I’ll see that you’re well protected. Let everything blow over, then go about your business in a more peaceful climate.”