Hakiem pursed his lips and thought for a moment.

"There was a time when I thought as you do, Jubal, that power alone determinedright and wrong. If you were strong enough or rich enough, you were right andthat was that. At court, however, I see people every day who have power, andthat has caused me to change my views. Seeing things on a grander scale, I'velearned that power can be used for right or wrong, to create or destroy. Whileeveryone thinks they use their power for the best, narrow-visioned orshortsighted exercise of power can be as destructive as deliberate wrong ...sometimes even worse, because in the case of deliberate wrong one is aware ofwhat he is doing and moderates it accordingly. Unintended wrong knows noboundaries."

"This is a strange thing to say to me," Jubal laughed mirthlessly. "I have beenaccused of being the greatest wrongdoer in Sanctuary's history."

"I've never believed that," Hakiem said. "Frequently your activities have beenillegal and often brutal, but you have tried to maintain a degree of honor ...right and wrong, if you will. That's why you wouldn't sell Monkel protection youcouldn't give, even though the price was tempting."

"If that is true, then what distresses you? I haven't changed the way I dobusiness."

"No, and that's the problem. You haven't changed. You still think of what's bestfor you and yours ... not what's best for everybody. That's fine for a smalltime hoodlum in a dead-end town, but things are changing. I've long suspectedwhat I heard you say openly today ... that you're playing the other factions offagainst each other to weaken them."

"And what's wrong with that?" Jubal snapped.

"It weakens the town," Hakiem shot back. "Even if you succeed in gainingcontrol, can you keep it? Open your eyes, Jubal, and see what's going on outsideof your own little sphere. The Emperor is dead. The Rankan Empire is facing a