The car moved slowly, giving Richard plenty of time to get nervous. He wiped his hands repeatedly on his slacks and tried to prepare his mind for the work it must do. There were mental exercises he’d learned to help relax his thoughts, and he ran through them now as the car proceeded through open countryside and the Castle, brightly lit, loomed before him.
The car stopped at the pirt station just outside the main entrance. Richard got out and, moving with a feigned assurance, walked up to the door. This was the outer ring of protection, purely routine. Richard inserted the card into the appropriate slot and the door opened for him, admitting him into the Castle.
Inside a guard was seated behind a desk, monitoring several scanscreens. Because this was not Coran’s normal shift, the guard w
