The haunting image of the corpses floating around in the air stayed on the screen for a few seconds before the communication eye was crushed, cutting off the feed and allowing everyone standing in the situation room to take a breath.
To Daneel, it was as if his life in Angaria had so far been one of sailing in tumultuous seas. Yet, suddenly, he felt as if he had hit rocks which punctured his boat and plunged him into icy, cold darkness.
Since the moment he had taken the throne, there had been many situations where he had been lost for words.
This one topped them all.
Since coming back from Eldinor, Daneel had been carrying on with his plans without a hitch. Everything had been working out so well that he thought he had matters under control.
This moment was the rude awakening which startled Daneel by hitting him in the face.
Indeed, just because he had had one victory didn't mean that everything else in the world would bow down to him and meekly follow his plans.
