The Secretary saw this in my face, and told me anyway. "Solomon Kedir is first"—the head of palace security, chief spy of the empire—"and then with the Minister of Business"—who had the largest unofficial spy network in Addis Ababa—"and then with the Minister of Political Stability"—the master of the secret police. The three most powerful men in Ethiopia, after the Emperor himself. "Then the anteater, and then you. I do not imagine you will have many days like this one."