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〃We'll be landing soon；〃 Veidt said in that weird； whispery； processed…sounding voice。 〃I think you would do well to prepare yourselves and your patients。〃
Max returned to the pilot's seat and handled the touchdown with an assist from Colonel Wolff。 Cabell and Sarna looked on。 Haydon Control had directed them to a landing stage in the middle of the city； one of a number of platforms of smoky blue glass sprouting from a central tower。
A reception mittee had already appeared to meet them； standing together on a flying carpet that hovered a few yards above the landing surface。 As Vince； Max； and Wolff opened the hatch； the carpet floated toward them and stopped a foot or so off the platform。
As had been agreed； Veidt and Sarna went first to greet the half…dozen Haydonites waiting on the carpet…or； more precisely； floating just off it。 Jonathan Wolff took advantage of the moment to look the flying carpet over。
The carpet was thicker than the ones from the tales。 It resembled an undulating judo mat； yet it was textured and decorated with exotic； iridescent patterns。 It was vaguely rectangular； but he could see that it tended to shift and change conformation。 Moreover； the other carpets； sailing around over the city came in many shapes and dimensions； from one…passenger wele mats to dance…floor…size。
Veidt and Sarna exchanged ritualistic and dignified bows with their people。 Since Haydonites lacked arms as well as faces…and legs too； Wolff supposed （although nobody he knew of had ever gotten a look under those hovering robe hems to find out what was underneath them）…the whole ceremony had a reserved； inhuman look to it。
Wolff found that he could tell the males and females apart。 The Haydonite men's faces had angular planes； and saucer…size； gemlike things displayed on their robes。
The leader of the weling mittee was a male； taller and more slender than Veidt。 He had a bulging cranium and a deep coppery tone to his skin。 A shimmering symbol like a star sapphire's light shone from the center of his forehead。 〃So； Veidt； you return to bring your disturbances among us yet again？〃
But it was Sarna who answered。 〃You know better than that； Vowad！ Our friends are gravely ill； and only Haydonite science can save them！ You know the Law； we're obligated to help。〃
The one called Vowad made an irritated sound。 〃Yes； yes…and if it hadn't been this excuse； it would have been some other； eh？〃
The others behind Vowad shifted uneasily； and one of them intervened。 〃Enough！ If lives are in jeopardy； it is best the healing begin at once。〃
Wolff wasn't so sure he liked what he had heard； and he didn't know if he wanted to stake his life on the Haydonites' good graces； but it was too late to back out。 He surreptitiously made sure the conventional weapons he had concealed under his clothes were secure； and regretted that it was impossible to carry Protoculture weapons due to these planetary defenses everybody kept talking about。
Sarna turned to the humans waiting by the foot of the shuttle's ramp。 〃Bring them forth。 We go to the Halls of Healing immediately！〃
Jean Grant operated a small remote unit。 The automated med gurneys on which Rick and the others had been secured rolled forth。 Vince was going to ask how the wheeled gurneys were going to get up onto the flying carpet when a part of it extended like an upholstered tongue； at a gentle incline； like a ramp。 Max walked at his wife's side。
Once Vince had secured the ship； he joined Wolff； Jean； and the rest on the flying carpet。 It didn't give under his considerable weight and felt stable。 More like a flying cloud than a flying carpet； he thought。
At some invisible mand； it rose and wafted away over the city。 Though there was no fairing or windshield； the humans felt only a vague stirring of air…despite the fact that the carpet was traveling quite rapidly。
They looked down on a city busy with merce and trade。 As Veidt and Sarna had explained it； Glike was similar to the old…time Hong Kong。 It was a place of enforced truce； immune to the military conflicts that had raged around it。
As the others gazed； enraptured； at the soaring beauty and exquisite elegance of Glike； Sarna went over to Max。 〃You look tired； Maximilian。 You must rest。 Won't you be seated？〃
He looked around as she gestured with a nod of her head； and saw that the carpet's surface had bunched up to make a kind of lounge chair just his size。 He had no idea how she had done that。
Heaven knew he was exhausted； but all he could think of was Miriya； he refused to leave her side。 Max gestured toward Veidt and the other Haydonites； now deep in conversation with Cabell； no doubt discussing medical procedures。
〃That guy…what's his name； Vowad？ Why's he so angry at Veidt？〃
Sarna looked at them。 〃Vowad believes； as many do； that we can coexist with the Invid indefinitely。 That any concession we make； any appeasement； is worth it。 You already know how my husband and I feel。 When Veidt insisted on making his opinions known； the Invid managed to kidnap us both。〃
Max felt sudden misgiving。 〃But…the Invid can't attack you here； isn't that what you told us？ The planet's defenses would react。〃
Sarna inclined her head； a strange gesture from one who had no eyes and only contours where a face should be。 〃Indeed。 But there are other ways to bring pressure to bear…the threat of a blockade； or strikes against our trading partners and customers。 And； the Invid have attained great influence over some of our folk…with economic leverage and other things。〃
She moved closer； spoke more quietly。 〃Vowad is perhaps the single most powerful Haydonite； and I think that it was with his cooperation that Tesla kidnapped Veidt and me。 We must be wary of him。〃
As if he had heard； Vowad turned toward Sarna and called out； 〃e； give us your opinion of Cabell's proposed treatment regimen。 Surely； my daughter has much to say？ You always did when you were younger。〃
〃Yes； Father；〃 Sarna said； and floated back to the group； to leave Max slack…jawed with surprise。
Lieutenant Isle was no Rick Hunter or Max Sterling； but he handled the Alpha with cool deftness； making the most of its brute power and amazing performance； as the hounds gave chase。
Ghost Riders flying patrol between SDF…3 and Tirol； hampered by the fact that Minmei was aboard the quarry； found themselves at a profound disadvantage。 Minmei's rescuer fired warning bursts that didn't miss by much； making it plain that he was at no great pains to spare anybody who pressed him too hard。
The sentries yielded； but as the armored Alpha plunged for Tiresia more bogeys appeared on the screens； scrambled from SDF…3。 Minmei could hear Isle's breath rasp。 〃I thought Edwards would be distracted getting the pursuit of the Zentraedi under way；〃 he admitted。 〃Thought we'd have a little more lead time。〃
She gave a scornful laugh； shaking her head wearily。 〃You think T。 R。 Edwards is going to go after Breetai personally！ And take a chance that things here will get away from him？ You've got a lot to learn； Lieutenant。〃
The kind of thing I've learned the hard way； she thought。 〃So； what now？〃
He wasn't sure； the decision to help her escape Edwards's sa