life, perpetual amnesty for all crimes, the freedom of the universe and the rank of Langtry Lord.”
“They really want us,” said Fay.
“Shh— listen! ” And they heard the Shaul describe them in precise detail.
Another voice began to repeat the same message in Koton. Fay turned off the set.
“We’re being hunted as Grover O’Leary hunted the white-eyed stag—with tooth, nail and all odd angles.”
Fay said, “I tried to make contact with Earth but there’s still interference. No doubt the blockade is tighter than ever.”
Paddy grunted, “And how about your Earth Agency then, that you train so exhaustively for and evidently serve with your every resource?”
Fay put on her faint smile. “Paddy, do you know I trust only three people in the world? Myself, the chief of the Agency and you? After all the Agents are human. That reward would turn almost anyone’s head. And all for a very small whisper.”
“The fewer that knows, the better,” Paddy agreed. He ran his hand through his hair. “Black-haired, they said. They must have caught Dr. Tallogg.”
“Or maybe they tied together the Earther vandals on Alpheratz A and the inept performers at the Kamborogian Arrowhead.”
“That sexy dance wasn’t inept. You looked as if you had lots of experience.”
Fay rose to her feet. “Now don’t be so old-maidish. Certainly I have good coordination and I’ve had dancing lessons. Anyway, what do you care about my past? I’m not your type. You like those cow-eyed underslung Maeve women, remember? So much to squeeze, remember?”
“Ah, so I did,” sighed Paddy, “but that was before I saw that smooth pelt of yours and now I’m tempted to change.”
“Pish! I’m plain. Remember? With a skinny posterior. Remember?”
“Very well then,” said Paddy, turning away. “Since you’ve the memory of the most revengeful elephant of India you’re still plain and still skinny.”
Fay grinned to herself. She said to his back, “We’d better try to change our appearances. There’s hairwash and Optichrome in the locker. Maybe we’d better be blonde for a while. We’ll dye our clothes also. And I’m going to cut your hair short and wear mine differently.”
Loristan was a small world and mountainous. Great forests of trees a mile high charged the air with oxygen and a visitor’s first experience with the low gravity and the oxygen produced a fine exhilaration.
Where the cities of Alpheratz A and Badau were low and severe Rivveri and Tham, the twin cities of Loristan, reared spectacular towers into the air. Buttressing planes of arched metal hung between, conquering space, sometimes for no other purpose than sheer exuberance. Raw rich color glowed everywhere. There was no gloom on Loristan, none of the Pherasic mysticism, the Badau stolidity. Here were bustle, aggressiveness, activity.
Paddy now had bright blue eyes and cropped blond hair. The combination lent him an expression of boyish naïveté. He wore a blouse stamped with patterns after the Pendulistic school, loose breeches flapping at the ankles.
And Fay—where was the somber dark-haired girl Paddy had first seen? Here was a bright eager creature with white-gold elf-locks, eyes blue as a frosty morning, strawberry mouth. And every time Paddy looked at her he groaned inside and the word Maeve came to be hated. Twice he tried to grab her and kiss her and twice she ducked and sprang across the cabin. Finally Paddy lapsed to a sullen indifference.
Loristan widened below, and the twin cities twinkled like jewels.
“Well,” said Fay, “what’ll it be? Shall we sneak down to a landing somewhere in the forest or use the public field, bold as life?”
Paddy shrugged. “If we tried slipping down out in the woods or in that Big Jelly Swamp they show on the chart there’d be a dozen guardboats on us like birds on a nutmeg. But when we pull into their public field they rub their hands and say, ‘Fine, another couple of Earther savages to be
“They really want us,” said Fay.
“Shh— listen! ” And they heard the Shaul describe them in precise detail.
Another voice began to repeat the same message in Koton. Fay turned off the set.
“We’re being hunted as Grover O’Leary hunted the white-eyed stag—with tooth, nail and all odd angles.”
Fay said, “I tried to make contact with Earth but there’s still interference. No doubt the blockade is tighter than ever.”
Paddy grunted, “And how about your Earth Agency then, that you train so exhaustively for and evidently serve with your every resource?”
Fay put on her faint smile. “Paddy, do you know I trust only three people in the world? Myself, the chief of the Agency and you? After all the Agents are human. That reward would turn almost anyone’s head. And all for a very small whisper.”
“The fewer that knows, the better,” Paddy agreed. He ran his hand through his hair. “Black-haired, they said. They must have caught Dr. Tallogg.”
“Or maybe they tied together the Earther vandals on Alpheratz A and the inept performers at the Kamborogian Arrowhead.”
“That sexy dance wasn’t inept. You looked as if you had lots of experience.”
Fay rose to her feet. “Now don’t be so old-maidish. Certainly I have good coordination and I’ve had dancing lessons. Anyway, what do you care about my past? I’m not your type. You like those cow-eyed underslung Maeve women, remember? So much to squeeze, remember?”
“Ah, so I did,” sighed Paddy, “but that was before I saw that smooth pelt of yours and now I’m tempted to change.”
“Pish! I’m plain. Remember? With a skinny posterior. Remember?”
“Very well then,” said Paddy, turning away. “Since you’ve the memory of the most revengeful elephant of India you’re still plain and still skinny.”
Fay grinned to herself. She said to his back, “We’d better try to change our appearances. There’s hairwash and Optichrome in the locker. Maybe we’d better be blonde for a while. We’ll dye our clothes also. And I’m going to cut your hair short and wear mine differently.”
Loristan was a small world and mountainous. Great forests of trees a mile high charged the air with oxygen and a visitor’s first experience with the low gravity and the oxygen produced a fine exhilaration.
Where the cities of Alpheratz A and Badau were low and severe Rivveri and Tham, the twin cities of Loristan, reared spectacular towers into the air. Buttressing planes of arched metal hung between, conquering space, sometimes for no other purpose than sheer exuberance. Raw rich color glowed everywhere. There was no gloom on Loristan, none of the Pherasic mysticism, the Badau stolidity. Here were bustle, aggressiveness, activity.
Paddy now had bright blue eyes and cropped blond hair. The combination lent him an expression of boyish naïveté. He wore a blouse stamped with patterns after the Pendulistic school, loose breeches flapping at the ankles.
And Fay—where was the somber dark-haired girl Paddy had first seen? Here was a bright eager creature with white-gold elf-locks, eyes blue as a frosty morning, strawberry mouth. And every time Paddy looked at her he groaned inside and the word Maeve came to be hated. Twice he tried to grab her and kiss her and twice she ducked and sprang across the cabin. Finally Paddy lapsed to a sullen indifference.
Loristan widened below, and the twin cities twinkled like jewels.
“Well,” said Fay, “what’ll it be? Shall we sneak down to a landing somewhere in the forest or use the public field, bold as life?”
Paddy shrugged. “If we tried slipping down out in the woods or in that Big Jelly Swamp they show on the chart there’d be a dozen guardboats on us like birds on a nutmeg. But when we pull into their public field they rub their hands and say, ‘Fine, another couple of Earther savages to be
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