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Steve can explain it when he wakes up, tonight. Steve can tell you lots of things. I'm going back to the city." "What?" It was easy to say, now the decision that had been taking vague form for several hours, and which had crystallized as he trudged across the spacefield toward the Valhalla. "I brought you back Steve, Dad. You still have one son aboard ship. I want off. I'm resigning.
"There is now." "I'll tell you the story in a bit, but there are several more things to be done, fast." He described the location of the hidden spacefield. "Get some scouts out there quick, but if the freighter's not ready to leave, have 'em keep hidden and merely watch it. I don't want anything done until just before take-off it's important we arrest all of its crew and passengers." "Right!"
He turned away and rapidly descended the ramp. Avoiding Kelleher and the cargo crew, for goodbyes would take too long, he trotted smoothly over the spacefield, feeling curiously lighthearted now. Part of the quest was over; Steve was back on board the Valhalla. But Alan knew the real work was just beginning. He would search for the hyperdrive; perhaps Hawkes would help him.
The ground bus took them over the majestic arch of the bridge, rapidly through the sleepy Enclave Alan saw nobody he recognized in the streets and through the restricted area that led to the spacefield. The spaceport was a jungle of ships, each standing on its tail waiting to blast off.
Alan turned to Hawkes. The moment had come, much too suddenly. Alan felt Rat twitching at his cuff, as if reminding him of something. Grinning awkwardly, Alan said, "I guess this is the end of the line, Max. You'd better not go out on the spacefield with us. I I sort of want to thank you for all the help you've given me. I never would have found Steve without you.
The sight of two men dragging a third along between them attracted not the slightest attention as they left the Undertube and climbed aboard the spacefield bus. Apparently in York City no one cared much about what went on; it made no difference to the busy Earthers whether Steve were unconscious or dead.
He was hard put to do it, but he managed to stride purposefully across the great spacefield toward the towering bulk of the Trobwell without betraying that fear. If they caught him now He closed his mind against the thought and kept on walking. At the base of the landing cradle, a Class Four guard was standing stolidly. He bowed his head and saluted as The Guesser walked by. It's so easy!
*What of her family?* Valla asked. *They are oathbound. Disregard them.* *Yes, Master Thark. Are there further instructions?* *No.* Thark broke the contact, then made three more briefer ones before his general broadcast to the off-planet Crusade leaders. Once they had been informed of the accelerated schedule, he was free to leave for his private spacefield and the Prowler.
"There's an Undertube that takes us as far as Carhill Boulevard and the bridge," Hawkes said. "We can get a ground vehicle there that'll go on through the Enclave and out to the spacefield." The trip took nearly an hour. Steve sat propped up between Alan and Hawkes, and every now and then his head would loll to one side or another, and he would seem to be stirring; but he never woke.
Smooth, streamlined, it was a lovely sight as it stood at the spacefield in the shadow of the great starships. Alan looked at it with pride a slender dark-green needle yearning to pierce the void. He wandered around the spaceport and heard the fuelers and oilers discussing it in reverent tones. "That's a mighty fine piece of ship, that green one out there. Some lucky fellow's got it."
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